Tokyo Hosts Major International AI Filmmaking Conference: Global Leaders Converge at Short Shorts Festival

Tokyo's Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) announced full details for its groundbreaking international conference "The Future of Filmmaking with AI: Exploring Creativity, Collaboration, and Ethics" on October 2, 2025. The event brings together ten leading voices from six countries to address the rapidly evolving landscape of AI cinema.

Scheduled for October 26, 2025, from 10:00 to 13:00 at Akasaka Intercity Conference, the gathering represents the most comprehensive international dialogue on AI filmmaking to date. The conference arrives at a pivotal moment as film festivals worldwide grapple with exponential growth in AI generated submissions and fundamental questions about creativity, ethics, and the future of the medium.

The Numbers Behind the AI Film Revolution

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, recognized by the U.S. Academy Awards and known as the largest international short film festival in Asia, receives approximately 5,000 submissions annually from around the world. Among these, the number of short films identifying the use of AI has grown significantly, reaching 275 works in recent years.

This dramatic increase reflects a broader transformation in filmmaking. What began as experimental technology has evolved into a legitimate production methodology embraced by creators across continents and cultures. The festival's decision to host this international conference acknowledges that AI filmmaking has moved beyond novelty status to become a permanent feature of the cinematic landscape.

Distinguished International Panel: Who's Speaking

The conference features speakers whose work spans traditional cinema, cutting edge AI production, festival programming, and industry strategy. Their collective experience provides multiple perspectives on how AI technology intersects with creative vision, business models, and cultural expression.

Marcel Barsotti: Composer Turned AI Filmmaker (Germany)

Marcel Barsotti made his directorial debut in 2024 with "TRANSFORMATION," a dystopian, elaborately AI generated science fiction short that received 12 international awards and 37 nominations, including Germany's prestigious "Valuable Rating."

His second major AI project "IMPERIA," created with BAI Pictures and Schmerbeck Entertainment, recently received the Honorary Tribute Film Award at the International Peace Festival in Toronto. The 36 minute sci-fi epic will have its Asia Premiere at the Tokyo conference, followed by worldwide festival screenings in Rome, Toronto, Utah, Munich, Paris, and beyond.

Barsotti's background as an international film composer for over 100 motion pictures including "Pope Joan," "The Sea Wolf," and "The Miracle of Bern" brings unique insight to the conference. He's received more than 50 international awards for his film scores and serves as CEO of the International Sound Library ETHNO WORLD and music production company TUNESFORMOVIES.

His perspective on how AI enables composers to transition into directing represents a significant democratization narrative. Traditional barriers between different creative roles are dissolving as AI tools allow individuals to realize complete visions across multiple disciplines.

Takeshi Kushida: Japan's AI Cinema Pioneer

Takeshi Kushida works at Pyramid Film in Tokyo and brings extensive traditional filmmaking credentials to AI cinema. His debut feature "Woman of the Photographs" (2020) screened at Tokyo, Fantasia, and FrightFest, winning 40 awards and releasing in 10 countries. His second feature "My Mother's Eyes" (2023) played top genre festivals with distribution by Reel Suspects.

His latest AI generated short film "Last Dream" (2025) won the top AI prize at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, praised as "a groundbreaking work that will reshape the future of AI cinema." This recognition from one of Asia's premier genre festivals validates AI filmmaking at the highest competitive levels.

Kushida represents filmmakers successfully bridging traditional and AI production methods. His established track record in conventional filmmaking gives him credibility when discussing AI's potential and limitations. He understands both what AI enables and what it cannot replace.

Shin Chul: Festival Director Championing AI Innovation (Korea)

Shin Chul has led the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) since 2019 and has been central to the modernization of Korean cinema. As a producer, he shaped influential works including "Marriage Story," "Lies," and "My Sassy Girl." The latter ignited the Korean Wave, sweeping across Asia and inspiring remakes in Hollywood, China, and beyond.

Since BIFAN 2024, Shin has led the "BIFAN+" project dedicated to exploring the impact of generative AI. The initiative seeks to expand artistic freedom and present a vision for the future evolution of films and film festivals worldwide.

His festival programming decisions directly shape which AI films receive recognition and visibility. His presence at the Tokyo conference signals institutional embrace of AI filmmaking at the festival circuit's highest levels.

Douglas Montgomery: Hollywood Strategic Perspective (USA)

Douglas Montgomery brings over 20 years of media and retail executive experience, including 15 years at Warner Bros. across three countries (U.S., Japan, and U.K.) as a strategic advisor for both WB management and major partners.

He served as Chairman of the 114 year old Japan America Society of Southern California, which honored Marie Kondo and Shohei Ohtani as "International Citizens." In 2021, he founded Global Connects Media, where he serves as President and CEO, helping clients gain access to world entertainment and retail markets.

Montgomery also serves as an AI consultant for anime, bringing corporate strategy and international market perspectives to the AI filmmaking discussion. His insights address how major studios and distribution platforms view AI content commercially and strategically.

Alexandre Michelin: Former France National Film Center Chair

Alexandre Michelin's career traces the constant search for new frontiers in storytelling. He began at Paris Premiere Cable TV, moved to Canal+ as Director of Programs, and in 2005, his pioneering work in interactive formats earned an International Interactive Emmy Award for "Cult" (France 5).

He joined Microsoft in 2006 as Head of MSN for Europe, Middle East and Africa, leading one of the company's largest global regions for ten years. From 2021, he chaired the Centre National de la Cinématographie Commission on Digital Experiences, championing immersive formats in VR, AR, and XR.

In 2024, he launched the initiative "You + AI," anticipating how artificial intelligence will redefine creative practices and cultural engagement. As founder of the Knowledge Immersive Forum (KIF), he curates global conversations on the future of culture and technology.

Michelin represents European policy and institutional perspectives on AI cinema. His experience shaping national film policy and digital innovation brings regulatory and funding considerations into the conference dialogue.

Hussein Dembel Sow: African AI Cinema Pioneer (Senegal)

Hussein Dembel Sow is a Senegalese director and screenwriter pioneering the use of artificial intelligence for cinematic creation. Winner of the World AI Film Festival (WAiFF) 2025 with his film "Thiaroye 44," he's developing a generative cinema studio in Africa aimed at democratizing access to audiovisual creation and promoting African narratives globally.

He serves as the Dakar representative for the global AI Thinkerer community, dedicated to collaborative innovation in artificial intelligence. His work addresses how AI technology can amplify voices from regions historically underrepresented in global cinema.

"Thiaroye 44" retells the Thiaroye Massacre of 1944 when French Colonial troops opened fire on unarmed Senegalese soldiers returning from Europe during WWII. The 100% AI generated visual work, featuring Senegalese rap star Dip Doundou Guiss, demonstrates how AI enables stories from marginalized histories to reach international audiences.

Oscar Parres: Engineering Meets Spirituality (Mexico)

Oscar Adán López Parres is a Mexican engineer and independent filmmaker specializing in Artificial Intelligence. His work explores how technology can expand the limits of art and storytelling.

In 2023, he was invited to speak at the Honorable Chamber of Deputies of Mexico about the role of AI in diverse sectors. His debut short film "Who is God?" (2023), created entirely with artificial intelligence, was officially registered at the National Institute of Copyright in Mexico as one of the first AI generated short films in the world.

He's currently developing "Yo Soy (I Am)," conceived as a love letter to God and the second part of a diptych reflecting his personal and spiritual search. Parres represents filmmakers using AI to explore philosophical and metaphysical themes that transcend conventional narrative structures.

Javid Sobhani: Festival Programming and AI Integration (Iran)

Javid Sobhani is a screenwriter and director holding a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering. He's served as Festival Programmer and International Programs Coordinator for the OSCARS qualified Tehran International Short Film Festival since 2018, one of the largest short film events in Asia.

Since 2020, he's been the International Programs Coordinator and representative at the Iranian Youth Cinema Society, one of the leading global institutions for short film production and film education.

Sobhani introduced the AI competition program to the Tehran International Short Film Festival starting with its 41st edition in 2024, making it part of the official international competition. His latest project "The White Horse" received the Grand Prize for Feature Film Pitching at the 20th Kazan International Film Festival in Russia (2024).

He brings Middle Eastern perspectives on AI filmmaking and experience integrating AI categories into established festival structures. His programming decisions influence which AI works receive recognition in one of Asia's most prestigious short film events.

Hiroki Yamaguchi: Japanese Genre Filmmaking Meets AI

Hiroki Yamaguchi is a Tokyo based Japanese film director from Kyoto. His first theatrical feature "Hellevator" (2004) won at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal and received official invitations to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. He's known for feature films including "Bloody Chainsaw Girl" and "Torinoko City."

In 2024, his first generative AI film "IMPROVEMENT CYCLE" was officially invited to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, the Busan International AI Film Festival, and the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival. In August 2025, the AI film "GRANDMALEVIT" had its theatrical release in Japan.

Yamaguchi represents the intersection of Japanese genre cinema traditions with emerging AI production methods. His work demonstrates how established genre filmmakers incorporate AI tools while maintaining distinctive cultural and aesthetic signatures.

Conference Themes: Creativity, Collaboration, and Ethics

The conference title "The Future of Filmmaking with AI: Exploring Creativity, Collaboration, and Ethics" establishes three core discussion areas that reflect the industry's most pressing questions.

Creativity: What AI Enables and What It Cannot Replace

The creativity discussion addresses fundamental questions about authorship, artistic vision, and the relationship between human imagination and machine generation. Speakers bring firsthand experience creating award winning AI films, providing concrete examples rather than theoretical speculation.

Key questions include: How do filmmakers maintain distinctive creative voices when using similar AI tools? What aspects of storytelling remain irreducibly human? How does AI change the creative process from conception through final execution?

The diverse international panel ensures multiple cultural perspectives on creativity. What constitutes creative authenticity varies across traditions, and the conference format allows these differences to surface and enrich the conversation.

Collaboration: New Production Models and Creative Partnerships

AI filmmaking enables collaboration models impossible in traditional production. Individual creators can now realize visions that previously required large teams and substantial budgets. Simultaneously, AI tools facilitate international collaboration by reducing technical and logistical barriers.

The conference explores how these new collaboration possibilities change production workflows, team structures, and the economics of independent filmmaking. Speakers from six countries provide examples of how AI enables cross cultural creative partnerships.

Festival directors on the panel address how programmers evaluate collaborative AI works where traditional role distinctions (director, cinematographer, editor, composer) blur or disappear entirely.

Ethics: Rights, Representation, and Responsible Innovation

The ethics discussion tackles contentious questions about training data, copyright, cultural representation, and the social impact of AI generated content. These issues lack settled answers, making dialogue among practitioners, programmers, and industry strategists essential.

Key ethical considerations include: How do filmmakers ensure AI training doesn't exploit existing creators' work? What responsibilities do AI filmmakers have regarding representation and stereotype perpetuation? How should festivals and distributors approach content provenance and disclosure?

The international panel brings varied regulatory environments and cultural norms into the conversation. European, Asian, African, and American perspectives on AI ethics differ significantly, and the conference provides rare opportunity for direct exchange.

Asia Premieres: "Imperia" and "Thiaroye 44"

The conference includes Asia Premiere screenings of two groundbreaking AI films on October 23 at Tokyo Photography Museum, with filmmaker Q&A sessions.

"Imperia" by Marcel Barsotti

This 35 minute German sci-fi epic explores what happens when mysterious cubes appear on Earth and people disappear without a trace. Brilliant scientist Lilly Rose discovers an ancient alien civilization using humanity for a sinister ritual, then realizes she could be the key to salvation or downfall.

The film demonstrates AI's capacity for complex world building, consistent visual storytelling, and sustained narrative across significant runtime. Its festival success and international screening schedule validate AI filmmaking at feature adjacent lengths.

"Thiaroye 44" by Hussein Dembel Sow

This 36 minute work retells the 1944 Thiaroye Massacre when French Colonial troops opened fire on unarmed Senegalese soldiers who had fought for France against Germany in WWII and protested their living conditions and lack of pay upon returning.

The film's 100% AI generation enables a historical narrative that might otherwise lack production resources. It demonstrates how AI empowers creators from underrepresented regions to tell culturally significant stories reaching international audiences.

What This Conference Means for AI Filmmaking's Future

Short Shorts Film Festival's decision to host this international conference at the Academy Awards qualified Asian film festival signals institutional validation of AI cinema. The event transcends novelty or experimental sidebars to position AI filmmaking as central to the medium's evolution.

The timing matters. With 275 AI identified submissions to SSFF & ASIA in recent years, festivals worldwide face urgent questions about programming, evaluation criteria, competition categories, and audience expectations. This conference provides space for festival directors, programmers, and creators to align on standards and best practices.

For filmmakers exploring AI tools, the conference offers validation and guidance. Hearing from award winners like Takeshi Kushida and Hussein Dembel Sow demonstrates that AI films can compete successfully at major festivals. Learning from strategists like Douglas Montgomery and Alexandre Michelin provides industry context for positioning AI work commercially.

Practical Information for Attendance

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025, 10:00 to 13:00
Venue: Akasaka Intercity Conference the AIR
Admission: 1 DAY Ticket 2,000 JPY or Event Only Ticket 1,000 JPY
Organizers: Pacific Voice Co., Ltd., Japan Arts Council, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan

The conference is supported by Japan Cultural Expo 2.0, an initiative aimed at building momentum toward Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, promoting inbound tourism recovery, and sharing Japan's culture and arts with the world.

Why Tokyo for This Conversation

Tokyo's position as a global filmmaking hub with strong technological infrastructure and rich cinematic traditions makes it ideal for this international AI conference. Japan's anime industry has long explored relationships between technology and creative expression, providing cultural context for AI filmmaking discussions.

The festival's Academy Awards qualification status gives the event additional weight. Films and conversations happening at SSFF & ASIA influence broader industry perceptions and standards.

The Global AI Filmmaking Ecosystem Emerges

This conference represents more than individual speakers sharing insights. It marks the emergence of a global AI filmmaking ecosystem with shared vocabulary, standards, and creative ambitions.

The speakers represent different entry points into AI cinema: established filmmakers incorporating new tools (Kushida, Yamaguchi), composers expanding into directing (Barsotti), engineers pursuing artistic expression (Parres), festival programmers shaping recognition standards (Shin, Sobhani), and industry strategists positioning AI content commercially (Montgomery, Michelin).

Their convergence in Tokyo creates opportunity for cross pollination that advances the entire field. Technical innovations, creative breakthroughs, and business models discussed at the conference will ripple through the international filmmaking community.

Questions the Conference Will Address

Based on the speakers' backgrounds and the conference themes, several key questions will likely receive substantial attention:

For Creators: How do successful AI filmmakers maintain distinctive creative voices? What workflows prove most effective? How much traditional filmmaking knowledge remains essential?

For Festivals: How should programmers evaluate AI films? Do AI works require separate competition categories or can they compete directly with traditional films? What disclosure standards should apply?

For Industry: How do distributors and platforms view AI content commercially? What market opportunities exist for AI filmmakers? How will audience perceptions evolve?

For Culture: How does AI filmmaking democratize storytelling globally? What responsibilities do AI creators have regarding representation and cultural sensitivity? How can the field ensure diverse voices participate?

The Democratization Narrative

Multiple speakers embody AI filmmaking's democratization promise. Marcel Barsotti transitioned from composer to director through AI tools. Hussein Dembel Sow creates cinema from Senegal reaching international audiences. Oscar Parres explores philosophical themes without traditional production infrastructure.

This democratization extends beyond individual creators to entire regions and communities. AI tools reduce financial and technical barriers that historically limited who could participate in professional filmmaking. The conference's international scope demonstrates this global expansion in practice.

For independent filmmakers and creators from underrepresented regions, the conference validates that AI provides legitimate pathways into professional cinema. Success stories like "Last Dream" winning at Bucheon and "Thiaroye 44" claiming the World AI Film Festival award prove that AI films can compete at the highest levels.

Looking Beyond the Conference

The conversations starting in Tokyo will continue across the international festival circuit, in production studios, and through creator communities worldwide. The relationships formed and ideas exchanged will shape AI filmmaking's development over coming years.

For filmmakers unable to attend in person, the conference proceedings will likely influence festival programming decisions, industry standards, and creative approaches globally. The speakers' work and perspectives represent the current state of the art in AI cinema.

A Pivotal Moment for AI Cinema

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia's international conference arrives at a crucial juncture. AI filmmaking has proven itself viable and competitive. Now the field needs frameworks for evaluation, ethical guidelines, business models, and creative standards.

This gathering of award winning creators, festival directors, industry strategists, and international voices provides the comprehensive perspective necessary to address these challenges. The October 26 conference won't settle every question, but it establishes dialogue structures and relationships that will continue shaping AI cinema's evolution.

For anyone interested in filmmaking's future, the conversations happening in Tokyo matter profoundly. They're defining how technology and creativity intersect, how global voices find expression, and how cinema itself evolves in the AI age.

The festival's Academy Awards qualification ensures that developments discussed at this conference influence not just AI filmmaking but cinema broadly. As traditional and AI production methods increasingly converge, the frameworks established through events like this one will guide the entire industry forward.

Key Takeaways for Filmmakers

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia's international AI conference brings together the most comprehensive gathering of AI filmmaking expertise to date. The October 26 event features:

Ten leading speakers from six countries representing creators, festival directors, industry strategists, and policy makers

Award winning AI filmmakers including Takeshi Kushida ("Last Dream") and Hussein Dembel Sow ("Thiaroye 44")

Asia Premieres of groundbreaking AI films "Imperia" and "Thiaroye 44"

Three core themes: creativity, collaboration, and ethics in AI filmmaking

Institutional validation at an Academy Awards qualified major international festival

The conference marks AI filmmaking's transition from experimental novelty to established production methodology. For creators, programmers, and industry professionals, the conversations in Tokyo will shape standards, practices, and possibilities for years to come.

Sources and Additional Reading

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia: AI International Conference Announcement

PR Newswire: SSFF & ASIA 2025 AI International Conference

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2025 Autumn Official Page

Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Official Site

AI Journal: SSFF Asia AI Conference Coverage