The energy at Cinesite’s Central London studio on July 17th was absolutely electric! Our sold-out Runway Meetup was a resounding success, bringing together leading AI creators and enthusiasts for an unforgettable evening of groundbreaking showcases and insightful discussions.

A Star-Studded Lineup

Andy McNamara, Cinesite’s own Runway Creative Partner and TechX Gen AI Lead was our host for the evening. Attendees were treated to an incredible roster of speakers who shared their pioneering work in AI and storytelling:

• Ryan Phillips, aka Uncanny Harry: A true industry titan, Ryan captivated the audience with his unique perspective and innovative use of AI in creative projects.
• Jon Biggs, Creative Director EMEA for Monks: Jon provided fascinating insights into the evolving landscape of AI-driven creative direction, highlighting the exciting possibilities for the future.
• Roxanne Ducharme: This award-winning creative director, artist, illustrator, and AI filmmaker showcased her stunning award-winning work, demonstrating the artistic potential of AI.
• Matt Burn known in the AI community as Oranguerillatan, is a UK-based video artist, creative technologist, and 3D/VFX professional with over two decades of industry experience. Since 2022, he has been working at the forefront of AI-driven visuals, and is part of the Runway Creative Partners Program.

Gen 48 Short Film Finalists: A Glimpse into the Future

A major highlight of the evening was the special screening of the Gen 48 Short Film finalists. 

Gen:48 is a 48hr film making competition where individuals or teams write, direct and produce a short film, up to 4 mins long based on a loose brief with Runway tools and free credits. Over 3000 teams around the world registered for the 4th edition of this competition which was then whittled down to 50 finalists for the final round of judging and awards. 

With time a major factor, the creativity on display was truly inspiring, showcasing the incredible talent emerging in the AI filmmaking space. It was a powerful reminder of how rapidly AI is transforming the art of storytelling. Watch the full collection of winning films from the fourth edition of Gen:48. here  

Outside of the Runway community, another great place to stay tuned with the latest and greatest AI content creators is via the 5ives YouTube channel, where they profile the “Top 5 AI Video Creators” Every Week. Two of the event speakers Roxanne and Ryan were recently featured

Feeling Energised for What’s Next

The buzz throughout the night was palpable. Conversations flowed freely, ideas were exchanged, and a strong sense of community filled the studio. We left feeling incredibly energised and optimistic about the future of AI in creative industries. The event underscored the immense potential of AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible in storytelling and visual effects.

Many of the speakers stressed the importance of blending AI tools with existing and more traditional VFX and post production workflows to achieve optimal results.  E.g. compositing generative elements with live action using tools such as Nuke or After Effects or previzing shots in 3d with Maya or Blender and then using style transfer techniques to change the visual look. 

This hybrid approach was highlighted as key to maximising efficiency and creative output. However, there’s still a palpable sense of uneasiness within the industry due to fears of job displacement as AI technology advances. One speaker, addressing these concerns directly, offered a compelling analogy: while anyone can shoot films using an iPhone these days, we haven’t seen everyone become a filmmaker. This illustrates that even with powerful and easily accessible tools readily available, there remains a fundamental need for a creative eye and the skill of being a good storyteller to truly engage audiences and connect them with compelling content. 

Furthermore, a significant question that still needs to be addressed by the industry is how to charge for services based on time, given that AI’s speed can significantly alter the traditional metrics of production time. The event truly highlighted the common challenges and questions we’re all grappling with, and it was reassuring to leave with the sense that we can problem-solve and meet these challenges together as a community.

Thank You to Our Speakers and Attendees!

We extend a huge thank you to our phenomenal speakers for sharing their expertise and to everyone who attended and made this event such a success. The enthusiasm and engagement from the community were truly inspiring. We’re already looking forward to what’s next in the world of AI and how it will continue to shape the stories we tell.

Getting started with Runway

If you were unable to attend this event but you’re curious about getting started with Runway – here’s some great starting points 

Runway is a full feature leading Gen-AI platform for image and video generation using a range of cutting edge technologies to empower creatives, designers and film-makers as part of the creative process using a range of user friendly tools and workflows.

Head over to the RunwayML website (runwayml.com) and sign up for a free account. The free plan provides enough credits to get a good feel for the platform. If you want to opt for a paid plan, the team at Runway have given us a limited offer code RunwayCSMeetup10 this will give $10 off any one-time purchase and will remain valid for the remainder of this month (July 2025). 

Check out the Runway Academy at for short bitesized tutorials and workflow tips:  https://academy.runwayml.com/?utm_source=RunwaySocial&utm_medium=Instagram&utm_campaign=LinkinbioAcademy

There are also some great tutorials, tips and insight on their Youtube channel for  new features and workflows https://www.youtube.com/@RunwayML/videos

Follow Runway on X for breaking news and developments.. https://x.com/runwayml

Or Join the Runway Discord Channel for discussion, daily challenges, support from the Runway team and connect to the wider Runway community.. https://discord.com/invite/vzcy6cKrcE

Future MeetUps

Register here for more updates and future events as we continue to explore the exciting intersection of technology and creativity! 

At Cinesite we recognise the power of collaboration in driving innovation. Organisations interested in exploring the potential of AI in visual effects and animation are encouraged to contact our TechX team via techx@cinesite.com