The 24th edition of the View Conference, an English-speaking event held in Turin, Italy from October 15 to 20, is deeply influenced by pressing questions currently shaping the entertainment industry.
As a world-class event encompassing animation, VFX, games, AR, VR, XR, MR, virtual production, Metaverse, and immersive media, this year’s conference places a significant emphasis on animation and artificial intelligence while exploring the future of storytelling.
Maria Elena Gutierrez, the CEO and executive director of the View conference, emphasizes, “The conference is a platform for discussing the impact of innovative technologies on the creative industries, so obviously AI is a major theme.”
Various panels, such as “AI and Education,” “Out of Distribution: Thriving Creatively in the Age of AI,” and “Copyright and How to Secure Your Digital Artworks,” encourage industry professionals to delve into the current implications of artificial intelligence and its role in shaping the industry’s future.
Gutierrez notes the importance of engaging with diverse perspectives on AI, explaining, “People are afraid AI will devastate our communities, but we want to be open to both sides of the argument.” She underscores that AI is a “huge part of this year’s program” and emphasizes that while some are skeptical about its impact, others are using AI in innovative ways and teaching how to harness its potential without fear.
In addition to specialized panels and discussions, the conference features talks by prominent figures in the industry. This year’s guests include Henry Selick (“Wendell and Wild”), Peter Sohn (“Elemental”), and Jeff Rowe (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”). Doug Chiang, vice president and executive creative director at Lucasfilm, delivers the keynote “Old and New: How ‘Star Wars’ Shaped My Art and Design.” Directors Joaquim dos Santos (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”) and Peter Ramsey (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”) engage in a conversation titled “Across the Multiverse.”
The conference extends its focus beyond animation, welcoming professionals from major film productions in 2023. Notable figures like Mark Ulano, the Oscar-winning sound engineer for Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and VFX supervisors Andrew Jackson for “Oppenheimer” and Joe Letteri for “Avatar: The Way of Water” will participate.
While the film festival aspect of the conference was reduced in 2023 with plans to return in 2024, the conference maintains a strong presence in the world of cinema. This year, it presents three Italian premieres: “Wish” by Walt Disney Animation Studios, an early glimpse of Dreamworks’ “Trolls Band Together,” and a screening of “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” by director Sam Fell, a Netflix and Aardman collaboration.
According to Gutierrez, one of the conference’s most crucial elements is its legacy of mentorship and commitment to nurturing new generations of professionals. She emphasizes, “When people sign up for the conference, they know we will tap into their talents to involve them in training. A significant part of View is having masters share their knowledge in a welcoming environment. We provide ample opportunities for young talent, and this is at the core of the conference—it’s about passion and making a meaningful impact.”