I was honoured to be asked to join the CICLOPE AI Craft judging for this year's festival. While I know many people are hesitant about its inclusion, and I understand why, the quality of the work, creative ideas, and execution are exceptional. The use of AI tools, both natively and in hybrid workflows across production, post-production, and sound, is technically sophisticated, extensive, and creatively top-tier.
LOREM IPSUM — PURGA STUDIO
BUNKER BOYZ — PRIVATE ISLAND
This post isn't about the debate. It’s to celebrate the teams involved, the incredible, creative work, and standout ideas in each shortlisted piece. I want to thank CICLOPE for having me on board, and give a big shout-out to everyone who contributed to the shortlisted work.
Moonshot — Promptr GmbH
The Girl In The Mirror – Sweet Filmes
Evaluating this year’s submissions (and there were scores of them) made one thing abundantly clear: Generative AI is no longer just a novelty or a shortcut, but a powerful catalyst for human imagination. The most compelling pieces weren't those that relied on automated generation for easy visuals, but those where directors, creatives, and creators treated AI as a malleable tool.
The RealReal — Lipstick Film
SIMPLY NKD — LOBO
The level of detail, focus, and precision on display proved that true craft still hinges entirely on artistic vision, taste, and creative teams collaborating to push a script and their ideas using native workflows or hybrid workflows.
The Blurry Man — Promptr GmbH
GAIA — Lipstick Film
What excites me most about this inaugural shortlist is how it redefines collaboration between human intent and machine capability. Instead of replacing traditional craft, these tools are expanding the canvas, allowing small teams (and big teams) to realise immense cinematic visions and enabling seasoned artists and new voices to break new ground.
The Solitude — COLLISION
The Luma Dream Brief — DE-YAN
The debates surrounding AI in our industry are vital and necessary, but celebrating those who use it to push visual storytelling forward is how we shape where the technology goes next.
Precision — Topaz Studio
Good luck to everyone!
