The discussion “Innovate. Collaborate. Transform: Shaping the future of our industry” in collaboration with ACE Producers, took place on Tuesday, November 4, as part of the Agora Talks at the 66th TIFF. Thanos Stavropoulos, Agora Manager, opened by welcoming the participants and expressing his thanks to the Municipality of Thessaloniki for hosting the event at the Thessaloniki Music Center. He also thanked ACE producers for their fruitful collaboration, handing over to Maegene Fabias, Events & Springboard Manager at ACE Producers, who kicked off the discussion.
The panel, which was moderated by Yorgos Tsourgiannis, Producer at Horsefly, brought together Aleksi Hyvärinen, producer at Don Films and Janine Jackowski, producer at Komplizen Film GmbH. The session delved into the critical role of innovation and collaboration in advancing the film industry amidst rapid technological evolution. Tsourgiannis kicked off the discussion on the new tools that are redefining production processes, cross-functional teamwork and collaboration. He then invited speakers to share their experiences with said tools, focusing on the creation of alliances and collective models. Janine Jackowski introduced “The Creatives”, a partnership established four years ago, which brought together nine independent production companies. She described the structure and the benefits of these collaborations, while highlighting the fact that each company upholds its own independence and decision-making authority. She mentioned that when people come together the whole group grows both stronger and wealthier, and that in an international context effective collaboration and mutual respect are essential.
Aleksi Hyvärinen, co-founder of the “Alchemist”, spoke about this initiative’s founding. He explained that their first step was to ask whether they wanted to be passive recipients of change or actively take part in it, and so they connected film professionals with AI experts to better understand and adapt to this transformation. Through collaborative group processes, the “Alchemist” initiated the formation of a collective of innovation specialists, AI experts, filmmakers, and producers. He also showcased a brief AI-generated reel and reflected on intelligent storytelling and the importance of embracing diverse approaches. The discussion also addressed the advantages of small, flexible units compared to large networks and the importance of maintaining ethical practices when using AI. Janine Jackowski noted that, although the use of AI is widely spread, the “Alchemist” has never uploaded a script to an AI platform, in order to protect their creatives and prevent their work from becoming part of common knowledge.
During the Q&A session, the speakers shared valuable perspectives on how strategic partnerships and innovative tools can enhance workflow efficiency with the audience. As a last remark, Janine Jackowski stressed that collaboration makes things easier, while Aleksi Hyvärinen added that innovation stems from curiosity and a willingness to be part of change.
