Digital Horizons: Transforming Creative Industries

Day 1 

Opening Remarks

• Mike Schreuder, Deputy Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate Mumbai, India
• Amol Patankar Maharashtra,  Under Secretary to Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India  
• Nikos Panagiotou, President Digital Communication Network Global, Professor, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece

Creativity, Culture & Digital Expression

Rachel Joy Victor explores how digital technologies are reshaping creative expression and cultural narratives in today’s interconnected world. This talk highlights the dynamic ways artists and creators harness digital tools to tell stories, preserve heritage, and innovate across mediums, bridging tradition and technology.

Rachel Joy Victor, Strategist and Designer, U.S. 

The Future We Imagine: Creative Industries in a Tech-Transformed World

As digital technologies like AI, extended reality, and decentralized platforms reshape how we create and consume, what kind of futures are we designing—for the arts, for society, and for ourselves? In this session, Bugge Holm Hansen, a futurist and innovation strategist from Copenhagen, invites us to look beyond the next tool or trend and instead explore the long-term transformations unfolding at the intersection of technology and creativity. Drawing on global foresight work, Bugge will help us unpack the deeper societal shifts influencing how artists, designers, and cultural institutions will operate in the years ahead. From rethinking value and authorship to imagining new roles for human imagination, this conversation aims to inspire, challenge, and stretch how we envision the creative futures we want to build.

Bugge Holm Hansen, Senior Futurist & Head of Innovation and Technology, Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, Denmark 

Coffee Break 

Stories Without Borders: Platforms, People & Power in the Digital Era

From YouTube and Instagram to other digital platforms, storytelling today is boundaryless—shaped by the tools we use, the voices we amplify, and the audiences we reach. This dynamic panel will explore how creators and media innovators from across the world are using digital platforms to tell compelling stories, represent communities, and navigate a shifting technological landscape. How are narratives evolving across borders, cultures, and algorithms? 

Moderator: 

Anastazja Debowska, Founder of Insider Consulting, Ex-YouTube, YouTube Growth Consultant, U.K. 

Speakers: 

• Jason Hoch, CEO, Wavland, U.S. 
• Jason Kret, Content Creator, Cambodia 
• Ahlam Nauval Mahendra, Content Creator, YSEALI Creators Co-Lab, Indonesia 
• Seung Heon Lee, Content Creator, Republic of Korea 

From Storyboards to Smart Cities: Navigating Digital Transformation in the Creative Industries

This talk explores how digital transformation is reshaping the creative industries—from storytelling and design to entrepreneurship and civic engagement. Drawing on decades of experience in film and technology, the speaker shares how creative professionals can harness innovation to build more connected, resilient, and imaginative communities.

Corey Gray, Global President, Smart Cities Council; Co-founder, Switch Productions – Adelaide, Australia 

Lunch Break

 Parallel Workshops 

1. Embodied AI: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Dance and Performance

In this immersive workshop, Diana Serbanescu (Neranti) will guide participants through the practical use of AI tools to enhance choreography and live performance. Combining cutting-edge technology with embodied artistic expression, attendees will explore how AI can inspire movement creation, interactive storytelling, and real-time performance augmentation. This session offers hands-on experience in blending human creativity with AI-driven insights, empowering artists to expand the possibilities of dance and performance art.

Diana Serbanescu (Neranti), Senior Lecturer in Creative Robotics, University of the Arts London, U.K.

2. Designing for Impact: Creative Problem Solving with Technology 

In this dynamic workshop,  Jeetesh Singh, one of the first developers to get to work with Snap’s True AR Glasses – Snap Spectacles 24', will guide participants through the creative process of  creating meaningful, interactive, and storytelling-driven XR experiences.

Jeetesh Singh, XR Developer & Co-Head, XDG Mumbai, India 

3. From Idea to Impact: Building Creative Projects with AI and Digital Tools

Led by Saraswathi Buyyala, this hands-on workshop is designed for storytellers, animators, and creative entrepreneurs eager to integrate digital technologies into their work. Participants will explore AI-assisted content creation, digital production workflows, and collaborative platforms through practical exercises and real-world case studies. Saraswathi  will also share strategies for fostering inclusive, tech-enabled creative communities that nurture innovation from the ground up.

Saraswathi Buyyala, Director - Film Maker, Dancing Atoms, U.S.

4. From Idea to Immersive: A Hands-On Intro to 3D Fashion and Virtual Spaces

In this workshop we will create together a 3D garment in real time using CLO3D and bring it to life in a virtual showroom. Participants will take on creative roles to shape the outcome—choosing silhouettes, fabrics, and contributing to the design of the virtual space and its narrative. You’ll also have the chance to test AR fashion try-ons directly on your phone and explore their potential in branding and marketing. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away inspired with ideas on how to apply these tools to your own fashion brand or creative vision.

Kirke Leinatam, Head of Product, SizeMe, Estonia 

Break

Transforming Creative Industries: The Role of XR, AI, and Community

AR filters capture attention; VR transports us; AI writes the script—but it's the tech communities that transform tools into movements. Discover how emerging technologies—paired with active developer networks—are turning creators into leaders, storytellers into entrepreneurs, and innovation into inclusive cultural change.

Chhavi Garg, Co-founder, Bharat XR & Arexa, India 

The Future of Media Infrastructure: Building Resilience and Innovation in the Digital Era

As the media landscape undergoes rapid transformation, Renard Jenkins and Vivek Kandasamy explore the evolving infrastructure underpinning content creation, distribution, and preservation. From cloud-based workflows and virtual production to AI-driven automation and global collaboration, this session delves into how creative industries must reimagine their technical foundations to remain agile, sustainable, and future-ready. 

Moderator: Rachel Joy Victor, Strategist and Designer, U.S.

Speakers: 

• Renard Jenkins, President and CEO, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs, U.S. (VIRTUAL) 
• Vivek Kandasamy, Founder, Film Engineers, U.S. / Mumbai

Exploring Shared Themes and Building Engagement Led by Mariana Tanagia, Diana Filimon, and Vlad Spencer

This informal session is designed to set the tone by encouraging open exchange and relationship-building among participants. Structured as an interactive brainstorming session, it offers space for everyone to share their interests, expectations, and perspectives on the core theme of the event: the impact of digital technologies—particularly AI—on creative industries. 

We’ll discuss why this theme was chosen for the Mumbai event, how it reflects current challenges and opportunities in the creative space, and how participants’ unique backgrounds contribute to a richer dialogue. Participants will be invited to introduce themselves, highlight projects or questions they bring to the forum, and help identify key topics of shared interest. The goal is to create a sense of collective ownership, energize collaboration, and set the stage for deeper engagement in the sessions that follow.

Day 2 

Introduction 

Pixels of Identity: How Gen Z Creates, Connects, and Communicates

In an era where digital expression shapes identity and influence, how are Gen Z voices using creativity to tell their stories, project their lives, and challenge cultural expectations? This panel features young creators, students, and communicators from across the globe, sharing how they use media—from animation and journalism to personal storytelling and social content—to shape the way their generation is seen and heard. From Seoul to Bucharest, Missoula to Bengaluru, these voices offer a vibrant snapshot of how creativity becomes a form of activism, self-definition, and connection in the Gen Z world.

Moderator: 

Rares Antal, GenStiri, Philosophy Student, Romania 

Speakers: 

• Joshua Selig, Student, Florida State University, U.S. 
• Jeremy Jeffay, Emerging Technology Researcher, AASO, University of Montana, U.S. 
• Tara Durbha, Game Designer, 2D Animator, National Institute of Design, Bengaluru, India 
• Alina Melnikava, Collaborative Arts Program Assistant, NYU, U.S.  
• Mai Nguyen (Hoai), Founder, Lop ke chuyen hoai, Vietnam 
• Ye Swan Aung, Content Creator, It's me, Ye Swan Aung, Burma/ Myanmar 
• Youngjoo Hur, CEO, Dewsisters, Republic of Korea 

Animating the Future: Storytelling in the Age of AI and Digital Innovation

Saraswathi Buyyala—renowned creative producer, animation industry leader, and founder of Dancing Atoms—explores how artificial intelligence and emerging digital tools are transforming the way stories are created and shared. Drawing from her global experience in animation and mentoring young creators, Vani will highlight how technology can empower diverse voices, enhance collaboration, and unlock new dimensions of storytelling, while preserving the emotional depth of human creativity.

Saraswathi Buyyala, Director - Film Maker, Dancing Atoms, U.S. 

Coffee Break

Fashioning the Future: How Digital Technologies Are Transforming the Fashion Industry

Kirke Leinatamm, digital fashion strategist and educator from Estonia, explores how cutting edge technologies—AI, AR/VR, and 3D tools—are reshaping the creative processes in fashion. Drawing from her hands-on experience leading digital projects with hundreds of international fashion companies and building her own ventures, Kirke will share practical insights on how digital innovation is unlocking new forms of expression, enabling more sustainable practices, and redefining the boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds. This session is ideal for creatives, technologists, and educators eager to understand where fashion and digital transformation intersect.

Kirke Leinatamm, Head of Product, SizeMe, Estonia

Echoes of Power: Navigating Identity and Technology in New Media Art

Pei-Chi Kuo, a Taiwanese new media artist, delves into the complexities of identity, power dynamics, and societal contradictions through her multidisciplinary works. From her "Sound Portrait" series that blends music, sound, and visual art to her recent AI-generated film "“AI Girl”, Kuo's creations challenge perceptions and invite introspection. In this talk, she will explore how digital technologies, including AI and immersive media, can be harnessed to reflect and critique socio-political landscapes, offering insights into the evolving role of artists in the digital age. 

Pei-Chi Kuo, CEO, CHI Creative Ltd., Taiwan

AI Art: From Experiment to Evolution

In this talk, Luba Elliott, Creative AI expert from London, traces the journey of AI-generated art from niche experiments to its growing presence in galleries, markets, and popular culture. She will explore how artists and technologists are collaborating with algorithms, the ethical and creative challenges involved, and what the mainstream adoption of AI art means for the future of creativity. A thought-provoking session for anyone curious about the changing boundaries of art in the age of machines.

Luba Elliott, AI Art Curator, elluba.com, U.K. 

Lunch Break

Parallel Workshops

1. Music and AI: Practical Tools for the Next Generation

In this hands-on workshop, Carlos Arana, PhD, a Music Tech Researcher at Berklee College of Music, will guide participants through the latest AI-powered tools transforming music creation and production. Attendees will gain practical skills using AI applications to compose, arrange, and enhance their music, empowering the next generation of artists and producers to innovate with technology at their fingertips.

Carlos Arana, PhD, Professor, Berklee - College of Music, U.S.

2.  Generative Media 101: Getting Started with AI Video Using Playbook 3D & ComfyUI

Taking your generative video creation to the next step starts with tools that enable control. This beginner-friendly workshop gets you working with industry standard AI video tools like ComfyUI and Playbook3D. This workshop is split into two parts—theory around generative AI video workflows, and hands-on practice to make your own film. You’ll learn how ComfyUI enables fine-grained control over image and video generation, using processes like LoRAs, ControlNets, and custom models. Then, using the theme of childhood dreams, you’ll each create a short animated film (8–10 shots). We’ll guide you through visual ideation, prompt writing, shot planning, and sound design. No experience needed. Just your imagination.  Bring a laptop if you have one.

Jean–Daniel LeRoy, Co-founder & CEO, Playbook 3D,  U.S.

3. Harnessing AI and Digital Transformation to Revolutionize Creative Industries

In this workshop, Vivek Thakur -an award-winning and featured augmented reality artist & developer—will guide participants through the powerful role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in reshaping the creative sector. From streamlining production workflows to enhancing content creation and unlocking new storytelling possibilities, attendees will explore how to strategically apply AI tools across media, marketing, design, and entertainment. 

Vivek Thakur, Design Engineer, Sharechat, India

Break

Open Mic Session: Exploring Collaborations and Ideas in the Digital Creative Space Led by Mariana Tanagia and Vlad Spencer

This interactive session invites participants to engage in an open dialogue, ask questions, briefly present their projects, and explore potential areas for collaboration with the Digital Communication Network (DCN) and fellow attendees. It is an opportunity to further develop ideas sparked during earlier discussions on the impact of digital technologies—especially AI—on creative industries. Participants are encouraged to share experiences, pitch concepts, and build connections that may lead to joint initiatives, partnerships, or innovative experiments at the intersection of technology and the arts. Whether you’re an artist, technologist, educator, or entrepreneur, this open mic session offers a collaborative space to reflect, network, and shape future directions.