Studio Babelsberg Launches AI & Virtual Production Masterclass

• VFX expert Marc Weigert to guide five selected productions in the AI-assisted development of trailers and pilot sequences for international distribution
• T-Systems, NVIDIA, and MediaTech Hub Potsdam support the masterclass as technology and location partners
• Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg awards € 595,000 in funding to advance innovative production methods at the Babelsberg production hub

Studio Babelsberg is launching its first-ever AI & Virtual Production Masterclass. In this hands-on program, five selected producers explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual production can be integrated into professional film production. Using AI-powered production pipelines under real studio conditions, participants will create trailers and pilot sequences, along with supporting development, pitch, and proof-of-concept materials. These assets are intended to help advance their film and series projects, support international marketing, and secure financing.

The Masterclass strengthens Studio Babelsberg’s position as an innovation hub for film and media production. The goal is not only to make new technologies available but also to test their practical application using specific content and production pipelines and to develop technical, creative, legal and ethical standards for future productions. To this end, the studio is providing its hybrid production facilities and infrastructure – including the Studio Babelsberg LEDcave and Grey Stage – as well as specialized teams in the fields of AI, virtual production, visual effects, editorial, and film production.

Jörg Bachmaier, CEO of Studio Babelsberg AG:
“Don’t let AI have all the fun! With our masterclass, we’re inviting filmmakers to shape the future of film themselves. We’re combining real and virtual film worlds, AI, and human imagination – to tell better stories and unlock new creative possibilities, with a ‘Human First’ approach.”

Funding from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg underscores the importance of this initiative for the regional film and media industry. By bringing together production companies, technology partners, and specialized professionals, the program strengthens regional economic growth and creates incentives to realize innovative projects in the region.

Helge Jürgens, Managing Director of New Media Funding at Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg:
“AI and virtual production are increasingly becoming key factors in audiovisual media production. They are transforming workflows and business models – while financing and international competition are posing growing challenges for the industry. Our goal is to unlock the creative and economic potential of these technologies for our region. With Studio Babelsberg’s masterclass we are creating a testing ground for AI-supported hybrid workflows under real-world production conditions, fostering collaboration between creative professionals and technology companies, and thereby increasing regional value creation. Thanks to funding from the Brandenburg Ministry of Economic Affairs, we are making the Berlin-Brandenburg media hub fit for the future and strengthening its international competitiveness.”

Marc Weigert, an internationally experienced visual effects specialist (ANONYMOUS, 2012, INDEPENDENCE DAY), leads the team of experts at Studio Babelsberg and serves as Master, guiding the five projects of the Masterclass. The focus is on exploring how AI and virtual production can work together effectively to bring cinematic ideas to life visually at an early stage of production and unlock new creative and production possibilities.

“There’s no longer any question that generative AI will fundamentally change film production. The question is how. That’s why the Masterclass takes a hands-on approach over several months. Working on real projects, we’re exploring where AI already belongs in a professional studio pipeline, where it still costs more than it saves, and how to keep the image under creative control. Ultimately, the benchmark remains the finished work: What works in a few shots must also hold up over 90 minutes or an entire season at a level of quality that no one questions”, says Marc Weigert.

The Masterclass projects selected by a jury include:

INS REICH produced by seven200 AI Studios & red sun films
OVAL produced by Fireglory Pictures
OTHERLAND produced by Mount Devil
CONSPIRACY produced by Dynamic Television (seven200 AI Studios)
GRISELLA produced by Ninety-Minute Film (Milkyway Films)

Technology and location partners complement the Masterclass with additional expertise and resources. T-Systems contributes its Sovereign Industrial AI Cloud to the program. The AI-Cloud Infrastructure, based in Munich Tucherpark, is used within the Masterclass to explore innovative use cases in virtual and audiovisual production without the risk of intellectual property loss. NVIDIA provides high-performance graphics processors for running open-source AI models for video production, enabling participants to implement and further develop high-quality visual concepts for their projects in a secure cloud environment. MediaTech Hub Potsdam will have access to T-Systems’ cloud resources for the duration of the project. In addition, the MediaTech Hub will contribute its network within the regional startup and MediaTech ecosystem, thereby strengthening collaboration between film production companies, technology companies, and innovation drivers.

All materials developed in the Masterclass are scheduled for completion by spring 2027.