WG 2026 / Speakers
Speakers
Award-winning filmmakers, animation and VFX leads, producers and pioneers of participatory media and generative tools, from across Europe and the United States.
JanuszKaminski
Legendary Polish cinematographer and director, twice an Academy Award winner for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, and Steven Spielberg's long-time collaborator (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Lincoln, Bridge of Spies).
CinematographerDirectorStephan V.BugajTBC
Currently at Disney India (JioStar); previously Pixar; CCO at Genvid; Emmy & Webby winner. Released one of the first fully GenAI-based films.
DirectorAnimationAdiSideman
Pioneer of participatory media, CEO of Popcorn.co, founder of YouNow and Revel, creator of Oddcast.
CEOFounderVerenaPuhmTBC
Austrian director and producer, Head of Dream Lab Los Angeles at Luma AI; shown at Sundance, Cannes 2025 and Berlinale 2025.
DirectorProducerStuartCripps
VFX specialist on Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Revenant and The Amazing Spider-Man, now a Gen AI Development Supervisor.
VFX SupervisorOscarBurgos
VFX and animation artist on Avengers: Infinity War, The Suicide Squad and Predator: Badlands, now also directing.
VFX SupervisorDirectorBartoszNalazek
Polish cinematographer in Los Angeles, long-time collaborator of Janusz Kaminski (Lincoln, Bridge of Spies, The Post); shown at Sundance and TIFF.
CinematographerMinhDo
Co-founder of Machine Cinema and Head of AI at Fantastic Day; educator in responsible, creative use of AI tools; leads GenJam™.
FounderEducatorJaggerWaters
Director, writer and AI filmmaker; programs Escape.ai and oversees narrative AI for Curious Refuge; featured by Forbes and the PGA.
DirectorFilmmakerArtemPetrov
CEO and founder of CopySight.AI, an early tool for copyrighting AI-generated content; previously a creative director (ex-Snap, Meta).
CEOFounderBroganWassell
Filmmaker and director working with generative tools.
FilmmakerDirectorDesireede Ana
Filmmaker and artist working with generative tools.
FilmmakerArtistFredGrinstein
Co-founder of Machine Cinema; two decades in documentary and premium TV (Anonymous Content, Viceland), co-author of the course AI for Documentaries.
ProducerJohnFoxTBC
Storyboard and previs artist for Warner Bros./DC and Universal: Aquaman, Black Adam, Shazam, Jungle Cruise.
Storyboard ArtistElettraFiumi
Florentine-American producer and director, founder of Fiumi Studios; her documentary Radical Landscapes premiered at DOC NYC 2022.
DocumentaryDirectorProducerAdrienBodson
Canadian producer and award-winning writer; made Innocent, the first Canadian film released in 4K Ultra-HD; works in GenAI film between LA, Montreal and Shanghai.
ProducerScriptwriterAffanImran
Canadian entrepreneur and technologist, CEO and co-founder of innovation studio Fantastic Day; co-organiser of GenJam events.
CEOFounderAdrian DanielBotnariu
Berlin filmmaker and actor, founder of Beyondflix Productions; organised the first AI event alongside Berlinale (with LTX Studio).
FilmmakerActorEugenioFierro
Italian senior art director and creative strategist, creative partner of Pixverse and Image Art; AI educator.
Art DirectorLauraTornga
Creative producer at LMU's School of Film and Television, leading The Innovators Film Festival; co-founder of Media Misfits.
ProducerJustin TrevorWintersTBC
Screenwriting lecturer at LMU teaching Producing and Screenwriting with AI; founder and president of Verified Labs.
ScriptwriterEducatorThemoMelikidze
Georgian-born actor and producer (Patriots Day, 24: Legacy); performs as DJ 2MRW at the opening afterparty.
ActorProducerJonathanPerry
American director and writer; his Arctic film Subnivean (2019) was acquired by Amazon Prime Video.
DirectorScriptwriterNancyHamilton
American documentary director and producer, founder of the non-profit Golden Eagle Films (We Promised, Never Alone).
DocumentaryDirectorProducerMegButton
Canadian creative director and digital strategist, Head of Marketing & Creative at Fantastic Day; brand, web and e-commerce design.
Creative DirectorPawełDeląg
Actor, director and producer, one of Poland's most recognized screen actors.
ActorDirectorProducerJan IgnacyKrólikowski
Composer for film and stage; joins the panel on music in film and copyright.
ComposerMariuszPołeć
Actor, entrepreneur and co-founder of Casting Studio.
ActorFounderBilguunAriunbaatar
Television presenter, actor and journalist.
PresenterActorJournalistTadeuszZieliński
Game developer, journalist and TV games presenter; hosts the ANIMATICON zone and sits on the jury of the animation and cosplay competitions.
PresenterGame DeveloperJurorBenChimoy
Award-winning director, writer and AI filmmaker; a Runway Creative Partner working with Pocket FM and consulting on generative AI for the creative industries.
DirectorFilmmaker
…and more A selection of the names joining us. The full official line-up, with panels and special guests, is announced in the run-up to the festival.
All of them in one room — Saturday, August 29.