The future of filmmaking is being shaped by a powerful new kind of creative partnership—artists, technologists, and innovators working together to explore the potential of generative AI while preserving artistic integrity and creative control. For the past year, Google has collaborated directly with filmmakers to understand how AI can enhance storytelling, not replace it. These conversations have revealed a clear need: for AI to be truly transformative, it must be guided by community-led leadership and supported by accessible, inclusive education. Today, Google.org is investing $2 million in the Sundance Institute to build a community-driven ecosystem for AI education and empowerment in the film industry. This funding will help train over 100,000 artists in foundational AI skills, ensuring that filmmakers from all backgrounds can access the tools and knowledge needed to innovate. The initiative is part of Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund, which supports workforce development and education programs that help Americans gain essential AI skills across key sectors. This investment builds on a year of deep collaboration between Google and independent filmmakers. From early-stage prototyping to real-world production, Google has worked side-by-side with artists to co-create tools and refine AI models based on the rigorous demands of cinematic storytelling. Key initiatives include: Flow: Designed with creatives, for creatives. Google gave filmmakers early access to Flow, its AI filmmaking tool, and used their feedback to shape an intuitive interface that supports experimentation and iteration. Through Flow Sessions, selected artists receive mentorship, AI education, and unlimited access to the tool as they develop original short films. AI on Screen: In partnership with Range Media Partners, this program invites filmmakers to create short films that explore the human relationship with technology—without using AI to make the films themselves. The first project, Sweetwater, delves into the emotional weight of digitally preserving a loved one’s memory. Primordial Soup: In collaboration with director Darren Aronofsky’s Primordial Soup, Google helped bring Eliza McNitt’s film Ancestra to life. The project pushed AI to solve complex production challenges, including character consistency and motion matching to replicate intricate 3D camera movements—capabilities developed specifically to meet the demands of visionary storytelling. Today’s independent filmmakers are at the heart of a pivotal shift in media. But technology alone doesn’t create art. It’s the human imagination that gives AI its purpose. The goal is no longer simply to master a new tool, but to unlock the unique creative potential AI offers for individual artistic visions. As the industry evolves, Google remains committed to ensuring that the future of film stays in the hands of storytellers. The partnership with Sundance Institute is a critical step toward democratizing access to AI education and empowering a new generation of creators. If you’re attending Sundance in Park City, be sure to join us for a deep dive into Flow or the Sundance Institute Story Forum, where we’ll showcase Dear Upstairs Neighbors—a project that demonstrates how custom Google DeepMind models can transform hand-crafted artwork into dynamic, living paintings, all while preserving complete creative control.