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Z365" or "Festival all year round" is the new strategic point of the Festival in which converge investigation, accompaniment and development of new talents (Ikusmira Berriak, Nest); training and cinematic knowledge transfer (Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, Zinemaldia + Plus, Filmmakers' dialogue); and investigation, disclosure and cinematic thought (Z70 project, Thought and Discussion and Research and publications).
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Ten technology projects, five Spanish and five European, will compete in the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge, the competition for recently created startups and entrepreneurial teams with technology developments applicable to the audiovisual sector.
The Zinemaldia Startup Challenge is the central initiative of Zinemaldia & Technology, to run on Thursday, 25 September. The event will include presentation of the ten selected projects and a round table on the ethical implications of new technologies, with a discussion on how they could be more inclusive, diverse and ethical.
Out of the five finalists of the Spanish competition, three apply AI to their developments: Bubbo offers personalised recommendations for content streaming on platforms; Crowdy is an ecosystem with tools for managing audiovisual projects and attracting talent at any stage of production; and IT'S ON is a streaming platform for remote on-set monitoring. Completing the selection are the mobile apps Kultura Hub, which connects and highlights the audiovisual content of European cultural stakeholders, with particular focus on minority languages; while Quickets offers the last-minute sale of cinema tickets with an instant discount drawing on dynamic pricing techniques.
Four of the European projects are also AI-based: All-VP (UK) is a digital LED wall which, depending on the size and appearance of the performer, recalculates the lighting, shadows and reflections in a virtual environment; Mimik (Sweden) generates real-life 3D avatars from mobile phone scans; Signapse (UK) delivers photo-realistic sign language interpreters to enhance the audiovisual accessibility of deaf people; and Tape It (Germany) digitally removes background noise to achieve a proper studio sound. Finally, Novel Fire Masks Engineered with 3D Technology (UK) creates silicone fire masks using additive manufacturing and 3D printing techniques combined with a hyper-realistic finish.
Two independent juries will decide the winners of the 10,000 euros going to both the best European and the best Spanish project. A third jury will also give a special mention coming with 3,000 euros to a project in recognition of its entrepreneurial values. The winning and finalist projects will have the possibility to access funding of up to 500,000 euros for developing their project in the Basque Country.
Moreover, the finalists —whether they already have a mature solution and are currently selling to their target market, or only have an idea with no functional prototype as yet— will have the possibility of one year’s free access to an incubation space at one of the BICs (Business Innovation Centres) belonging to the Network of Basque Technology Parks.
Some of the winning projects from the first five editions are currently enjoying success with the development of their business strategy. Dub.me (2024) has received the Seal of Excellence from the EIC Accelerator programme and has closed agreements thanks to which they can now operate in key markets throughout Asia, Europe and the USA; Motmo.pro (2022) is already up and running in the market, while Hyperate.io (2023) has seen a considerable rise in its app user numbers.
The Basque Government, through the Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability and SPRI, promote the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge, central initiative of the Zinemaldia & Technology event, organised by the San Sebastian Festival in collaboration with TECNALIA, ALÍA (Audiovisual Industrial Alliance) and Vicomtech. Zinemaldia & Technology is a strategic commitment by the San Sebastian Festival in its endeavour to position itself as a space for reflection on technological innovation in the audiovisual sector.
The competition for national startups is part of Spanish Screenings: Financing & Tech, an initiative enjoying the involvement of the Ministry of Culture through the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, ICEX España Trade amd Investment, the Malaga Festival and the San Sebastian Festival.
Spanish Projects
Startup: Bubbo
Description: Discover the streaming content you love in seconds with the best AI solution. We are developing a mobile App with React Native for iOS and Android and a website with Node.js, React, Next.js and TypeScript, with APIs in Python serverless. We use BigQuery and Vertex AI for recommendations and embeddings through the Google Cloud Platform and Azure AI Speech for voice recognition.
Level of development: The solution is consolidated, and it is being sold to the main target market.
Entrepreneurial team
Description: The audiovisual industry is experiencing an unheard-of acceleration. To adapt it needs optimised processes and technology: AI for efficiency, HRtech for global contracting, blockchain for traceability and fintech for payments and crowdfunding. This reduces times, boosts territories and achieves professionalisation. Crowdy digital ecosystem combining tools, networking and marketing to accelerate audiovisual projects at global scale.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
Startup: IT'S ON
Description: IT’S ON is a platform that streamlines the audiovisual production process through real-time streaming of film shoots.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
Entrepreneurial team
Description: Offers automatic subtitles in minority languages, smart contracts to reduce licencing times from several months to 48 hours, recommendations based on cultural affinity and an adaptive streaming system for rural areas. It is at its peak moment thanks to post-COVID digitalization, an 80% reduction in NLP, the maturity of blockchain technology and the annual availability of €2.3B from the NextGenerationEU programme.
Level of development: An idea of the solution is available, but there is no working prototype.
Startup: Quickets Technologies, S. L.
Description: Quickets is an innovative platform, developed for both iOS and Android, which optimises cinema occupation and improves their revenue. With innovative technology, we offer a scalable and flexible solution to satisfy the latest demands of the audiovisual sector and of young audiences.
Level of development: The solution is consolidated, and it is being sold to the main target market.
European Projects
Entrepreneurial team
Description: ALL-VP introduces a "digital LED wall" in software, delivering what previously required millions in hardware investment and months of setup time. Our software models the actor and environment, providing in-camera relighting and visual effects for virtual production.
Level of development: There is a working prototype of the solution validated in a relevant environment.
Startup: MIMIK
Description: MIMIK turns mobile scans into screen-ready avatars, letting anyone step into films, games, or interactive stories. With AI precision and flexible styling, it empowers studios, players, and creators to bring personal storytelling to life on any platform.
Level of development: There is a working prototype of the solution validated in a relevant environment.
Startup: AnthroTek Ltd
Description: Unlike traditional fire hoods, our novel fire masks combine advanced materials and AI-assisted 3D tech to enable safe yet realistic fire stunts with real flames. Used in the movie 28 Years Later, it offers directors cinematic realism without CGI, setting a new safety and creative standard in SFX.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
Startup: Signapse
Description: Signapse introduces a newly expanded choice of photorealistic, AI-generated digital signers to present customer translations. This reflects better the diversity of both the deaf community and audiences worldwide.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
Startup: Tape It
Description: Tape It simplifies audio recording in music and film. Our app is popular among film sound designers and has been used on shows like The Orville (2017, Fox/Hulu) and The Dark (2018, CBS/Netflix). The AI-powered high quality audio noise reduction software, has received high praise from awarded Hollywood studios.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
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