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AI Cinema Lab Bridges Hollywood & Silicon Valley
26 Mar
Summary
- Soulscape 2026 summit in San Francisco on April 10-12.
- 200 creators selected globally for AI-fueled film sprint.
- Prize pool includes $25,000+ cash grants and tech resources.
Soulscape 2026, a new AI cinema lab and summit, is set to convene at San Francisco's KQED from April 10-12. This event, presented by nonprofit Soulscape, founded by Keith Zhang, seeks to integrate Silicon Valley's technological advancements with the art of Hollywood storytelling.
The summit will host 200 selected creators from a global applicant pool. Attendees will participate in various activities, including keynote conversations, panels, masterclasses, and a dedicated AI career fair. A central feature will be a 48-hour short film sprint, challenging participants to produce an original AI-driven project.
Winners of the film sprint will share a prize package exceeding $25,000 in cash grants and a $25,000 creator arsenal of software and AI computing credits. This inaugural event is a collaboration with Oscar-winning VFX artist John Gaeta and assistant director Bruce Hunt, known for their work on The Matrix franchise.
The jury for the film competition includes notable figures from AI and film industries, such as Jesse Z of Storyverse AI and Stephan Vladimir Bugaj from Pixar. Gleam Media Studios is a key partner, specializing in AI content and talent scouting.
Zhang stated that the initiative aims to counter the "visual garbage" online, promoting a "21st-century digital Bauhaus movement" where every pixel serves a human story. Soulscape endeavors to create an ecosystem akin to 'Y Combinator meets A24' to empower emerging storytellers.
