Practical AI skills and mental health in the industry on EWA Network's annual event in Berlin
EWA Network celebrated its anniversary in Berlin once again on Monday, 16 February. On a snowy day, the Collegium Hungaricum welcomed us to share information and insights on best practices and the status of the audiovisual industry. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Collegium Hungaricum for their continued support.
Our members-only event began at 11 am with a masterclass led by Shamila Lengsfeld, a German-Iranian director, screenwriter, and AI filmmaking expert who works at the intersection of live-action cinema and AI-based visual storytelling.
Shamila gave us a practical introduction to AI-powered visual storytelling, providing real examples and guidance on exploring and testing workflows. The ethical and responsible use of AI was also addressed at the request of our members.
After a much-needed coffee break, our president, Graziella Bildesheim, welcomed the EWA members and emphasised the importance of taking a political stance in such challenging times. Art has always been political, and the EWA Network is unafraid to speak out. Martina Petrovic, a member of the EWA Network board, then presented the results of a survey shared with EWA members to find out more about them and how we could improve our assistance or which initiatives they would like us to carry out.
The Executive Director, Alexia Muiños Ruiz, then provided an overview of 'EWA Network in Numbers', emphasising the network's partnerships with 11 associations and women-centred film festivals, as well as its membership spanning 60 countries. She also welcomed two new associations: MUTIM from Portugal and Collectif 50/50 from France.
Alexia then invited Koel Sen, winner of the EWA Network Diverse Voices Award, to present her project In the Light of Darkness.
Next, Louise Højgaard Johansen, founder of Sane Cinema — an international initiative that promotes healthier practices in the film industry — took to the stage to share some facts and figures about the destabilising effects of working in the screen industries on filmmakers.
Following the keynote address and the presentation of some shocking figures, which triggered a number of comments, the roundtable discussion entitled 'Come Together – Facing Mental Health Challenges Head-On' took place. Moderated by Louise H. Johansen, it was a candid conversation about the worst and best practices to learn from, as well as a collective approach to well-being in the screen industries.
We would like to thank our guests, German/US-based producer Christine Günther, Hungarian director and lecturer Asia Dér, and German writer and director Kerstin Polte, for their honest approach and for generously sharing their practices and case studies. They agreed that there is a mental health crisis in the film industry, with a high risk of burnout and professionals leaving the business.
Board and team members (from Right to left) Rumena Ivanova, Martina Petrovic, Melanie Hoyes, Graziella Bildesheim, Iris Zappe-Heller and Alexia Muiños closed the session at the Moholy-Nagy Event Room and encouraged the group to continue the conversation in the cocktail, in the ground floor.
