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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-based projects, five Spanish and five European, will compete in the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge, the competition for recently created startups and entrepreneurial teams with technology-based developments applicable to the audiovisual sector of the San Sebastián Festival. This year 68 projects have been received, the record number of submissions since its birth in 2019.
Of the five finalists for the state competition of the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge, Volum develops real-time volumetric capture to generate immersive communication and Dymensium also works in this field by means of 4DGS technology to create immersive experiences and high-fidelity digital twins. For their part, intoreality.tv present an interactive web player, combining the traditional 2D signal with immersive signals and multiple devices so that the audience can actively participate in the experience; HAMO Real-Time Animation System creates interactive digital characters in real time by combining a variety of animation techniques. Finally, Pixentinel is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to detect, diagnose and provide a response to signal failures during streamings.
Also based on AI are three of the European projects: Germany’s Graphrs develops an operating system to make work easier for audiovisual production professionals; Finland’s THELMA is a tool for managing online misuse of public identity and intellectual property in a single environment; and the British SuperScout provides location management software for film commissions, professionals and production companies. Completing the selection is another location-focused project, also from Finland, Virtual Location Scouting which, thanks to augmented reality, provides digital location scouting enabling the remote previewing and planning of filming; and another with emphasis on sustainability, the Belgian platform TheGreenShot, which measures, reduces, and reports the carbon footprint of productions by means of Big Data using data that can be traced, audited and adapted to multiple certificates.
Two independent juries will give the awards going to one national and one European startup or entrepreneurial team. For its part, a third jury will give a special mention recognising the values of entrepreneurship.
The projects selected for the Zinema Startup Challenge reflect technological innovation applied to the audiovisual sector from multiple perspectives and will be presented at a pitching session on Thursday 24 September. The Zinemaldia & Technology event will also include a round table moderated by AC Coppens focusing on audiences and the role precisely played by technology in reaching those audiences.
Spanish Projects
Description: Dymensium revolutionizes volumetric capture by means of 4DGS technology to create immersive experiences and high-fidelity digital twins.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
Real-time animation, motion capture and Unreal Engine integration; VFX/SFX, Artificial Intelligence, 3D Printing
Description: Audiovisual innovation startup creating real-time animation technologies and interactive content solutions.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
Augmented/virtual reality
Description: Interactive and immersive web player enabling the coexistence of traditional 2D signals, VR360 & VR180 immersive signals, multiple devices (telephones, tablets, VR, etc.). This way, everyone can be a producer.
Level of development: The solution is consolidated, and it is being sold to the main target market.
Algorithmic technology, streaming analytics, Artificial Intelligence
Description: Pixentinel is the operational intelligence platform for live streaming which monitors, performs root cause diagnosis, takes action and learns through a proprietary algorithmic engine which protects revenue and the user experience. The technology has been validated in critical environments.
Level of development: A first version of the solution is being sold.
Augmented/virtual reality
Description: HoloMIT is powered by Volum. Volum develops real-time volumetric capture, telepresence and immersive communication solutions. Its technology enables the capture, transmission and visualisation of people in 3D for XR experiences, remote collaboration, events, healthcare, education and virtual production.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
European Projects
Description: Graphrs is the operating system for video production. Planning tools can't staff a shoot. Talent platforms can't plan one. Graphrs does both: schedule, tasks, crew and equipment in one live view — and whatever's missing gets booked straight into the plan, from vetted local people across more than 20 European cities.
Level of development: There is a working prototype of the solution validated in a relevant environment.
Description: Location management software for film commissions, production companies, and freelance location scouts & managers. Build a database of every location you've found across every project, share options quickly with colleagues & clients, and easily find any location you've previously scouted in seconds.
Level of development: An early version of the solution is being sold, e.g. an MVP. Early adopters are the main customers.
Description: TheGreenShot is the data sustainability platform for the entertainment industry to measure, reduce, and report the environmental impact of productions.
Level of development: The solution is consolidated, and it is being sold to the main target market.
Description: THELMA protects public people from online impersonation and identity misuse by detecting unauthorised use of their image, voice, and likeness, then supporting a faster response.
Level of development: There is a working prototype of the solution validated in a relevant environment.
Augmented/virtual reality
Description: Digital location scouting with Gaussian splats. 360 Gaussian generates a digital twin from 360° video. GaussianScout opens it in a browser for the whole crew to scout the scene. A lightweight previs system for creatives, with export to Unreal Engine for deeper previs.
Level of development: There is a working prototype of the solution validated in a relevant environment.
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