The 2024 Young Horizons Industry (YHI) forum is gearing up to take place in Warsaw from 30 September-2 October. This year’s theme, "Pushing the Boundaries – How Technological Innovations Are Reshaping the Creative Process, Work and Business Models", underscores the event’s focus on the evolving intersection of technology and creativity in film and series production. Curated by Viola Gabrielli, head of programme at Young Horizons Industry, the forum promises a forward-looking exploration of cutting-edge technologies like AI and their growing impact on the industry.

Key industry figures will lead sessions: they include Maite Woköck and Johannes Hezer from Telescope Animation (Germany), Jiří Mika from PFX (Czech Republic), Maciej Żemojcin (a Polish AI and virtual production specialist), Volha Paulovich from PentoPix (UK) and Christiane Stützle from Morrison & Foerster (Germany), among others. AC Coppens from THE CATALYSTS will moderate the discussions. The sessions will highlight not only the role of AI in creativity, but also its legal and ethical dimensions.

The forum kicks off with the talk “The Last Whale Singer – Creating a Platform Harmonic IP & Business Model”, followed by the two-part session “Human-centric AI in Films and Series”. This will delve into AI-driven tools that are redefining creative workflows in the industry, legal frameworks, and the ethical implications of using AI in film and series production.

On the second day, the forum will shift gears, focusing on pitching and one-on-one meetings. The 21 selected in-development projects and works in progress (see the news) will be the centre of attention. While traditionally, two days have been set aside for pitching, this year, the schedule has been condensed into a single day, creating a more intense and focused environment. However, the third day will still offer ample networking opportunities and a sneak peek at upcoming European productions for distributors, sales agents, broadcasters and festival programmers (see the news).

The final day will also feature a round-table discussion hosted by Cristina Angelucci, a media and licensing expert from Italy. Titled “Securing IPs – Opportunities and Challenges of Book Adaptations”, the discussion will explore the growing interest in adapting literary works for the screen and the challenges of securing intellectual property rights. In addition, Young Horizons Industry offers participants the chance to consult with experts through the Consultants’ Tables. Among the international consultants are business-of-entertainment expert and serial entrepreneur Marina Narishkin; seasoned script doctor Heiko Martens; and Laila Lala from Greenigma, specialising in green consulting for the entertainment industry.

In conjunction with the forum, a closed-door meeting titled "Think Tank for TV: Facing Realities" will take place, drawing representatives of European broadcasters to Warsaw. Initiated by the UK-based Children’s Media Foundation, this meeting will address the situation of traditional media in the age of platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The focus will be on how public-service media must adapt to the new reality where younger audiences are increasingly turning to unregulated platforms that do not always promote age-appropriate or culturally relevant content.

The meeting will include broadcasters from across Europe, including VRT (Belgium), Czech Television (Czech Republic), NDR (Germany), AMC Networks International (Hungary), RTÉ (Ireland), LTV (Latvia), LRT (Lithuania), VPRO Kids (Netherlands), BNNVara (Netherlands), NRK Super (Norway), Canal+ Polska (Poland), RTV Slovenija (Slovenia), Catalan TV (Spain), TRT (Turkey) and BBC Children’s 7+ (UK). Participants will share insights into how different territories are addressing the audience shift, and how regulations and content-funding strategies are evolving to keep pace with these changes.

Greg Childs, director of the Children’s Media Foundation, emphasised the importance of addressing the challenges faced by content providers for children and youth. “This meeting is a crucial step in raising international awareness of these issues,” said Childs. The discussions will also extend to future meetings at MipJunior in Cannes and the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield, continuing efforts to adapt media regulations and funding strategies to the changing media landscape.

Gabrielli stressed the significance of these conversations in shaping the future of media for young audiences, noting, “As young audiences shift from traditional media to platforms like YouTube and TikTok, new challenges and opportunities arise for content creators and broadcasters. The YHI forum is an invaluable space for these discussions, and I’m confident that, together, we will find ways to ensure the long-term success of quality content in this new, digital age.”

Young Horizons Industry is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the Creative Europe – MEDIA sub-programme, the City of Warsaw, and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage within the context of the Polish Creative Industries Development Center programme “Rozwój Sektorów Kreatywnych”.