Launching the BC + AI Film Club
A New Era for Creative AI Filmmaking in British Columbia
It’s here. After two years of late-night brainstorms, cinematic experiments, and a community that’s evolved from “what if…” to “let’s fucking go,” we’re officially launching the BC + AI Film Club.
This is a love letter to everyone who’s been part of the journey so far… and an open invitation to anyone who wants to shape the future of film, storytelling, and creative technology in BC.
The Origin Story: From Wild Idea to Movement
The AI Film Club didn’t start as a club. It started as a question: What happens if you put sci-fi, AI, and a crew of filmmakers in a room together and give them the tools to build the future? Kris Krüg (that’s me) and Kevin Friel (aka Mr. Pixel Wizard) kicked things off in early 2024, inspired by the idea that science fiction isn’t just entertainment… it’s a map for navigating the weird, wild world of AI.
We wanted to use film and storytelling to help our community understand, challenge, and reimagine what AI means for humanity.
We started with screenings and discussions, but it quickly became clear: this can’t just be about watching movies. It has to be about making them. So, the Film Club pivoted… from passively analyzing sci-fi to actively creating new narratives, using the latest AI tools as our paintbrushes and chisels. The result? A year of monthly meetups, hands-on workshops, and a WhatsApp group that’s now 150+ strong and buzzing with tool tips, project feedback, and wild creative energy.
The First Annual BC + AI Film Festival: Proof of Concept
October 29, 2025, was a milestone: the first annual BC + AI Film Festival at the HR MacMillan Space Centre Planetarium. Over 250 people showed up… 40% of them first-timers.
We screened six AI-generated or AI-assisted films, hosted a panel with legends like Bay Raitt (Gollum’s face, LOTR), Luke Minaker, Ryan Patterson, Kevin Friel, and Philippe Pasquier.
The vibe was electric. It wasn’t just about the tech; it was about storytelling, ethics, and building a new creative culture for the age of AI.
The festival kept its sci-fi soul but focused on creators using AI to tell new stories. We’re not just watching what AI does to us… we’re grabbing the tools and steering the ship ourselves.
What Is the BC + AI Film Club?
The BC + AI Film Club is a free, community-driven space where filmmakers, VFX artists, editors, writers, technologists, and creative experimenters gather to explore how AI is transforming every corner of film and media production. We meet monthly at the Multimodal Media Lab (MML) in Vancouver—a cutting-edge venue at the intersection of AI, XR, and immersive storytelling.
What Happens at a Meetup?
Each session is a mashup of film screenings, technical deep-dives, creative experiments, and real talk about how AI is changing production, post, distribution, and narrative itself. Some nights we showcase new tools (Runway, Pika, Veo, Kling, Midjourney, ComfyUI, Udio, Suno, ElevenLabs, and more).
Other times, we break down workflows, run hands-on demos, or host open feedback sessions for works-in-progress.
We’re not gatekeeping. Whether you’re AI-curious, a seasoned generative workflow pro, a student, or a festival programmer, there’s a seat for you. Our WhatsApp group is always open for tool tips, collaboration, and support.
Our Philosophy
- Human Creativity First: AI is a tool, not a replacement. The artist is always in control.
- Transparency: We disclose AI usage, share learnings, and are honest about what works (and what doesn’t).
- Collaboration: This is a “build together, not compete” zone.
- Accessibility: We support creators at all budget levels and democratize access to the latest tools.
- Ethics & Community: We’re grounded in cultural protocols, not Silicon Valley hype. Indigenous perspectives and consent frameworks are part of our DNA.
Why Join? What Makes Us Unique?
Community, not competition. The BC + AI Film Club is more than a meetup—it’s a living, breathing network. We’re building a year-round ecosystem, not just a one-off festival. Our WhatsApp group is 150+ strong and growing, and monthly screenings since June 2025 have created a pipeline for new voices, new stories, and new collaborations.
Punk Rock AI. Kevin Friel’s “Punk Rock AI” philosophy is all about breaking down barriers. He’s done it all: from Dune 2 and Detective Pikachu to indie AI shorts going to Cannes. His approach? Use AI to democratize storytelling, amplify creativity, and blow up the old Hollywood gatekeeping playbook. The $300M blockbuster and the $3K indie film are starting to look suspiciously similar, and that’s the revolution we’re here for.
Creative Experimentation. We’re not just using AI to automate the boring stuff—we’re using it to spark new ideas, remix genres, and invent workflows that didn’t exist a year ago. The “slot machine effect” (those happy AI accidents and hallucinations) often lead to the most brilliant creative breakthroughs.
Real-World Impact. The club has already spun out films, collaborations, and even career pivots. Our members are showing at festivals, landing gigs, and building portfolios that stand out in a rapidly shifting industry.
It’s Free. No membership fees, no paywalls. Just show up, bring your curiosity (and maybe a project to share), and jump in.
The 2026 Lineup: Events and Programming
For 2026, we’ve already got a packed calendar of events, all hosted at Multimodal Media Lab:
- Monthly AI Film Club Screenings: January, February, March, April, May, with more to come.
January: https://luma.com/latest
February: https://luma.com/reel
March: https://luma.com/cgi
April: https://luma.com/sprung
- 2nd Annual BC + AI Film Festival: October 30, 2026. Expanding to a two-day event with 20–30 films, multiple panels, workflow workshops, filmmaker Q&As, and open submissions (narrative, experimental, music video, documentary, indigenous storytelling, youth categories).
- Ongoing Meetups: 2nd Thursday of every month… bring works-in-progress, test cuts, and get feedback from the community.
- Workshops & Technical Dives: Focused sessions on the latest AI tools, storytelling techniques, and ethical frameworks.
All events are listed and updated on our Luma page.
Multimodal Media Lab: Our Creative Home
Why MML? MML empowers creators with AI-driven tools that transcend traditional limitations. They’re at the forefront of AI cinema production, immersive storytelling, and hands-on education. By blending AI video production with XR and spatial narrative, MML is redefining what it means to “make a movie” in BC.
The Invitation
The BC + AI Film Club is for anyone who believes the future of storytelling is up for grabs. Whether you’re a director, coder, VFX artist, sound designer, student, or just AI-curious, there’s a place for you here. Bring your questions, your projects, your wildest ideas… and let’s build something that’s never existed before.
Join us at the Multimodal Media Lab. Come to a screening, join the WhatsApp, submit a film, or just hang out and see what’s possible. This is your invitation to the next chapter of BC’s creative revolution.
See you at the meetups. See you at the festival. See you in the future.
For event details and to RSVP, check the AI Film Club Luma page. For more info about the BC + AI ecosystem, visit bc-ai.ca.
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