In the early light of AI’s creative revolution in film and design, the inaugural Stockholm AI Film Conference 2025 gathered visionaries this March under the theme “The Hybrid Future”. Industry pioneers shared their angles on how artificial intelligence is transforming the current creative dawn with new workflows across film, design, and advertising. From democratizing Hollywood-quality effects to building efficient creative pipelines, these leaders offered their insights on redefining what’s possible at the intersection of human creativity and AI assistance. An initiative of Swedish production studio NorthernSpark, the event brought together these trailblazers for an inspiring and meaningful opportunity, offering first-hand experience and global networking in the evolving landscape of AI: former ElevenLabs, Creative Director – currently founder of Wonder Studios – Justin Hackney, Freepik CXO Martin LeBlanc, AI law expert Alexander Jute, award-winning Gen AI Director and TV Producer Verena Puhm, British tech founder of AiMation, and AI filmmaking pioneer Tom Paton, acclaimed Norwegian short film creator Edmond Yang, and Kathryn Brillhart, a Virtual Production Supervisor & Director of Photography with key roles in major productions, including The Mandalorian and Top Gun: Maverick, and Fallout’s first season.

Working with AI in early 2025 feels like collaborating with an unpredictable yet inspiring artist. While structured projects can be challenging, AI thrives in open-ended work, creating a dynamic 50-50 partnership with human direction. A key discussion at the event was whether actors remain relevant in an AI-driven industry. In reality, they’re more essential than ever. Performance capture is now accessible with just an iPhone, bringing Hollywood-level tools to independent creators. Platforms like Runway and Cuebric help integrate recorded performances while enabling visual transformations like 2D-to-parallax depth, enhancing production value.

Billy Boman, Visual AI Artist, AI Educator & Host of Stockholm AI Film Conference

Here are some highlights of the stimulating conversation from the event speakers. The event was hosted by Swedish visual AI artist and AI educator Billy Boman, a leading voice in the international AI community who has coined the concept “It’s Not AI OR, It’s AI AND”. “This idea formed from having many debates on LinkedIn with people who are angry, afraid, or skeptical about AI. To communicate my perspective clearly, I realized it’s not “AI OR,” it’s “AI AND.” People need to stop thinking in binary terms because it’s actually about a combination – AI and cameras, AI and VFX, AI and CGI, working together to make the production value. This framing creates more optimism around AI while acknowledging the truth that it’s not automation, it doesn’t work by itself. It’s a tool for us to use,” Boman explains. Some of the speakers likened working with AI to “taming a dragon” – a skill that improves with practice. “Sure, that dragon, you could ride it and have a great relationship, but you’re working with it.” Each new tool requires relearning but rather than seeing this as a limitation, the message is to embrace the learning process.

Micke Mikeadelica, Co-Founder of NorthernSpark

Founded just five months ago, NorthernSpark Studios is bridging the gap between AI and traditional filmmaking. “We believe it’s important not to choose one over the other if we’re aiming for both credibility and new visual possibilities,” says co-founder Micke Mickadelica. The studio sees AI as a tool to enhance storytelling while making production more efficient. Beyond production, NorthernSpark is committed to education, offering training in both AI and core filmmaking disciplines. “We’re not looking to replace traditional filmmaking, we want to create new opportunities.” They are also advocating for national AI education programs and a dedicated guild for AI creatives. The NorthernSpark AI Conference was born out of early conversations with AI pioneers like Justin Hackney, Tom Paton, and Billy Boman. Their insights inspired the team to bring leading voices in AI filmmaking to Sweden, offering agencies and creatives a firsthand look at this rapidly evolving field. Looking ahead, Mickadelica sees 2025 as the breakthrough year for AI storytelling, predicting broad industry adoption and major investments. While China currently leads with user-friendly AI tools, and the U.S. drives innovation, Mickadelica describes the global landscape as “an arms race,” one that ultimately benefits creators.