ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN FILM & TV INDUSTRIES: BUSINESS MODULE WORKSHOP WITH SAMI ARPA

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

This two-day workshop, led by AI and film industry expert Sami Arpa, is designed for producers and film professionals who want to focus on the business applications of artificial intelligence in the film and television industries. While the Creative Module (with Martin Percy) explores how AI can expand artistic possibilities, this Business Module concentrates on the strategic and producer-oriented uses of AI, providing participants with the tools to make smarter, data-driven decisions across development, financing, packaging, and distribution.

With a focus on practical applications and real-world case studies, the workshop explores how AI can reduce risk, strengthen financial models, predict audience behaviour, and support more informed decision-making at every stage of the production pipeline. By the end of the program, participants will understand how to integrate AI into their workflows to enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and market positioning, while also engaging with the ethical questions that come with these technologies.

Day 1: AI Fundamentals and Development Applications
Morning Session: Understanding How AI Models Work and AI in Filmmaking
The workshop will begin with an introduction to artificial intelligence and its relevance to the film and television industries. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how AI technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, large language models (LLMs), and decision models (DMs) function, and how these can be applied in a film production context.
The session will emphasize the role of AI as a decision-support tool for producers, outlining both the opportunities it presents (such as risk reduction, efficiency, and market insights) and the challenges it raises (bias, transparency, ethical use).

Afternoon Session: Content Testing and AI-assisted Development
The afternoon will shift from theory to practice, focusing on how AI can be used in the earliest phases of a project’s life cycle. Participants will learn how AI can test and evaluate scripts, stories, and characters, providing producers with predictive insights about potential market reception.
Using examples from Largo.ai, the session will demonstrate how AI tools generate script analysis, character breakdowns, and audience forecasts. Participants will also be guided through two practical case studies, one for a TV project and another for a feature film, showing how AI can highlight strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities during development. If participants wish, they may bring their own content to test, allowing for a direct and applied learning experience.

Day 2: Audience Design, Packaging, and Market Strategy
Morning Session: Audience Design
Day 2 will focus on audience design and understanding. Participants will explore how AI uses simulated focus groups as an alternative to traditional focus groups, enabling producers to identify distinct audience segments, track how these groups interact with a story, and gather both quantitative and qualitative feedback. This approach provides deeper insights into audience behavior and preferences, supporting more targeted creative and strategic decisions.

Afternoon Session: Financial Packaging and Distribution
The final session will focus on financial packaging of the film in conjunction with AI-assisted results. Participants will see how AI results can be used to model the overall waterfall and break down the specific financial position of each stakeholder, from producer and sales agent to distributor and investors. The session will highlight how these models help stakeholders understand their ROI positions across different scenarios, equipping each stakeholder with stronger tools to negotiate, present, and plan financial strategies with clarity and precision.

The workshop will conclude with a discussion of ethical considerations, addressing crucial questions of bias, accountability, and creative integrity, ensuring participants leave with a balanced and responsible perspective on adopting AI tools in their business practice.

Conclusion: A Producer’s Roadmap for AI Integration
By the end of this two-day program, participants will have an understanding of how AI can enhance the business side of filmmaking, from testing and packaging to audience design, financial planning, and market positioning.

PROFILE OF PARTICIPANT
This workshop is designed for Producers, Financiers, Distributors, Directors, or filmmakers serious about a career in the Film Business on the area of Film Production or Directing using AI tools

Whether you're looking to enhance your understanding of AI's capabilities or seeking to incorporate cutting-edge technology into your filmmaking process, this workshop will provide valuable insights and practical knowledge for professionals.

ABOUT SAMI ARPA

Sami Arpa is the Founder and CEO of Largo.ai, that integrates artificial intelligence into the filmmaking process. Sami holds a Ph.D. in Computational Aesthetics and Computer Vision from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, where his research focused on the intersection of AI and artistic expression. His academic pursuits laid the groundwork for his later innovations in AI applications within the film industry.

Before founding Largo.ai, Sami gained experience as a filmmaker and producer, directing short films, including "Les bruits des pas" (2014) and "L'évasion" (2015). His firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by filmmakers fueled his desire to develop tools that would streamline and enhance the filmmaking process. He also founded the Ouchy Film Awards, a film festival in Lausanne, further cementing his commitment to nurturing creative talent and promoting independent cinema.

Largo.ai, established in 2018 as a spin-off from EPFL, quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to using AI in film production. Headquartered at the EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, with additional offices in Los Angeles, London, and Istanbul, Largo.ai has grown into a global enterprise. The company's SaaS platform, launched in 2020, offers data-assisted intelligence to filmmakers, providing comprehensive analysis of content, characters, casting, and financials. This platform has been instrumental in reducing risks and optimizing decision-making for producers and directors, leading to the successful release of numerous films in theaters and on major streaming platforms. Some of these films have even garnered Oscar nominations, highlighting the effectiveness of Largo.ai's technology.

Under Sami's leadership, Largo.ai has earned multiple accolades, including the Best Start-up Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival, recognition at EFM Horizon Start-ups at the Berlinale, and placement in the Top 100 Swiss Start-up Awards. These honors reflect the company's impact on the industry and its potential for future growth.

Sami Arpa continues to drive Largo.ai’s mission to revolutionize filmmaking through AI, helping filmmakers make more informed decisions, reduce risks, and enhance storytelling. His work represents a significant leap forward in how technology can be harnessed to serve the creative arts, making him a pioneer in the fusion of AI and cinema.

Sami Arpa experience speaks for itself and guarantees the high standards our participants have come to expect from FEST FILM LAB.

WORKSHOP LOCATION
London, UK

Duration: 2 days
10:00 - 18:00
Dates: 7th - 8th of February 2026
Location: London, UK
Price: 599GBP (379GBP Until 2nd of October)
Maximum number of participants: 25

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