News & Reports

Panelists (in alphabetical order):

Marcel Barsotti (Germany) / Gundula Barsotti-Bast (Germany) / Shin Chul (Korea) / Hussein Dembel Sow (Senegal) / Takeshi Kushida (Japan) / Alexandre Michelin (France) / Douglas Montgomery (USA) / Oscar Parres (Mexico) / Javid Sobhani (Iran) / Hiroki Yamaguchi (Japan)

On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the International Conference “The Future of AI and Filmmaking” was held at Akasaka Intercity Conference the Air, presented by Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) in collaboration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 initiative.

The conference brought together ten experts from around the world — including film directors, screenwriters, media strategists, festival directors, programmers, and curators — who are active at the forefront of cinema and AI. They engaged in lively discussions on the transformation of filmmaking through AI, ethics, creativity, and the future of visual expression over the next decade.

The session opened with a provocative question:

“Is AI an artistic partner or merely a tool?”

Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kushida commented,

“AI has the potential to become a co-creator—a new kind of mentor that connects past and future, knowledge and emotion.”

He described AI as an extension of human creativity.

German composer and filmmaker Marcel Barsotti introduced his latest AI-driven film Imperia, saying,

“From scriptwriting and music to sound design and editing, everything was created with AI. This is not just technology—it’s a new form of art.”

His co-writer Gundula Barsotti-Bast added,

“AI makes production more efficient, but the emotional core of storytelling must remain human.”

Shin Chul, Director of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in Korea, stated,

“AI is a new language shared by filmmakers worldwide. We are moving from an era of evaluation to one of dialogue between creators and audiences.”

In the ethics session, diverse opinions emerged around copyright and disclosure.

Barsotti emphasized,

“AI-generated works should be clearly labeled, and creators must verify their authenticity.”

Meanwhile, Kushida argued,

“Disclosing AI use may undermine the mystery of creation. For the sake of protecting intellectual property, disclosure should not be mandatory.”

American media strategist Douglas Montgomery stressed,

“While AI generates vast amounts of information, the final judgment must always rest with humans.”

Iranian programmer and filmmaker Javid Sobhani added,

“Transparency about AI’s involvement builds trust and strengthens the ethical foundation of AI filmmaking.”

Senegalese director Hussein Dembel Sow noted,

“AI enables filmmaking even in regions with limited resources. Equal access to technology is essential for preserving cultural diversity.”

From France, media producer Alexandre Michelin summarized,

“AI democratizes creativity but risks standardizing culture. We must evolve ethics and creativity together.”

In the final session, the panelists explored how filmmaking will evolve over the next decade.

Barsotti predicted,

“A new hybrid genre will emerge—where live action, CGI, animation, and AI seamlessly blend.”

Kushida envisioned,

“By 2035, a generation will exist that has only ever made films with AI. Cinema will become increasingly personalized to each viewer’s preferences.”

Mexican filmmaker Oscar Parres cautioned,

“AI is a revolution comparable to the invention of the wheel, but we must ensure that efficiency does not come at the cost of emotion.”

Montgomery concluded,

“As the number of films explodes, the true challenge will be our ability to discover works of genuine value.”

At the end of the event, each of the ten speakers delivered a one-minute closing statement. Moderator Seigo Higashino concluded,

“AI is a mirror that reflects human creativity and amplifies it. Ethics and diversity will be the twin pillars supporting cinematic art in the age of AI.”

The conference closed with a group photo session featuring all ten panelists, marking a memorable conclusion to a day that symbolized the dawn of a new era of collaboration between AI and filmmaking.

Hosted by: Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA)

Supported by: Agency for Cultural Affairs / Japan Cultural Expo 2.0

Venue: Akasaka Intercity Conference the Air