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The Future of Film Festivals: Global Leaders Discuss AI, Tourism, and Innovation in Japan
On November 9, 2024, industry leaders from all over the globe gathered in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, to discuss the evolution and future of film festivals. Hosted by the Academy Award®-accredited Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, in collaboration with the Japan Cultural Expo, the international conference titled "Film Festival Leaders from Around the World Gather for a Conference on Film Festivals of the Future" explored the relationship between cinema, technology, and tourism. The conference featured five expert panelists–festival directors from Indonesia, Brazil, New Zealand, Finland, and Japan–who discussed the important role film festivals play in today’s culture, technological innovation, as well as the promotion of global tourism. Conference Panelists Fransiska Prihadi: Minikino Film Week (Bali International Short Film Festival) Program Director from Indonesia Ailton Franco Jr.: Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival Director from Brazil Mark Prebble: Show Me Shorts Film Festival Director from New Zealand Jukka-Pekka Laakso: Tampere Film Festival Director from Finland Asako Fujioka: Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival Vice-Chair from Japan Panel Discussions Discussions covered a range of intriguing topics, including sustainability initiatives, the increasing digitization of festivals, the inclusion of VR in film submissions, the role of generative AI, and the overall future of film festivals. CREDIT: Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia “Festivals’ Sustainable Initiatives” The panelists discussed the challenges of making sure film festivals are sustainable, mentioning the carbon footprint of air travel, printed catalogs and tickets, and handling unsold festival merch after the fest is over. They suggested solutions like keeping venues closer together to reduce transportation, going digital with festival print-outs, and working with local vendors to recycle T-shirts and tote bags. “Digital Transformation of Film Festivals” Technology is transforming film festivals in a big way. The panelists explained how many aspects of the festival experience are being digitized, including film submissions, voting via QR codes, and digital tickets, posters, and catalogs. “About Web3, Metaverse, VR” How does a film festival bring VR into the festival experience? According to the panelists, it’s very challenging. During the panel discussion, Asako Fujioka explained that it was “practically impossible to have a room and all the equipment and technology” available for VR films at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, while Fransiska Prihadi shared that they have been able to show VR films at the Bali International Short Film Festival. However, Ailton Franco Jr. brought up another important concern: the movie-watching experience. He said, “Bringing people to the cinema for the experience—this is more important nowadays. There might be people who say that you don't need film festivals anymore. You can see those films at home. But the festival and cinema are a place where you experience something together” “New Technologies / Generative AI” The panelists discussed the gravity of using AI technology in filmmaking, specifically its ethical ramifications as well as how it will define creativity in the future. While being open to new and innovative ways of making films, Jukka-Pekka Laakso explained the importance of putting up boundaries and guardrails, saying, “We need to create the guidelines and think about how to control these kinds of tools. “The Future of the Film Festival” So, what does the future hold for film festivals? Jukka-Pekka Laakso shared, “Short film festival is the research and development part of the film industry. What are new ways of filmmaking?” Fransiska Prihadi is optimistic about the future, stating, “I think it will be a bright future. And I hope the filmmaker will find ways to make dark things still entertaining and keep us hopeful.” Check out this video to learn more about the event. - YouTube www.youtube.com
On November 9, 2024, industry leaders from all over the globe gathered in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, to discuss the evolution and future of film festivals. Hosted by the Academy Award®-accredited Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, in collaboration with the Japan Cultural Expo, the international conference titled "Film Festival Leaders from Around the World Gather for a Conference on Film Festivals of the Future" explored the relationship between cinema, technology, and tourism.
The conference featured five expert panelists–festival directors from Indonesia, Brazil, New Zealand, Finland, and Japan–who discussed the important role film festivals play in today’s culture, technological innovation, as well as the promotion of global tourism.
Conference Panelists
- Fransiska Prihadi: Minikino Film Week (Bali International Short Film Festival) Program Director from Indonesia
- Ailton Franco Jr.: Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival Director from Brazil
- Mark Prebble: Show Me Shorts Film Festival Director from New Zealand
- Jukka-Pekka Laakso: Tampere Film Festival Director from Finland
- Asako Fujioka: Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival Vice-Chair from Japan
Panel Discussions
Discussions covered a range of intriguing topics, including sustainability initiatives, the increasing digitization of festivals, the inclusion of VR in film submissions, the role of generative AI, and the overall future of film festivals.
CREDIT: Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
“Festivals’ Sustainable Initiatives”
The panelists discussed the challenges of making sure film festivals are sustainable, mentioning the carbon footprint of air travel, printed catalogs and tickets, and handling unsold festival merch after the fest is over.
They suggested solutions like keeping venues closer together to reduce transportation, going digital with festival print-outs, and working with local vendors to recycle T-shirts and tote bags.
“Digital Transformation of Film Festivals”
Technology is transforming film festivals in a big way. The panelists explained how many aspects of the festival experience are being digitized, including film submissions, voting via QR codes, and digital tickets, posters, and catalogs.
“About Web3, Metaverse, VR”
How does a film festival bring VR into the festival experience? According to the panelists, it’s very challenging. During the panel discussion, Asako Fujioka explained that it was “practically impossible to have a room and all the equipment and technology” available for VR films at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, while Fransiska Prihadi shared that they have been able to show VR films at the Bali International Short Film Festival.
However, Ailton Franco Jr. brought up another important concern: the movie-watching experience. He said, “Bringing people to the cinema for the experience—this is more important nowadays. There might be people who say that you don't need film festivals anymore. You can see those films at home. But the festival and cinema are a place where you experience something together”
“New Technologies / Generative AI”
The panelists discussed the gravity of using AI technology in filmmaking, specifically its ethical ramifications as well as how it will define creativity in the future.
While being open to new and innovative ways of making films, Jukka-Pekka Laakso explained the importance of putting up boundaries and guardrails, saying, “We need to create the guidelines and think about how to control these kinds of tools.
“The Future of the Film Festival”
So, what does the future hold for film festivals? Jukka-Pekka Laakso shared, “Short film festival is the research and development part of the film industry. What are new ways of filmmaking?”
Fransiska Prihadi is optimistic about the future, stating, “I think it will be a bright future. And I hope the filmmaker will find ways to make dark things still entertaining and keep us hopeful.”
Check out this video to learn more about the event.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
