In a groundbreaking collaboration that bridges entertainment, culture and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, Rise Interactive Studios, producers of MAKEMATION, Africa’s first feature film on AI has entered into a strategic partnership with the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) to host a major AI Technical Workshop and Cultural Dialogue themed “HUMACHINES MAKING FILMS: Africa’s Cinematic Future, Culture & Artificial Intelligence” on Tuesday, 4th November, 2025 at Twin Waters Lagos, Nigeria from 10am to 5pm.

This landmark AI workshop represents the next phase of Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji’s visionary work following the global impact of MAKEMATION, which she conceptualized, co-wrote and produced at Rise Interactive Studios, and this collaboration extends Rise Interactive Studios’ commitment to exploring AI as a co-creator in filmmaking, not a competitor to human imagination.

“We believe that the most superior intelligence will always be human, and as the lines between creativity and computation blur, it’s essential that Africa defines its own narrative, ethics and aesthetics in this emerging era of machine-assisted filmmaking. Artificial Intelligence can refine and reimagine, but it cannot feel. It can simulate empathy but not embody it. What we are doing with Humachines Making Films is showing that machines can assist in the creative process, but they must never replace the human heartbeat and cultural intuition that drives storytelling.” said Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder of Rise Interactive Studios.

The AI Workshop and Cultural dialogue are designed to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the creative process in film, storytelling, and content production, from scripting and character development to visual design and post-production. Through this partnership, Rise Interactive Studios aims to position AI not as a threat to creativity but as a co-creator that enhances the artistic process, amplifies African narratives, and unlocks new opportunities in storytelling and digital production. Building on the resounding success of Makemation, Humachines Making Films will convene filmmakers, AI researchers, creative technologists, policy experts, and cultural leaders to discuss how Africa can define its own cinematic future in the fourth industrial revolution.

The full-day program will feature a Keynote Presentation on Humans and Machines co-creating Films, a Fireside Chat on Culture, Code & Creativity, real-time creative demos and use of AI tools in screenwriting, directing and post production, interactive breakout labs exploring AI ethics, cultural preservation and storytelling innovation and showcase of a curated display of AI-generated stories, sound, and visual storytelling inspired by African cinema.

Now in its 14th edition, including Nigeria’s first-ever Film and Content Market, AFRIFF has become a beacon for dynamic convenings and conversation shaping in African cinema, film education, talent exposure, and cultural exchange, showcasing the continent’s creative evolution to the world. By partnering with Rise Interactive Studios on this initiative, AFRIFF underscores its role as a hub for artistic experimentation and technological advancement.

“AFRIFF is proud to collaborate with visionaries like Toyosi and the team at Rise Interactive Studios because as AI becomes more integrated into the creative industries, it’s vital that Africa defines its own cinematic language, one that is technologically advanced yet emotionally authentic,” said Chioma Ude, Founder of AFRIFF.

Through this AI workshop, Rise Interactive Studios as a creative innovation institution and the Africa International Film Festival aim to spark new collaborations across film, AI research and creative entrepreneurship, inspiring a generation of African filmmakers to build with machines rather than be displaced by them. Makemation marked a turning point in Africa’s cinematic and technological landscape, merging film production, human emotion and algorithmic intelligence to explore the human impact of AI in a first-of-its kind made in Africa movie.

The film, which was recently shown at the Microsoft Research Lab on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, has demonstrated how Africans can use technology not just to consume, but to create, question and reclaim narrative power. Building on that foundation, this AFRIFF 2025 session brings together visionary creatives and technologists from across the continent to discuss how machines are influencing storytelling and how Africa can ensure that its cultural identity drives this global transformation.