Autodesk Media & Entertainment
Cannes is one of the few moments each year when the global film industry is all in one place. Along the Croisette, lovers of film come together, premiering new work, building partnerships, and exchanging ideas that help shape what comes next.
Just beyond the red carpet, Cannes Next brings together filmmakers, technologists, and industry leaders to explore how new tools are reshaping the craft of filmmaking. We’re thrilled to be part of Cannes Next this year showcasing how AI can help filmmakers focus on what they do best – creating great films with fewer technical constraints.
Read on to see what we have planned at the festival.
The Future of Film Is Here
Across productions of every scale, AI is already finding its place in the filmmaking process, helping teams move faster, iterate more freely, and navigate increasingly complex workflows. For many filmmakers, the real question is no longer if AI will play a role. It’s how to use it in a way that supports the work, without getting in the way of it. At the center of our presence at Cannes Next, we’re hosting a panel that explores how AI is changing the filmmaking process, and how tools like Autodesk Flow Studio help filmmakers spend less time managing complexity and more time shaping their stories.
Panel: AI is Already Changing Filmmaking – Now What?
Monday, May 18 at 5-6pm CEST | Village Innovation (Pantiero)
This isn’t a theoretical discussion about what AI might do someday. It’s a conversation about what’s already happening on set, in studios, and across production pipelines — and what it means for the future of the craft. Bringing together perspectives from across the industry, the session will explore:
- Where AI is making a real impact today
- How filmmakers are incorporating it into their workflows
- What it looks like to adopt new tools while staying true to creative intent
Stick around afterwards for our AI After Hours cocktail reception at Village Innovation to continue the conversation with fellow filmmakers and AI enthusiasts.
Get to know our panelists
Barbara Ford Grant – Founder, BFG Productions
Barbara Ford Grant is a pioneering creative technology executive with decades of experience driving innovation in live action, animation, visual effects, immersive, virtual production, digital humans, and emerging AI technologies. She is known for leading exceptional teams to deliver groundbreaking production technologies for major franchises including Marvel, Game of Thrones, Alice in Wonderland, and Shrek. Currently an industry advisor to major studios, including Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios at Disney, Barbara is helping executive leadership translate emerging technologies and AI’s evolving capabilities into executable production strategy with a focus on tools that assist and advance creative vision.
Nikola Todorovic – Co-Founder, Wonder Dynamics, an Autodesk Company
Nikola Todorovic is the Co-Founder of Wonder Dynamics, an Autodesk Company. An entrepreneur, visual effects supervisor, and award-winning filmmaker, Nikola spent most of his career working at the intersection of film and technology. This ultimately led him to dream up Wonder Dynamics with fellow co-founder and actor/producer Tye Sheridan. Together, they created the company’s proprietary AI software, Autodesk Flow Studio (previously Wonder Studio), a cloud-based 3D animation, CGI and VFX platform that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with established tools, helping artists generate editable 3D assets and transform live-action footage into fully controllable CG scenes.
Marta Bałaga – Film Journalist and Moderator
Marta Bałaga is a film journalist and moderator, and a regular contributor to Variety. She has moderated at Cannes and Berlinale, and collaborated with Helsinki Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, Finnish Film Affair, Flanders Film Days, New Horizons Film Festival and more. She has led MIOB’s LAB of Cultural, Creative and Festival Journalism and Söderlångvik Masterclass. She’s a member of FIPRESCI and the European Film Academy, and has served on many juries, including Venice International Film Critics’ Week.
See You in Cannes!
Cannes Next is where ideas meet reality, and where the future of filmmaking starts to feel tangible. If you’re attending, come find us at Village Innovation. Whether you join the panel, stop by the cocktail, or just want to talk about where things are headed, we’d love to connect.
About Autodesk Flow Studio
Flow Studio is an advanced cloud-based AI 3D toolset that seamlessly transforms real-world footage into fully editable, pipeline-ready CG scenes, without the need for complex setups. It automatically generates essential export elements such as motion capture data, camera tracking, alpha masks, clean plates, and character passes – ready for use in 3D tools like Maya, Blender, Unreal, and 3ds Max via USD.