AI Masterclass
![AFRIFF-2025-AI-workshop-and-Cultural-dialogue[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ac90b5_5b5c3456e7ff437cb90d4cec5756f729~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_387,h_484,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/ac90b5_5b5c3456e7ff437cb90d4cec5756f729~mv2.jpg)
AI WORKSHOP & CULTURAL DIALOGUE
Summary
Theme: Machines Making Films: Africa’s Cinematic Future, Culture & Artificial Intelligence
Opening Shot: When Technology Starts to Dream, Who Tells Africa’s Story?
Theme: Machines Making Films: Africa’s Cinematic Future, Culture & Artificial Intelligence
Overview: Artificial Intelligence is quietly revolutionizing and rewriting the language of global cinema. From scripting dialogue to visual effects, casting, editing, distribution, designing scenes and even predicting audience emotions; but what happens when machines start making films?
This landmark AFRIFF AI Workshop & Cultural Dialogue curated by Rise Interactive Studios brings together visionary filmmakers, AI technologists, cultural thinkers, and policymakers to shape the continent’s creative economy in this era of intelligent tools. At the crossroads of art, innovation and ethics, the conversation will challenge old boundaries and interrogate the future of African creativity. From virtual production and deepfake performance to AI-driven editing and audience analytics, this session will ask: can machines ever truly capture the soul of African stories?
In 2025, Makemation, Africa’s first feature film on Artificial Intelligence, opened a new frontier in the continent’s storytelling landscape. Co-written, produced, and executive produced by Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Makemation demonstrated how cinema can humanize technology, ignite conversation and challenge the boundaries between art and machines. The Film quickly became a cultural and cinematic milestone, reimagining how technology can serve art, not replace it and it introduced AI as both a creative muse and a mirror for African society.
Time: 10.00 AM - 5.00 PM
Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Outline
Objectives
-
To demystify AI in cinema and show its creative potential for African storytellers.
-
To bridge policy and creativity by exploring regulatory and IP frameworks for AI-generated works.
To foster collaboration between creative and tech ecosystems across the continent. -
To inspire youth to experiment with technology while preserving cultural authenticity.
Session Format
Duration: 60–75 minutes Format: Interactive Deep Workshop and Cultural Dialogue
Structure
Opening Visual Montage (2 min): The Official Cast Reveal of MAKEMATION: A short video contrasting traditional filmmaking with AI-generated scenes.
Moderator Introduction (5 min): Context setting - “When machines start making films, who owns the story?”
Panel Discussion (30 min):
-
AI as Co-Creator: How filmmakers are using AI in scriptwriting, animation, editing, and sound.
-
Culture & Authenticity: Can AI tell African stories truthfully?
-
Policy & Ethics: What frameworks protect artists’ rights and data?
-
How AI can democratize filmmaking for young Africans.The Future Pipeli
-
Audience Q&A, Live Demo & Interactive Showcase (25 min): Show a quick AI tool (text-to-video or image generation).
Interactive Showcase:
A short interactive demo where the Moderator + Guest asks the audience for a quick story idea thereby making them feel part of the creative process. Using ChatGPT or Gemini for instant script generation, Google VEO or Runway ML or Pika Labs for creating visuals and motion, Suno for composing background music, ElevenLabs for voice narration and Adobe Firefly or Midjourney for concept art, the idea is transformed into a short cinematic sequence on the spot. The session unfolds like a mini short film, demonstrating how AI tools can enhance filmmaking, allowing anyone with imagination to become a storyteller.
Closing Reflections (5 min): Art will always have a human heartbeat, even when machines can create stories.
Tone & Experience
Visually rich: include screen visuals of AI-generated art, music and film clips.
Conversational, not academic: accessible to youth, engaging to policymakers.
Cultural: celebrate African languages, aesthetics, and traditions - show that AI can amplify, not erase, them.
Target Audience
Youth creators, filmmakers, policymakers, technologists, cultural scholars, investors and journalists passionate about the intersection of creativity, innovation, and Africa’s digital future.
Expected Outcomes
-
Clear pathways for collaboration between the creative industry and AI ecosystem.
-
Policy and advocacy insights to safeguard Africa’s creative IP in the age of automation.
-
A new generation of African storytellers inspired to innovate responsibly with technology.
Participants will leave inspired to experiment responsibly with AI, advocate for ethical creative policies and envision an Africa that leads in the cinematic future powered by artificial intelligence.
Chioma Ude’s Closing Reflection
“Machines may be learning how to make films, but it is Africa’s people who must teach them what stories to tell.”
Toyosi Akerele Ogunsiji’s Closing Reflection
“Technology must not erase humanity from art. It should amplify our capacity to imagine, create, and connect. Africa’s creative destiny depends on how boldly we merge our culture with our code.” - Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji
About the Masterclass Host: Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji
Founder, Rise Networks & Rise Interactive Studios Africa AI for Development, EdTech, Strategic Policy & Media Innovation Leader
Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji is a leading African voice in Artificial Intelligence for Development, EdTech, Media Innovation, and Policy Strategy. As the Founder of Rise Networks and Rise Interactive Studios, she drives AI governance, workforce transformation, and inclusive digital opportunities across Africa.
A Harvard Kennedy School alumna and Ph.D. holder in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defense Academy, her research examines the implications of artificial intelligence on Nigeria’s national and economic security. Under her leadership, Rise Networks launched West Africa’s first career chatbot and conducted a UK-FCDO–commissioned study on AI for border governance. Rise Interactive Studios also produced MAKEMATION (2025), Africa’s first AI-themed feature film, which has earned global acclaim for redefining African storytelling.
Recognized by Forbes as one of Africa’s 20 Most Powerful Young Women and by Swiss Cognitive as a Top 30 Global AI Ambassador, Dr. Toyosi serves on the UNDP #AI4Dev Reference Group and the AI for Public Interest Working Group at the 2025 French Government AI Action Summit.