​Summary

​Step into the future of filmmaking at the intersection of AI and global cinema. This event brings together leading voices from Hollywood, Latin America, China, and Japan to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping storytelling: From creative development and production workflows to visual effects and international distribution.

​As part of the AI x Entertainment Series, the evening offers both strategic insight and practical perspectives, highlighting real-world applications of AI across the film industry while ecouraging conversations between creators, technologists, and industry leaders shaping the next era of entertainment.

​Schedule

​18:00 Doors open

​18:30 - 18:50 Talk 1 - The State of Media and AI Around the World (Douglas Montgomery)

​18:50 - 19:10 Talk 2 - AI and Cinema: Visions and Challenges from the Latin American Industry (Patricia Castañeda)

​19:10 - 19:30 Talk 3 - Fundamentals of AI Filmmaking and AI Trends in China (Qishi Li)

​19:30 - 19:50 Talk 4 - Automate AI Film Workflow with AI Canvas and AI Agents (Hero Kominato)

​19:50 - 20:10 Talk 5 - AI x VFX: Optimization, Automation, and Creative Control (Jeffrey Dillinger)

​20:10 - 21:00 Networking

​21:00 Event ends

​Speakers

​Talk 1 - The State of Media and AI Around the World

​Speaker: Douglas Montgomery (Executive Producer and Entrepreneur)

​Abstract: Douglas will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the film industry across development, distribution, and audience engagement. With global streaming platforms now competing for attention across every major market, AI is no longer a future concept — it's an active force determining which stories get made, how they travel internationally, and who gets to see them. Drawing on real-world data and decades of front-line distribution experience, Douglas will examine what the current AI moment means for filmmakers, studios, and the business of storytelling.

​Bio: Douglas Montgomery is a veteran entertainment executive with over 20 years of experience bridging Hollywood and Asian markets. As former VP of Data Strategy at Warner Bros., he has overseen the global release strategy for some of the world's most recognized film and television properties. He currently serves as Asia Market Advisor for Parrot Analytics, where he applies demand data intelligence to content strategy across Japan, Korea, China, and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Douglas is also CEO of Global Connects Media and Executive Producer of the Global Stage Hollywood Film Festival. He writes regularly for Nikkei Asia and the Japan Times on the intersection of entertainment, technology, and soft power.

​Talk 2 - AI and Cinema: Visions and Challenges from the Latin American Industry

​Speaker: Patricia Castañeda (Actor, Director, and Writer)

​Abstract: In this presentation, Patricia Castañeda will analyze the transition into a new era of filmmaking driven by artificial intelligence. She will provide an insider’s perspective on how these tools are being perceived and adopted within the Latin American context, exploring the delicate balance between technology and artistic sensitivity while analyzing what this evolution means for creators across the region.

​Bio: Patricia Castañeda is a prominent Colombian filmmaker, actress, and writer whose multifaceted career has had a significant impact on her country's film industry. With a trajectory spanning roles in iconic productions as well as creative work as a novelist and screenwriter, she has established herself as one of Colombia's most versatile creative voices. Her profile uniquely combines traditional on-set experience with an innovative vision for the future of visual storytelling.

​Talk 3 - Fundamentals of AI Filmmaking and AI Trends in China

​Speaker: Qishi Li (Writer and Film Director)

​Abstract: Director Qishi Li bridges traditional cinema with the AI frontier, using his film Tokyo Noir Story to show how filmmakers leverage node-based architectures to visualize sequels and epic narratives. He reveals the high-efficiency "China Model," where small teams produce 100 minutes of monthly content for seven-figure revenues. Through proof-of-concept trailers for his upcoming monster sci-fi, noir and fantasy projects, Li offers a behind-the-scenes look at how directors use generative tools to build entire cinematic worlds.

​Bio: Qishi Li is a Shanghai-born writer and director with an international portfolio spanning live-action and animation in China and the U.S. Best known for the sci-fi film Once Upon A Time In Space and the detective noir Tokyo Noir Story, he also explores the cutting edge of the medium via ElectricDreamer, his YouTube channel dedicated to AI-driven cinematic storytelling.

​Talk 4 - Automate AI Film Workflow with AI Canvas and AI Agents

​Speaker: Hero Kominato (AI Engineer and Filmmaker)

​Abstract: Hero's presentation will focus on the integration of AI canvas tools and autonomous agents into AI film workflows. The session will initially evaluate the expansive market of canvas tools (also known as node-based editors), identifying the specific platforms preferred by AI professionals. Next, we will examine recent advancements in autonomous agents and outline strategies for filmmakers to adopt these emerging technologies.

​Bio: Hero Kominato leads Tokyo’s largest international AI video community at AIMovie.Studio. As an AI Engineer, he bridges the gap between technology and cinema, helping creative agencies produce high-quality films at scale with AI. His AI assisted film, “Leo and Robot”, has been featured at the AI Film Festival Japan, and he serves as a community partner for AI industry leaders like Runway and Freepik.

​Talk 5 - AI x VFX: Optimization, Automation, and Creative Control

​Speaker: Jeffrey Dillinger (VFX Supervisor and Entrepreneur)

​Abstract: In this talk we will discuss challenges from creating realistic water through to creating realistic digital humans, faced over the years and how technology advancements from 1999 to AI have allowed artists to better tell the stories the way directors see them.

​Bio: Jeffrey Dillinger is the co-CEO and a VFX Supervisor at Megalis in Tokyo.  A veteran visual effects artist with more than 25 years in the industry at Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic, and Weta Digital, Jeffrey has experienced the challenges from creating realistic water through to creating realistic digital humans.

​Series Schedule

• ​Fri, Jan 16: AI x Anime

• ​Fri, Feb 13: AI x Games

• ​Fri, Mar 23: AI x Movies

• ​April/May (day TBD): AI Filmmaking Hackathon

​Organizers

• ​​​​​​​Ilya Kulyatin is an entrepreneur with work and academic experience in the US, Netherlands, Singapore, UK, and Japan. He holds a BA in Economics, an MA in Finance, and an MSc in Machine Learning. He's a 3x founder, now helping Japan grow the local AI ecosystem through a not-for-profit community, Tokyo AI (TAI), while building an AI-native system integrator and solutions provider, Foundry Labs株式会社.

• ​Douglas Montgomery is a veteran entertainment executive with over 20 years of experience bridging Hollywood and Asian markets. A former VP of Data Strategy at Warner Bros., he has led global release strategies for major film and television properties. He currently serves as Asia Market Advisor for Parrot Analytics and is CEO of Global Connects Media, where he focuses on the intersection of content, data, and international audience growth.

• ​Hero Kominato leads Tokyo’s largest international AI video community at AIMovie.Studio. As an AI engineer, he works at the intersection of technology and filmmaking, helping creative teams produce high-quality content at scale using AI. His AI-assisted film Leo and Robot has been featured at the AI Film Festival Japan, and he collaborates with industry platforms such as Runway and Freepik to advance the global AI creator ecosystem.

• ​Michael Hideki Matsumura

​Supporters

​​​Tokyo AI (​​​TAI) is the biggest AI community in Japan, with 3,000+ members mainly based in Tokyo (engineers, researchers, investors, product managers, and corporate innovation managers).

​Value Create is a management advisory and corporate value design firm offering services such as business consulting, education, corporate communications, and investment support to help companies and individuals unlock their full potential and drive sustainable growth.

​Sakura Deeptech Shibuya is a new global innovation hub at Shibuya Sakura Stage, created by Tokyu Land to support world‑class deeptech startups through industry–government–academia collaboration. Anchored by partners such as MIT, UTokyo IPC, and Shibuya City, it provides a community, programs, and facilities designed to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, materials, carbon, AI, and robotics.

​Scrum Ventures is a San Francisco– and Tokyo‑based early‑stage venture capital firm investing globally and partnering with leading corporations to drive new business creation. Through its investment funds and its open‑innovation arm, Scrum Studio, the firm supports startups across sectors while building cross‑border programs that accelerate real-world adoption of new technologies.

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