REPLY: The Jury for the Second Edition of the Reply AI Film Festival Is Announced, Which Will Celebrate the Best AI-generated Short Films
Gabriele Muccino, together with Caleb & Shelby Ward, Caroline Ingeborn, Charlie Fink, Denise Negri, Dave Clark, Filippo Rizzante, Guillem Martinez Roura, Paolo Moroni, and Rob Minkoff, will evaluate the shortlisted films based on creativity, production quality, and the use of Artificial Intelligence.
TURIN, Italy, May 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reply, an international group specialised in the development of new business models enabled by Artificial Intelligence and long committed to the exploration of emerging technologies and supporting the growth of new talent, announces the jury for the second edition of the Reply AI Film Festival. The international competition open to creatives, filmmakers, and videomakers who wish to experiment with the production of short films using AI tools and explore the continuous evolution of the collaboration of human creativity and technology and the power that this combination brings to storytelling.
The jury will be chaired by Gabriele Muccino, an Italian director and screenwriter known for films such as The Pursuit of Happyness, and Seven Pounds. Joining him on the panel for the second edition of the Reply AI Film Festival are returning members Rob Minkoff, co-director of The Lion King and creator of numerous films including Stuart Little, The Haunted Mansion, and Mr. Peabody & Sherman; Caleb & Shelby Ward, co-founders of Curious Refuge, the first online community dedicated to filmmakers using Artificial Intelligence; and Denise Negri, journalist for SkyTg24 and Sky Arte, and correspondent for major international film events such as the Academy Awards, Cannes, and Venice Film Festivals. New to the jury this year are Dave Clark, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Promise, a production company focused on films, series, and innovative formats created in collaboration with some of the world's most talented GenAI artists and storytellers worldwide, and Charlie Fink, columnist for Forbes US and expert in Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and AI. The jury also includes Filippo Rizzante, Chief Technology Officer at Reply; Caroline Ingeborn, Chief Operating Officer at Luma AI, a platform for creating highly realistic 3D images and videos; Paolo Moroni, Head of Lexus Italy; and Guillem Martinez Roura, AI & Robotics Lead at ITU AI for Good, the United Nations initiative focused on harnessing AI for the benefit of society.
The theme chosen for the 2025 edition is "Generation of Emotions" — an invitation to explore how Artificial Intelligence can evoke authentic and engaging emotions through cinematic language. The jury will evaluate submissions — due by June 1st, 2025 via the platform aiff.reply.com — based on creativity, production quality, and the use of AI in the various stages of development, from script to post-production.
Gabriele Muccino commented: "The Reply AI Film Festival is a pioneering event showcasing technology and art's exciting intersection. AI is not a replacement for human creativity, but a catalyst for innovation. It will enable filmmakers to explore new styles, genres, and narratives that were previously unimaginable. As President of the Reply AIFF Jury, I'm honoured to be part of this journey, discovering new talents and celebrating the bold experiments that will shape the future of cinema. The AI revolution is just beginning, and I'm thrilled to be at the forefront of this creative explosion."
"The role of AI in the future of the film industry won't be about replacing filmmakers—it'll be about expanding what's creatively possible. It will be a creative collaborator, helping filmmakers visualise ideas faster, experiment more freely, and bring ambitious stories to life with fewer limitations. From pre-production to post, AI will streamline workflows and democratise access to powerful tools, opening doors for more diverse voices and bold storytelling. But filmmaking will always be human at the core because AI can't feel joy, loss, or love. It hasn't lived the stories we're here to tell. Used with intention, AI won't diminish creativity but elevate it," said Dave Clark founder and Chief Creative Officer of Promise.
"We are delighted to launch the second edition of the AI Film Festival because we believe in the importance of creating spaces and opportunities to experiment with emerging technologies," said Filippo Rizzante, CTO of Reply. "The success of the first edition, with over 1,000 short films submitted from 59 countries, underlines the global interest — not only among the younger generations — in initiatives that challenge both technical and creative skills."
In addition to selecting the most outstanding original short films, the jury will also award two special prizes that are new to this edition: the Lexus Visionary Award, recognising the most visionary and innovative production that successfully integrates technology, design and forward-thinking, in line with the values that have always guided Lexus' approach to creativity; and the AI for Good Award, promoted in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which recognises the best short film that highlights the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Paolo Moroni, Head of Lexus Italy, commented: "It is an honour to be part of the jury for this festival, which invites us to explore how Artificial Intelligence can accelerate the creation of authentic and engaging emotions through the language of cinema, combining innovation, creativity and vision. Much like Lexus - with whom it shares values such as innovation, creativity and forward thinking - this competition celebrates the evolution of film and technology's ability to support the generation of deep emotions, constantly pushing the boundaries of imagination."
"I'm thrilled to join the Reply AI Film Festival as a juror and to present the 'AI for Good Award'. This festival is a unique opportunity to showcase the creative potential of generative AI technologies in storytelling. I'm looking forward to seeing how filmmakers use AI to tell compelling stories, highlighting the importance of sustainable development. AI can be a powerful tool for driving positive change, and I'm excited to see how the festival will inspire new ideas and innovations," said Guillem Martinez Roura, AI & Robotics Lead at ITU "AI for Good"
The creatives behind the shortlisted works will be invited to a premiere event, organised by Reply and Mastercard, taking place in September in Venice where the three overall winners will be officially announced.
Reply
Reply [EXM, STAR: REY, ISIN: IT0005282865] specialises in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Reply is a network of highly specialised companies supporting key European industrial groups operating in the telecom and media, industry and services, banking, insurance and public administration sectors in the definition and development of business models enabled for the new paradigms of big data, cloud computing, digital media and the Internet of Things. Reply services include: Consulting, System Integration and Digital Services. www.reply.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250508567831/en/
Contacts
Reply Fabio Zappellif.zappelli@reply.com Tel. +390117711594
Irene Caiai.caia@reply.com Tel. +39 02 535761
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
Pick a music decade and i'll give you an Italian dish to try
This post has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone can create a post or quiz. Try making your own! Italian food are amazing, so is each decades music, but can you decide between two? Scroll to find out, please comment, and thanks for taking this.
Eater
4 hours ago
- Eater
The Biggest New Las Vegas Restaurant Openings, June 2025
Las Vegas's dining scene moves quickly — powerhouse casinos usher in new behemoths with Champagne and sparklers and off-Strip restaurants continue to open doors in homey neighborhood strip malls. Here is a list of new and notable spots that opened in Las Vegas recently. For the best restaurants in town, check out Eater Las Vegas's Essential 38 or Eater's guide to eating and drinking in Las Vegas. Pisces The Strip Vibey seafood restaurant Pisces opened in one of the most stunning spaces on the Las Vegas Strip on May 10. Housed in the former Lakeside location at Wynn Las Vegas, chef Martin Heierling's menu features specialty oils from Greece, pastas from Tuscany, Mediterranean seafood like grilled dry-aged branzino and rare blue lobsters, and whimsical desserts shaped like fish. Pisces retains the former tenant's sweeping views of the Lake of Dreams from the window-lined dining room, while revamping the interior with deep navy tones, glittering Italian stone mosaics, and a striking dual-level bar. Zaytinya The Strip José Andrés's acclaimed Mediterranean restaurant Zaytinya opened in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on May 13, adding to the chef's lineup of restaurants in Las Vegas, including Bazaar Meat and é by José Andrés. The menu channels Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese flavors with dishes like spicy soujouk sausage-topped flatbread, charred octopus, and a mezze spread including labneh, tzatziki, baba ghanoush, and more. Larger mains include Tangier-spiced grilled lamb chops and a mixed grill of lamb, kofte, chicken, and adana skewers. Nudo Southern Highlands Nearly 20 years after debuting the sleek, nightclub-adjacent Nove Italiano high atop the Palms, which closed in 2018, Jenna and Michael Morton of Morton Group have returned to Italian cuisine — this time in a more relaxed, suburban setting. Their newest restaurant, Nudo Italiano, is now open in Southern Highlands, trading Strip-side sheen for casual dining and Neapolitan-style pizza. Helming the kitchen is William DeMarco, who served a menu of handmade pasta, house-baked breads, and Neapolitan-style pizzas fired in a traditional wood-burning oven. The restaurant embraces Italian comfort cooking, with dishes like crispy calamari with lemon aioli, a heaping bowl of pappardelle in veal ragu with sheep's milk ricotta, and pan-roasted branzino over eggplant puree. Holsteins Arts District Over-the-top burger and milkshake restaurant Holsteins is back — but this time, off-Strip. Holsteins Shakes and Buns closed its doors at the Cosmopolitan in May 2024, ending a 15-year run, before reopening in the Arts District on May 29, 2025. Fans of the restaurant will be pleased to see a return of the original menu, including the forager burger, made with a beef-and-mushroom blended patty, creamy steak sauce, a fried egg, Swiss cheese, and marmalade onions, as well as the blackened chicken sandwich layered with bacon, chipotle ranch, and pepperjack cheese. Diners can also find Holsteins' decadent 'Bam-Boozled' milkshakes: boozy concoctions like a cookies-and-cream shake spiked with whipped cream-flavored vodka, and a Nutella and coffee shake with chocolate ice cream. Each one comes piled high with doughnuts, cookies, and marshmallows. Bobae Noodle House Chinatown Bobae Noodle House earned a following in Korea for its signature dishes and now brings its take on Korean-Chinese comfort food to Las Vegas's Chinatown. The vibe is retro and cozy, with brick walls and neon signs glowing above diner-style red booths. The menu riffs on classics with standouts like the Bobae jjajangmyeon — chewy noodles slicked with rich black bean sauce, topped with quail egg and crunchy radish sprouts — and the jjamppong, a fiery seafood noodle soup that balances heat, brine, and depth. The tangsuyuk, a crispy pork dish glazed in sweet-and-sour sauce, also deserves a spot in the rotation. For late-night noodles, Bobae stays open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Naughty Angel Strip-adjacent Just behind the Strip, chef Angel Lopez — an alum of Hell's Kitchen, Sadelle's at Bellagio, and Elio at Wynn — has opened his first solo project: the Naughty Angel. The sleek, French bistro-style restaurant blends fine dining polish with neighborhood energy, offering a menu anchored by Lopez's flair for rich sauces and balanced plating. Highlights include the 32-ounce picanha steak, a seared duck breast with potatoes au gratin and pepper aioli, and a slow-braised lamb shank in red wine. Baked escargot and crab cakes in lemon beurre blanc set the tone up front, while desserts lean classic-with-a-twist — like a whole poached apple in mulled wine with pie-spiced ice cream. Tucked into a low-slung plaza just west of Resorts World, the Naughty Angel feels removed from the chaos of the Strip, but still within striking distance for a night out. Blue Orchid Thai Kitchen Southwest Blue Orchid Thai Kitchen is the latest venture from the family behind Las Vegas's Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant. Executive chef Steve Piamchuntar leads the kitchen with a menu that blends flavors from both north and south Thailand. Blue Orchid marries bold flavors with bold presentations — an aromatic and herbaceous tom yum soup is prepared at the table using a siphon that dramatically drains a broth filled with herbs and spices. The menu features dishes like braised short rib khao soi, a northern-style curry served with wide egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, and red onion. Other notable offerings are the panang curry-style lamb chop with eggplant, bamboo shoots, and baby corn in coconut red curry, and the Bangkok brined chicken sliders topped with fermented red curry pickles and Kewpie mayo. The setting is nearly transportive, with hanging foliage, intricate murals of Thai landscapes nestled into booth alcoves, and a display of traditional Khon masks. Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Didn't know what to do': Brit baffled by Bublik puzzle
Alexander Bublik continues to write the most amazing and unlikely story at the French Open, making Alex de Minaur's defeat by the crazy Kazakh look better by the day. Bublik's second-round win over ninth seed de Minaur left the Australian bereft and in the mood for a spot of self-blame, but he found himself in good company on Monday when British hotshot Jack Draper, the fifth seed, also simply couldn't handle his demise by drop shot from the inspired world No.62. "I didn't know what to do," admitted a flustered Draper, who'd been compared physically to a UFC fighter by Bublik but who was pummelled into submission by his stringbean adversary's fabulous shot-making. "I have a certain skill set to play tennis, and it worked marvellously today. One hundred percent, one of the best days of my life and one of the best matches I have ever played in my life. As simple as that," said Bublik, who's reached the quarter-final . He had had everyone laughing the previous round when he explained how a "hangover" trip to Las Vegas had been his way of escaping the pressures off too much hard training, the sort indulged in by what he felt were athletic "robots". And the father of a young son was quick to double down after his win over Draper that he's not prepared to sacrifice everything to push his tennis life to new levels. "There's no way around hard work — don't get me wrong, I work hard — but on my terms. Will I put my life and health on the line to have a "might"? Maybe? No," he affirmed. How to win a set Bublik style 😎#RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025 "I will continue my path. I will work my way because I still practise, guys. I still do the exact minimum and maximum at the same time in order to be the player I am, to be in the position I am, and I will continue with this path because I think I prioritise tennis and life in equal ways." It sounds a refreshing approach but, frankly, he'll have to top even his recent miracles to down Jannik Sinner next as the Italian blitzed Andrey Rublev 6-1 6-3 6-4, making the world No.17 largely look like helpless fodder. He's not the first one to feel that way. The Italian has now marched to the last-eight without losing a set and for the loss of just 30 games. Who can beat him? Novak Djokovic doubtless fancies his chances as he ticked off another landmark in his peerless career, earning his 100th career French Open victory, a mark surpassed among men only by Rafael Nadal, as he demolished Briton Cam Norrie 6-2 6-3 6-2. Like Sinner, he still hasn't ceded a set and "everything is solid and positive", he declared. But it will start to get interesting next up when the record 25th grand-slam seeking Djokovic tackles last year's finalist, No.3 seed Alexander Zverev, who progressed when his Dutch opponent, Tallon Griekspoor, quit with abdominal trouble when 6-4 3-0 down. "He definitely knows how to play tennis. He definitely knows what it means to be on the big stage and to play big matches," Zverev said about Djokovic. "There is no doubt about that." Djokovic improved to 100-16 at the French Open, while Nadal, who retired at the end of last season, went an unbelievable 112-4 while winning 14 championships. "From now on I have the toughest draw in the tournament," Zverev said. "I'm looking forward to the battles ahead, and I'm looking forward to playing the best in the world."
