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PODCAST

Future of Film Podcast

Film is changing. Business models, audience behaviour and technology are all rapidly evolving - transforming the way stories are told, sold and consumed. In focused and inspiring interviews, senior film executive, Alex Stolz talks to leaders making these changes happen - to bring you essential ideas, techniques and strategies from the cutting edge. Whether you are a storyteller, an established industry professional or simply interested in how film is changing, FUTURE OF FILM will give you the

tv & film business news

All Episodes

00:56:24

98: Nuno Bernardo: How to Build IP as an Independent...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2026/04/02

How do you actually build IP as an independent creator?In this episode, Alex Stolz is joined by Nuno Bernardo, IP creator, producer and founder of beActive, whose work has explored how stories can move across platforms, formats and audiences long before it became widely discussed. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Nuno shares how his approach to IP developed, from early experiments in multi-platform storytelling to building projects that have travelled globally, been adapted across

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00:45:58

97. Carol Trang: Building Community, Not Just Audiences

Future of Film Podcast ·

2026/03/12

Community has become one of the most talked-about ideas in the creative industries. But what does it actually mean in practice for storytellers and filmmakers?In this episode, Alex Stolz is joined by community strategist Carol Trang, whose work spans platforms and brands shaping modern creator culture including Unity, TikTok and LEGO. Together they explore how communities form, why creators should think beyond traditional audience engagement, and what storytellers can learn from gaming, fandom

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00:50:12

96. Evan Shapiro: The Affinity Economy and a New...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2026/01/22

In this episode, Alex is joined by Emmy and Peabody Award–winning producer, and analyst, Evan Shapiro.Known widely as the Media Cartographer, Evan has spent years mapping how power, attention, and money move across media. But now he’s gone beyond analysis and into practice with SKIT, a $65,000 feature film shot in eight days and released globally via Tubi and Filmhub. Evan calls SKIT a case study in the “Affinity Economy”: a new model for independent filmmaking that is creator-led,

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00:49:05

95. Kevin Goetz and Bob Levin: Building Better...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2026/01/06

This episode is about decision-making; and how filmmakers, producers, and executives can make more effective, more impactful creative choices under uncertainty.Kevin Goetz and Bob Levin argue that most films don’t fail because they lack quality or ambition, but because key decisions around budget, positioning, and audience fit are made without enough clarity. Drawing on decades of experience in audience insight and testing, they unpack how better greenlight decisions come from understanding what a

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00:50:09

94. Ben Lock: Visual Intelligence, AI Workflows and...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/12/05

What happens when a BAFTA winning VFX veteran walks away from the studio system to help reinvent the film pipeline with AI?In this episode, Alex is joined by Ben Lock, a producer with over 20 years in animation, VFX and virtual production, with credits including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One and Ready Player One. After decades at Aardman, Lucasfilm and ILM, Ben is now Director of Production Strategy at Asteria Film and Moon Valley, where he is working on a new generation of ethical, AI

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00:46:06

93. Mehret Mandefro: Empowering Storytellers and...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/11/14

How do you build an entire creative ecosystem? And what does it take to empower storytellers at scale?In this episode, Alex speaks with Emmy-nominated producer, writer, doctor and serial entrepreneur Mehret Mandefro, a visionary voice at the intersection of storytelling, healing and creative innovation. As co-founder and MD of Realness Institute, Mehret has spent years strengthening Africa’s media landscape through training, mentorship and systemic infrastructure-building. She shares her

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00:46:06

93. Mehret Mandefro: Empowering Storytellers and...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/11/14

How do you build an entire creative ecosystem? And what does it take to empower storytellers at scale?In this episode, Alex speaks with Emmy-nominated producer, writer, doctor and serial entrepreneur Mehret Mandefro, a visionary voice at the intersection of storytelling, healing and creative innovation. As co-founder and MD of Realness Institute, Mehret has spent years strengthening Africa’s media landscape through training, mentorship and systemic infrastructure-building. She shares her

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00:45:39

92. Meagan Keane: How to Tell Your Story in the Age...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/10/28

What happens when a documentary storyteller steps into the heart of creative tech? In this episode, Alex talks with Meagan Keane, Director of Product Marketing at Adobe Pro Video, about the tools, trends, and tectonic shifts shaping the future of screen storytelling. From AI and generative workflows to the rise of mobile editing and creative AI agents, Meagan shares Adobe’s vision for empowering a new generation of creators, while protecting the values of authenticity and artistry. In a conversation

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00:48:49

91. David Neumann: Creativity, Ownership and Global...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/09/30

In this episode of Future of Film, Alex talks with David Neumann, CEO of Newmation, a talent management and production company working with some of the world’s leading writers, directors and TV creators in both animation and live action.David shares his journey from ICM and CAA to founding Newmation, and why he bet early on global and independent animation. He discusses how to balance creativity with business, what makes a project stand out, and why IP ownership matters more than ever. The

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01:05:42

90. Kurt McClung: Worldbuilding, Communities and the...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/08/07

In this episode of Future of Film, Alex Stolz speaks with worldbuilding pioneer Kurt McClung, a narrative designer whose “world-first” methodology has helped build over 100 fictional universes across AAA games, film, TV, animation, and transmedia. From major gmaing franchises such as Ghost Recon and Beyond Good & Evil 2 to original IPs in development for the screen, Kurt has worked at the intersection of storytelling, design, and audience engagement for over two decades.Kurt shares why the

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01:03:08

89: Doug Shapiro: AI, Infinite Content & the Next...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/07/23

In this episode, Alex Stolz talks with Doug Shapiro, media strategist, former Turner executive and author of The Mediator, about the disruptive force of generative AI and what it truly means for filmmakers and creators.Doug draws a striking parallel: just as the internet drove the cost of moving bits (distribution) toward zero and reshaped the media landscape, generative AI is now driving the cost of making bits (content creation) toward zero. But what does that mean for the value of original

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00:46:35

88. Guy Gadney: AI, Microdramas & the Next Screen...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/07/11

In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Guy Gadney, CEO and founder of Charismatic.ai, about how generative AI is being used not just to assist, but to co-create stories in bold new ways. Charismatic — a spin-out from a major UK R&D consortium with Channel 4 and Aardman — has developed a platform that enables creators to develop structured, consistent narratives from the seed of an idea, with real-time iteration and animated playthroughs. The result? A system that’s making storytelling more

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00:45:46

87. Tobias Queisser: Taking Greater Creative Risks...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/03/27

"Data and AI can increase risk taking" Tobias QueisserIn this episode, Tobias Queisser, co-founder and CEO of Cinelytic, discusses how AI and machine learning can not only de-risk decision making in the greenlight and the overall filmmaking process - but also empower greater apparent risk taking too. Tobias addresses common misconceptions about AI, arguing that it can encourage greater creative risk-taking in filmmaking. With host Alex Stolz, they explore the origins of Cinelytic, the challenges

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00:41:34

86. Fiona Gilles and Mahesh Ramachandra: Pitching, AI...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/03/21

In this episode of Future of Film Podcast, we’re joined by Fiona Gillies and Mahesh Ramachandra, co-founders of SMASH — the innovative platform that’s transforming how creators connect with industry decision-makers.SMASH is rethinking the pitching process from the ground up—offering creators a structured, accessible space to build and share their projects, while helping commissioners and buyers discover the stories they’re truly looking for. In this conversation, Fiona and Mahesh share the origin

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01:02:14

85. Sarudzayi Marufu: Hustle & Creativity: Strategies...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2025/02/26

In this episode of the Future of Film podcast, host Alex Stolz speaks with Sarudzayi Marufu, founder of Uras Films, about the challenges and opportunities facing filmmakers today, particularly in the African market. They discuss the importance of understanding audience engagement, innovative approaches to crowdfunding, and the intersection of creativity and business. Sarudzayi emphasises the need for infrastructure and support for African filmmakers, highlighting the potential of the continent's

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00:55:55

84. C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi: Fusing Genre Storytelling...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2024/12/18

In this episode, CJ "Fiery" Obasi, the visionary filmmaker behind MAMI WATA, discusses his creative journey, the cultural narratives that shape his work and the commercial and creative path of a storyteller. CJ reflects on his early influences, including a passion for Hammer Horror films and Stephen King novels, and how these elements have informed his unique storytelling approach. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of bringing MAMI WATA to life, a film that intertwines African folklore with

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00:51:18

83. Ingrid Kopp: The Evolution of Immersive Storytelling

Future of Film Podcast ·

2024/12/06

In this episode, Ingrid Kopp, co-founder of Electric South, returns to the show to explore the dynamic evolution of immersive storytelling. With a particular focus on Africa, Ingrid reveals the shifting landscape of virtual reality (VR) and immersive narratives, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities within the XR space. In a discussion that shines a light on Electric South's pioneering work in bringing African stories into the space, Ingrid also examines the influence of AI on

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00:45:25

82. Hamid Ibrahim: Creativity, Entrepreneurship and...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2024/11/15

"Africa and African stories could be the future of storytelling." Hamid IbrahimThis episode is a deep dive into entrepreneurship, creativity and storytelling with Hamid Ibrahim, the Co-Founder and CEO of Kugali Media. Kugali hit the headlines last year when they became the first company to collaborate with Walt Disney Animation on an African story. IWAJU, the futuristic animated series, was the result of that partnership premiered to acclaim in 2024 on Disney+. In the conversation, Hamid

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00:53:50

81. Stephen Follows: the Data behind Horror; Film's...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2024/10/31

In this episode we welcome world leading film researcher Stephen Follows to the show for a deep dive into the data behind the horror genre. With insights fresh from Stephen's new exhaustive exploration of the space, The Horror Movie Report 2.0, we explore the significant increase in horror film production and the numbers behind its profitability. In a conversation that covers the importance of theatrical releases for horror films (and why they are so important for cinemas!) and the demographics of

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00:46:52

80. Jonathan Keasey, Justin MacGregor and Phil Egger:...

Future of Film Podcast ·

2024/10/31

This episode explores the intersection of human creativity and AI technology. Filmmakers Jonathan Keasey and Justin MacGregor who are partnering with Phil Egger of J4 on a slate of films assisted by cutting edge AI technology. Entitled Hum.AI.ne Entertainment, their new initiative is focused on the ethical use of AI in the creative process and reflects Jonathan's journey from 'intentional Luddite' to a champion of the technology and its potential to support human powered creativity. In this

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100 results

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