International AI Conference to be Held at SSFF & ASIA 2025 Autumn International Short Film Festival. Ten AI filmmakers from Germany, Senegal, and Mexico, including a former Warner Bros. strategic advisor, former chairman of the French Film Center, and director of the Bucheon Film Festival in South Korea, gathered.
Pacific Voice Inc. Press Release: October 2, 2025 International AI Conference to be held at SSFF & ASIA 2025 Autumn International Short Film Festival. Ten AI filmmakers from Germany, Senegal, and Mexico, including a former Warner Bros. strategic advisor, former chairman of the French Film Center, and director of the Bucheon Film Festival in South Korea, gathered. The 36-minute sci-fi/AI epic “Imperia,” making its Asian premiere, has been selected as a special screening for “AI and the Future of Filmmaking: Exploring Creativity, Collaboration, and Ethics” on Sunday, October 26th at Akasaka Intercity Conference, 10:00-13:00.
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International Short Film Festival Fall 2020, starting on Wednesday, October 22nd, including speakers and screenings. URL:
https://www.shortshorts.org/jce_mice/ Among the approximately 5,000 short films submitted to the festival each year from around the world, the number of short films that report using AI has increased to 275 in recent years. Against a backdrop of diverse technologies and their uses, passionate discussions about creativity, utilization, and ethics are taking place among creators and film festivals around the world.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-e450de1972812e5e18ae85b6dd1af45e-1624×821.png Against this backdrop, at the SSFF & ASIA 2025 Autumn International Short Film Festival, as a leading creator of AI x film production, his latest full-AI short film “Last Dream” (25) won the top prize in the AI category at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea, and was awarded the “AI This international conference will feature 10 panelists from Japan and abroad, including Takeshi Kushida of Pyramid Films, whose work has been described as “a shocking work that will change the future of film,” Shin Cheol, producer of “My Sassy Girl” and director of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and Douglas Montgomery, strategic advisor at Warner Bros. and former corporate and entertainment consultant. They will discuss the current state and future of AI use in film production, as well as the ethics involved. The festival will also feature the Asian premiere of “Imperia,” a 36-minute sci-fi AI work by Marcel Barsotti, a composer and director of AI short films, who is also a panelist. While active as a composer, he will talk about how AI enabled him to produce and direct a short film and the possibilities he sees in it. This event is being held as part of the 2025 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 project. Panelist at the International Conference “AI and the Future of Filmmaking: Exploring Creativity, Collaboration, and Ethics”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-5d9dc31627a2bceb609f2e6948347a36-2000×2000.jpg (Germany) Marcel Barsotti (Composer and Filmmaker) In 2024, Marcel Barsotti made his directorial debut with “TRANSFORMATION.” This dystopian, expertly AI-generated sci-fi short film won 12
international awards and 37 nominations, and was hailed as a “rare work” in Germany. With “IMPERIA,” he realized his second large-scale AI sci-fi project with BAI Pictures and Schmerbeck Entertainment, which won the “Honorary Tribute Film Award” at the Toronto
International Peace Film Festival and is scheduled to screen at film festivals around the world, including Tokyo, Rome, Toronto, Utah, Munich, and Paris. Barsotti is also an internationally acclaimed film composer, having composed music for over 100 international films (including “Pope Joan,” “The Sea Wolves,” and “The Miracle of Bern”) and has received over 50 international awards for his film scores and music videos. He has also composed music for numerous commercials and corporate films for television and streaming networks, including Sky, Concorde, and RTL2. Barsotti lectures at European universities and has performed orchestral concerts of his film scores around the world. He is also CEO of the international sound library ETHNO WORLD and the music production company TUNESFORMOVIES. He is also a brand ambassador for VSL, Waldorf, and UVI products.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-87966a96347be3a87c658ebb0c6056fa-2000×1500.jpg (Germany) Gundula Barsotti-Bast (Dean’s Office, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich; Screenwriter) Gundula Barsotti-Bast manages the Dean’s Office, Faculty of
Educational Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich. She was a soprano and member of the International Choral Society of Munich for decades. She currently works as a consultant on film music for her husband, Marcel Barsotti, and on music publishing for BAM Music Publishing. Gundula Barzotti-Bast is also the co-screenwriter of the film projects “Transformation” and “Imperia.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-6b5f70298cbe7b932532dd7b8085fdd3-3815×2544.jpg (South Korea) Shin Chul (Festival Director, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival) Shin Chul has served as Festival Director of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) since 2019 and has played a central role in the modernization of Korean cinema. As a producer, he has worked on influential films such as “Marriage Story,” “Lies,” and “My Sassy Girl.” “My Sassy Girl,” in particular, sparked the “Korean Wave” boom, spreading throughout Asia and spawning remakes in Hollywood, China, and other countries around the world. Its success attracted new talent to the film industry, spurred investment from major companies, and ushered in a new golden age for Korean cinema. Widely recognized as the producer who revolutionized Korean cinema, Shin continues to take on new challenges. Starting with BIFAN 2024, he will lead the “BIFAN ” project, exploring the impact of generative AI. The project aims to expand freedom of expression and present a vision for the future evolution of film and film festivals.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-a6af34b1528aa80fcf1c6bfb5c664d26-853×1280.jpg (Senegal)/Oussein Dembel Sow (Film Director/Screenwriter) Oussein Dembel Sow is a Senegalese film director and screenwriter pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. He won the 2025 World AI Film Festival (WAiFF) for his film “Tiaroe 44.” He is currently building a generative film studio in Africa, aiming to democratize access to filmmaking and share African stories on a global scale. Passionate about new technologies and their impact on the film industry, he also serves as the Dakar representative for AI Thinker, an international community promoting collaborative innovation in artificial intelligence.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-dc00ee09ffb6481497b5e14f737db99a-1920×1080.jpg (Japan) Takeshi Kushida (Filmmaker) Born in Osaka in 1982. Affiliated with Pyramid Films. Her debut feature film, “Photography Woman” (20), was screened at 90 international film festivals, including Osaka Asian, SKIP City, Tokyo International, and Fantasia, winning 40 awards, and was released in 10 countries. His second feature film, “My Mother’s Eyes” (2023), was hailed as “the beginning of the third wave of J-horror” at London FrightFest, the UK’s largest horror film festival, and is currently being distributed worldwide. His third feature film, “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly” (2024), was planned and produced as the opening film of the SKIP City Film Festival. His latest work, the all-AI short film “Last Dream” (25), won the top prize in the AI category at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and was praised as “a shocking work that will change the future of AI films.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-19e7db50bd40c35d0243e32a8d596dfb-2025×2700.jpg (France) Alexandre Michelin (Founder & Curator, Knowledge Immersive Forum (KIF)) A French media executive who has relentlessly pursued new frontiers in storytelling, Alexandre Michelin learned his basics in broadcasting at Paris Premier Cable Television before moving to Canal as Program Director, where he embraced the creative boldness of premium television and digital innovation in Europe within the Canal group. In 2005, he won an International Interactive Emmy Award for his pioneering work in interactive formats for his France 5 show “Cult,” demonstrating his keen sense of innovation. In 2006, he joined Microsoft, where he spent 10 years as head of MSN in EMEA, leading one of the company’s largest global regions and laying the foundations for its digital content platform across three continents. Since 2021, he has chaired the Digital Experiences Committee of the French National Cinema Centre (CNC), promoting immersive formats such as VR, AR, and XR. In 2024, he launched the “You AI” initiative, anticipating how artificial intelligence will redefine creative practice and cultural engagement. He is currently founder of the Knowledge Immersive Forum (KIF), curating an international dialogue on the future of culture and technology.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-d27c627e9c5c27f554d2f797b989b751-440×490.jpg (USA) Douglas Montgomery (Global Media Specialist) Global media specialist. Mr. Montgomery has over 20 years of experience in the media and retail industries. He will be working to integrate Walmart Stores’ newly acquired international retail operations. After that, Mr. Montgomery served as a strategic advisor to Warner Bros. for 15 years in three different countries (the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom), consulting with WB’s executive team and key partners. He also served as president of the Southern California chapter of the 114-year-old Japan-America Society, overseeing the event honoring Marie Kondo and Shohei Ohtani as “Global Citizens.” In 2021, he founded Global Connects Media, a consulting and support company helping clients access global entertainment and retail markets. He also serves as an advisor to TOKYO EPIC, Inc., a company that creates short animated content and develops platforms using AI.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-1355634e24d25248a19e6da345b60736-600×800.jpg (Mexico) Oscar Pérez (Filmmaker) Oscar Pérez is a Mexican engineer and independent filmmaker specializing in artificial intelligence. His work explores how technology can expand the boundaries of artistic and narrative expression. In 2023, he was invited to speak at an official event before the Mexican Chamber of Commerce (Congress) to discuss the role of AI in various fields and expressed his interest in introducing this technology into multiple areas of society and culture. His debut short film, “Who is God?” (2023), was created entirely by artificial intelligence and is one of the world’s first AI-generated short films to be officially registered with the Mexican Copyright Office. The project positioned him as part of a new generation of creators redefining the relationship between cinema, spirituality, and emerging technologies. He is currently working on “Yo Soy,” which furthers this exploration. Conceived as a love letter to God, it is the second in a two-part series that reflects a personal and spiritual quest. This new project marks the next step in his journey to combine symbolic storytelling with technological innovation and reach an international audience.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-e9690c1346bd7773b695f78692bc95b4-852×1278.jpg (Iran) Javad Sobhani (Tehran International Short Film Festival AI Competition Programmer) Javad Sobhani is a screenwriter and film director born in Iran in 1991. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. A member of the Iranian Screenwriters Union, he has served as programmer and international program coordinator at the Oscar-accredited Tehran International Short Film Festival since 2018. The festival is one of Asia’s largest short film events, and Sobhani is responsible for strategic planning, programming, and international coordination. Since 2020, he has served as the International Program Coordinator and Director of the Iranian Youth Cinema Association, one of the world’s leading short film production and educational organizations. His works include the feature-length screenplay “Torpedo” and several short films, including his latest, “The White Horse,” which won the Grand Prix in the Feature Film category at the Kazan International Film Festival in Russia in 2024. He is currently writing his second feature-length screenplay. Sobhani has served as a jury and selection committee member at international film festivals in Portugal, France, Italy, and elsewhere. He also introduced the AI Competition category at the 41st Tehran
International Short Film Festival in 2024, which has since become an official international competition category.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-d388173f8c0c50ac60b4b7403adcd2ac-2000×1325.jpg (Japan) Hiroki Yamaguchi (President of GaumaPix/Film Director) Born in Kyoto Prefecture. 39th Director of the Ritsumeikan University Film Club. After winning the Grand Prix at the Indie Movie Festival for his film “Midnight Organ,” which he directed at age 19, his first feature-length film, “Gushanobinzume,” which was released in theaters in 2004. This work won an award at the Montreal Fantasia International Film Festival and was officially invited to numerous international film festivals, including the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, before being approved for distribution in various countries. Her representative live-action works include the “Messiah” series (based on a novel by Madoka Takadono), “Bloody Delinquent Chainsaw” (based on a novel by Rei Mikamoto), and “Torinoko City” (original song by 40mP). Her first generative AI film, “Improvement Cycle,” was officially invited to the AI category at the 2024 Bucheon
International Fantastic Film Festival, Busan International AI Film Festival, and Trieste Science Fiction Film Festival, and her AI film, “Grand Marebito,” was released in theaters in August 2025. She currently gives numerous presentations on the use of generative AI in filmmaking. 【Japan Expo】
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-1fb8c38af583c6025bc78b70adb37fac-3900×3900.jpg “Nihonhaku 2.0” aims to embody the beauty and spirit of Japan while building momentum for the 2025 World Expo, reviving inbound demand, and further stimulating domestic tourism. We promote Japan’s culture and the arts and disseminate their diverse and universal appeal. https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/nihonhaku/index.html SSFF & ASIA 2025 Autumn International Short Film Festival and Conference “AI and the Future of Filmmaking: Exploring Creativity, Collaboration, and Ethics” Date and Time: Sunday, October 26, 2025, 10:00-13:00 Venue: Akasaka Intercity Conference Hall AIR Price: 1,000 yen for a 1-day ticket or event ticket Application URL: https://www.shortshorts.org/jce_mice/ Organized by: Pacific Voice Inc., Japan Arts Council, and Agency for Cultural Affairs First release in Asia! The 35-minute sci-fi AI epic “Imperia” and a 100% AI short film featuring Senegalese rap star Dip Dendou Guise will be shown. The Asia premiere of “Imperia,” the latest AI short film by director Marcel Barsotti, who was also a panelist at the international conference, and “Tiarroe 44,” a 100% AI-generated film featuring a song by Senegalese rap star Dip Dendou Guise, directed by fellow panelist Oussein Dembel Sow.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-bf3f29d0eebdd4272ae91d2e47fd8745-768×432.jpg Special screening at 5:00 PM at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum Hall on Thursday, October 23rd Imperia (Imperia) Directed by Marcel Barsotti 36 minutes / Germany / Sci-Fi / 2025 When mysterious cubes appear on Earth and people disappear without a trace, brilliant scientist Lily Rose discovers a shocking truth: an ancient alien civilization has been using humanity in a sinister ritual. As Lily delves deeper into the mystery, she realizes that she herself may hold the key, but will this mean the salvation or downfall of humanity?
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-c8792cc60b869d56af46223ccf11f37a-877×1280.jpg “Opening at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum Hall on Thursday, October 23rd “Tiaroe 44” Director: Hussein Dembel Sow 3 minutes 49 seconds / Senegal / Experimental Clip/2025 On December 1st of that year, West African veterans of World War II (Tiraileur Senegare) were massacred by French colonial forces for demanding unpaid wages and fair recognition. This event, which has been buried in silence for a long time, is brought to the fore again today through a bold fusion of music and artificial intelligence. . . 〈SSFF & ASIA 2025 Autumn International Short Film Festival Other talk event information for creators〉 Creator-only networking event: Former AMAZON STUDIOS representative from Japan Interview with Noriyuki Hayakawa about the possibilities of Japanese content
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-5a7067885be5e05e70665f06b29ca19f-980×735.jpg This special seminar for creators will feature Noriyuki Hayakawa, a former representative of Amazon Studios Japan who has worked on a number of popular titles and knows both the global and Japanese markets, and will talk about the appeal and uniqueness of Japanese content, market characteristics in each region such as Asia and North America, issues facing Japan and their solutions, funding and target countries/regions, and strategies for making original IP successful both domestically and internationally. From a wide range of
perspectives, from production to business, we will provide practical tips for creating entertainment that combines global standards and Japan’s unique sensibilities, such as choosing between distribution and theatrical release, how to use online and offline, and the importance of local experience when expanding overseas. *Snacks and drinks will be provided. 会場：LiIFORK Harajuku 日時：2025年10月24日
18:30～20:30 チケット：3500円 https://shortshorts.mebory.com/ SSFF & ASIA 2025 Autumn International Short Film Festival
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/37516/331/37516-331-6c19bfe67db0728f39d8fdcfd8f0e1da-1914×2700.jpg https://www.shortshorts.org/2025autumn/ ■Date and venue: Akasaka Intercity Conference Green October 22nd (Wednesday) Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography Hall October 23rd (Thursday) LIFORK Harajuku October 24th (Friday) Akasaka Intercity Conference the AIR October 25th (Sat) and 26th (Sun) Satellite venue: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Hibiya Cinema Festival October 10th (Friday) to 26th (Sunday) *The screening start time varies depending on the movie. Please check the website. ・Online Grand Theater October 22nd (Wednesday) – November 10th (Monday) ・Online satellite venue: Brillia Short Shorts Theater Online “Iceland Escape Iceland Short Special” will be distributed for 5 weeks from October 1st (Wednesday) ■Tickets: Ticket reservations and sales start from September 25th (Thursday) https://shortshorts.mebory.com/
