Gain valuable insights into the trends, challenges, and opportunities driving the creator economy from industry leaders. Explore the strategies and innovations shaping the future of this rapidly evolving space.

AI is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s a transformative tool reshaping the creative process in unscripted and documentary storytelling. From identifying compelling story arcs to streamlining post-production workflows, AI is helping creators innovate while preserving the authenticity and emotion of real-life narratives.

Join industry leaders and innovators as they explore how AI is being used to analyze hours of raw footage, surface hidden gems, edit rough cuts and empower creators to focus on storytelling over tedious tasks. This panel will also tackle the ethical considerations and challenges of maintaining humanity in AI-driven workflows. Whether you’re a filmmaker, producer, or content creator, this session will leave you inspired and equipped to harness the potential of AI in your creative projects.

The rise of 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) and mobile scanning is transforming the way films, TV, and digital content are produced. From virtual production and VFX previsualization to game engine-based content creation, real-world environments can now be captured, processed, and integrated into digital workflows faster than ever.

From Hollywood to Europe to emerging markets, governments worldwide offer lucrative tax incentives, rebates, and funding programs to attract film, TV, and digital content production. But with varying eligibility requirements, application processes, and hidden fine print, how can producers and studios get the most bang for their buck? This panel brings together industry experts, financial strategists, and policy advisors to break down the best local and international tax deals, highlighting which countries and states offer the biggest returns and how to structure productions for maximum savings. Whether you’re working with a tight indie budget or a multimillion-dollar blockbuster, this session will provide insider insights on where to shoot, how to save, and how to stretch every dollar while keeping quality high in an ever-changing entertainment finance landscape.

From murky contracts to copyright battles, the legal side of content creation is a minefield. Creators risk losing control of their work, facing lawsuits, or getting trapped in bad deals without even realizing it. Uncover the fine print that could cost you, the evolving rules around fair use and disclosures, and the strategies to protect your content, your rights, and your revenue.

DeepSeek’s emergence is more than just another AI release—it exposes a larger trend shaping the future of artificial intelligence: the rapid commoditization of models and the fragile economics of AI development. As foundational models become interchangeable, media companies must rethink their AI strategies, shifting focus from model selection to ethical implementation and competitive differentiation at the application layer.

At the same time, these shifts raise urgent ethical, legal, and regulatory questions. Who owns AI-generated content? How do we ensure AI-generated media maintains integrity and trust? Should governments intervene in how AI systems operate in global markets?

This panel brings together AI developers, journalists, legal experts to explore:

1. The shifting AI landscape: Are foundational models becoming commodities?
2. AI and media ethics: How do we balance transparency, bias, and misinformation?
3. Regulation and governance: What legal frameworks are emerging around AI ownership and sovereignty?
4. Strategic takeaways for media companies: Where should businesses focus as AI models evolve?

Join us for a candid discussion on how AI commoditization is reshaping the media industry—and what companies must do to stay ahead.

Get the inside scoop on how creators stay ahead of shifting algorithms and grow their audiences. Learn the strategies that work, why tracking performance matters, and how creators use their impact to outshine traditional advertising.

The rapid introduction of new technologies and movie-making tools allows experienced and emerging filmmakers to tell innovative stories in amazing and unexpected ways. Join an award-winning motion picture producer and a leading industry technologist as they discuss the relationship between creativity and technology and what it means for the future of filmmaking.

• How might cutting-edge tools like AI, advanced capture and display technologies change how stories are told, and how can we prepare for these changes?
• What can be done to keep humans at the center of creative authorship?
• As the industry evolves and integrates these technologies into mainstream production workflows, how can we preserve the films we’re making now to have maximum flexibility to address future formats and technologies?

Learn how the Academy is nurturing and supporting these transformative efforts for the betterment of the industry.

Discover the essential tools and technology every creator needs to produce outstanding content. From versatile hardware to powerful software, this session explores the gear transforming content creation. Learn how to elevate production quality, streamline workflows, and engage your audience with practical insights for all experience levels.

Learn from leading Hollywood experts about the latest developments in 8K scanning and mastering and its growing impact on motion picture restoration and archiving. Join Brad Collar, Senior Vice President, Global Archives & Preservation Services for Warner Bros. Discovery, Chris Gillaspie, Film Scanning Director at Warner Bros. Discovery and Greg Ciaccio, VP, Post Production Original Content & Image Capture at IMAX, as they engage in a lively discussion moderated by Juan Reyes, Executive Director of the 8K Association.

Virtual production has long been associated with high-budget Hollywood blockbusters and major broadcast studios. However, recent technological advancements are helping democratize this field, making it accessible to a wider range of creators, from small studios and independent filmmakers to educational institutions and corporate content creators. Brainstorm, a leading innovator in real-time 3D graphics and virtual production, is at the forefront of this movement with its cutting-edge solutions, such as InfinitySet Lite and Edison, which reduce the cost and complexity of virtual production. This session will detail the benefits of this approach and the possibilities that brings to any kind of content creator that wants to take advantage of virtual production.

Multiple tracks can deliver multiple headaches. Whether editing on the bus with your phone, on the couch with your iPad, or on a desktop, in this workshop you’ll learn how to enjoy telling complex stories with confidence and ease; by learning techniques for managing multiple layer timelines with layered effects and audio. Never go out of sync, lose your place, or lose your mind.

Traditional media built the foundation. Creators are building the future. This session explores how creators are reshaping the media landscape, designing new forms of content, capturing new distribution channels and monetizing their work, both in colloboration with traditional media – and on new platforms.

Join us for “Are You Smarter Than A DeepSeek?”, an interactive panel where AI experts face off against the advanced AI model, DeepSeek, on pressing AI-in-media topics covering ethical dilemmas, technological innovations, and more. After each round, the audience votes to determine whether human insight or artificial intelligence prevails.

Questions include:

1. AI in Newsrooms: Can AI-generated content maintain journalistic integrity, or does it risk perpetuating bias and misinformation?
2. Deepfakes Dilemma: With the rise of AI-generated deepfakes, how can media outlets safeguard authenticity and trustworthiness?
3. Creative Collaborations: Is AI a tool for enhancing human creativity in media production, or could it eventually replace human creators?
4. Ethical Algorithms: How can AI systems be designed to respect privacy and avoid reinforcing societal biases in media applications?
5. AI and Audience Engagement: In what ways can AI personalize media content without crossing the line into manipulation?

This event offers a unique blend of enlightenment and entertainment, showcasing the dynamic interplay between human expertise and AI capabilities.
 

How do you keep on time and budget while creating sizzling content that serves millions of viewers? New Rocksters let us in on their production secrets as well as their strategy for providing unique insights into the super-brands we love. 

YouTube’s creator liason and editor Rene Ritchie knows more about building success on YouTube than just about anyone else. In this session he’ll share the deep secrets of success for 2025, including why the algorithm doesn’t hate you, how AI is changing discovery and recommendations, the key numbers and KPIs to REALLY focus on, the unique characteristics of Shorts, YouTube on the big screen and much more! Bring your questions for this interactive AMA session!

Dive into the world where music meets storytelling with a panel of industry experts who will unpack the intricacies of music licensing for film and television. Whether it’s securing the perfect track to enhance the tension in a Stranger Things finale or crafting the next iconic theme like Succession, the right music can transform a production. In today’s streaming-dominated landscape, where content is king, the demand for music is higher than ever—and so is the need for accurate music reporting to ensure compliance and fair payment for creators. Designed for filmmakers, studios and production companies, this session explores cutting-edge tools, evolving rights challenges and the critical role of music reporting in keeping the music and broadcast worlds in harmony.

Explore how AI tools are transforming content creation, from automating tasks to enhancing storytelling. Learn strategies to streamline workflows, boost creativity, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

While most cloud-based tools promise seamless collaboration, they also come with major drawbacks. Expensive storage, bandwidth limits, per-user fees, and create workflow bottlenecks. Internet dependency makes remote work vulnerable to slow connections while remote access put sensitive content at risk. Does a lack of true ownership mean creatives are locked into ecosystems they don’t control? For an industry built on flexibility and innovation, the cloud can feel more like a costly cage than a liberating tool.

Despite these challenges, filmmakers need efficient, scalable solutions that don’t break the bank or compromise creative control. Our panel will explore alternatives such as hybrid storage models, decentralized collaboration tools, and smarter local workflows to help bridge the gap between accessibility and affordability. By rethinking how we store, share, and edit content, the industry can move beyond cloud dependency and build a future that truly empowers creators.

The technology buying process is outdated and broken, but thankfully there is a solution to solve this  – in the form of good people. In this fireside chat, two long-time partners (Hollywood’s leading data storage and services platform provider, OpenDrives, along with trusted systems integration and reseller, Key Code Media) will share the story of how they came together to help solve the data storage and networking problems of one prestigious post-production studio, Goldcrest Post.  

From creatives to the technologists to the heads of facility and IT managers – nobody wants to deal with aging, broken infrastructure and complex workflow solutions, especially in the world of media and entertainment. When every minute counts, outdated technology that doesn’t work can cost you big time in terms of production slowdowns, missed deadlines and, worst of all, poor creativity. Do you remember hating on anything and everything that took you out of your flow state? Every creative does, and it’s hard to give unreliable technology second chances.

However, not everyone is technologically savvy enough to know how to fix this. And when time is ticking, it’s difficult to know where to go and what to buy next. You’re stuck.

This is where the power of a good partnership comes in. You see, nobody really wants to buy technology. Why? Because the whole experience sucks. It’s lengthy, unnecessarily complicated and distasteful even. Sales pitches aren’t always truthful, and the marketing messaging you see on a website is not often what you get. So how do you get past all the fluff and straight to the facts? First, you have to realize that you’re not actually seeking technology; you need people you trust and respect. A good partner won’t sell you on speeds and feeds. They’ll ask you about your challenges and collaborate with you to find the right solution – whether you need something to solve performance, security, interoperability, complexity, flexibility, scalability, and of course price.

We hope you enjoy our story so you too can find your perfect technology match with the power of a good partnership.

Featuring:

Moderated by Michael Kammes, Creator and Host of 5 THINGS web series and Senior Director, Innovation at Key Code Media.

Domenic Rom, Managing Director at Goldcrest Post.

Sean Lee, CEO at OpenDrives.

Steve Rapanaro, Senior Account Manager at Key Code Media.

Discover how authentic content from users and employees can build deeper connections and drive audience loyalty. Learn strategies to encourage genuine participation, amplify voices, and turn everyday creators into powerful advocates for your brand.

Success in sports is often achieved by great teamwork and a clear vision – the same is true in the fast-paced world of live production.

Join experts from AWS, Vizrt and LiveU as they share the joint playbook that delivered the vision set out by John Servizzi, President of Tupelo Honey (a Gray Media company).  Learn how the vendors’ live production solutions work perfectly together to increase efficiency, effectiveness and adaptability across Tupelo Honey’s REMI, hybrid and lightweight cloud live productions, and gain actionable insights to help you accelerate your own journey.

The creator economy continues to grow at an impressive rate, with projections indicating it will reach $528.39 billion by 2030. But like any maturing industry, there are obstacles. From on-the-job burnout, to the uncertainty of the job market, from lack of traditional safety guards like medical insurance, to negotiating a fair contract, our panel of X creators offer their insights on how to triumph. 

As social media audiences officially surpass TV by 2025—a milestone dubbed the “Social Singularity”—brand marketers across sectors are forging innovative collaborations with creators and influencers. This session examines how to harness these partnerships, from tapping in-house creative talent to engaging established influencers, to thrive in a new era where social platforms dominate the attention economy.

From setup to strategy, this session breaks down everything you need to succeed in live stream shopping. Whether you’re a creator or a brand, you’ll learn how to connect with audiences, keep them watching, and drive real revenue with shoppertainment. We’ll cover the best platforms, tools, and techniques to keep audiences engaged and buying in real time.

You’ve seen the inspirational videos, you’ve heard the life-changing lessons, but now it’s time for the real talk. In this intimate AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, top digital scripted creatorDhar Mann and Dhar Mann Studios CEO Sean Atkins (former President at MTV) are ready to answer your burning questions—whether it’s about building a media empire, handling internet fame, or how to make more money with your content. Now’s your chance to ask!

Discover how creators produce exceptional content by mastering their setups, perfecting their shots, and leveraging cutting-edge tools. Gain insights into the techniques, equipment, and workflows that elevate their work, and take away practical tips to refine your own content creation process.

Dive into the world of audio content as creators explore the power of podcasts, music, and other sound-driven experiences. Discover how these platforms are reshaping the creator economy and offering new ways to connect with audiences.

Explore how creators are pioneering immersive environments, transforming the creator economy, influencing culture, and partnering with brands to connect with future generations.