2043 is an independent AI-driven cyberpunk sci-fi project (short film + expanding feature) created by Italian filmmaker, musician, and producer Simone Sighinolfi (Sygo / @Sygo__).
It is set in a near-future dystopian Tokyo controlled by OmniCom, a superintelligence that has merged governments and corporations.
The story follows Layne, a young hacker from the Tokyo ghettos who is drawn into a larger conflict involving identity, memory rewriting, control, and rebellion. It draws from cyberpunk influences like Ghost in the Shell, Mr. Robot, and Cyberpunk 2077/Edgerunners.
Short film (completed)
- Runtime: 13 minutes 51 seconds; completed May 2025; made primarily with AI image-to-video tools on a modest budget ($8,000).
- Awards/recognition: Best Director at the International AI Film Festival (Hollywood, August 2025); World Premiere + Special Selection at AI Film Festival Japan (Tokyo, November 3, 2025); 2nd place (CapCut sponsor award) at the Chroma Awards 2025.
- Part of the broader Undead 2043 universe, which also includes comics (Layne the Nihon Warrior) and community/NFT elements.
Feature film (in production)
- Screenplay is locked; production began around July–August 2026. As of mid-August, the first ~20 minutes were reported done, with ongoing work using tools like ImagineArt, CapCut, Dreamina, Seedance, InVideo agents, and others.
- Recent activity includes a teaser trailer (released around October 11, 2026) featuring never-before-shown moments from the feature; a full trailer is expected soon. Updates also mention intentional scenes (e.g., choreographed Wing Chun fight sequences) and expansion of the world (including wastelanders).
- Official site (2043themovie.com) highlights characters such as Layne, Nona, Hiroshi, Asuka, 0X1D, Chaos, and others, plus rewards like limited comics and merch.
Kickstarter campaign
- Launches October 14, 2026.
- Pre-launch page is live: (with a “Notify me on Launch” option).
- Early-bird/launch-day discounts (up to ~40–50% on certain rewards) are promoted for the first 24 hours.
- Official landing page: 2043themovie.com (mailing list signup available).
This is an indie AI-cinema project expanding an established short and comic universe rather than a studio release.
The most current news centers on the imminent Kickstarter launch and the ongoing feature production/teasers from the creator.
