THE AMBASSADORS OF THE WAIFF
DES AMBASSADEURS ENGAGÉS POUR L'AVENIR DU CINÉMA
The World AI Film Festival ambassadors are inspiring figures from diverse backgrounds, united by their passion for innovation and creativity. Key players in promoting the festival, they champion the idea that artificial intelligence can enhance art while elevating talent.
A COLLECTIVE ENERGY TO DRIVE THE CREATIVITY OF TOMORROW
Eliot M. Cohen
Entrepreneur and Music Producer
Eliot M. Cohen is a British entrepreneur and music producer. Founder of the Red Bus Group in 1970, he has worked with major artists such as Black Sabbath, Mariah Carey, and Destiny’s Child. His studio, Red Bus Recording Studios, has hosted stars such as George Michael and Duran Duran. A consultant for Sony/ATV, he has contributed to successful film soundtracks. An honorary member of SACEM, his influence on the music industry was recognized by a Channel 4 documentary.
Michel Zgarka
Producer and Director
Michel Zgarka is a French producer and director, born on December 11, 1950, in Paris. With over 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry, he has produced, directed, and distributed numerous works, including the YouTube phenomenon “GUMMYBAR,” which has racked up over 6 billion views.
As President and CEO of HITLAB Inc., he is recognized for his visionary leadership and creative excellence.
Jean-Claude Goldenstein
Artificial Intelligence Specialist
Jean-Claude Goldenstein is a French-American entrepreneur specializing in technology and artificial intelligence.
Founder and CEO of CREOpoint, he uses AI to combat information overload and misinformation. He is also involved in the film industry, notably participating in events such as the Cannes Film Festival and organizing AI meetups for the marketing community.
Stefano Landi
Technical manager
A results-driven technology executive based in Silicon Valley for 30 years, he has launched and commercialized various emerging technology products for the consumer, enterprise, and public sector markets. Currently at Amazon, he previously worked at companies such as Nokia, Palm, Verizon, as well as several Silicon Valley startups. Passionate about AI, he has recently focused on agentic AI and the GenAI revolution for the film industry.
Robert Paul Buganza
Creative Direction and Strategy
With over 20 years of international experience in London, Milan, and New York, Robert Buganza combines creativity, technology, and strategy to create experiences that inspire action and drive change. Specializing in AI, Blockchain, AR/VR, UI/UX, Motion Design, and Data Visualization, he leads cross-functional teams to deliver innovative content strategies and interactive multimedia solutions.
His professional background includes creative leadership roles at M&C Saatchi, TBWA\Italia and Sky Italia, as well as consulting projects for social collectives The Human Solidarity Project (USA) and The Undaunted (UK).
Robert’s work combines emerging technologies and captivating visual storytelling to propel brands into the future.
Alex Patrascu
Co-founder and creative technologist of MASSIVE Studios
Alex is the Co-Founder and Creative Technologist of MASSIVE Studios, where he leads an AI-native pipeline that delivers Hollywood-grade ads and films in days, not months; backed by 25 years in visual storytelling and more than 4M AI images and videos rendered, he blends creative rigor with cutting-edge automation to move from concept to screen at speed. His short A Hard Winter has surpassed one million views for its “unbelievable realism,” and teams at Topaz Labs, Leonardo AI, Google, and Higgsfield AI trust his work to push the frontier from idea to impact. Featured in Forbes as “a creative with deep expertise in generative AI,” Alex brings precision, innovation, and momentum to every frame.
Gilles Guerraz
advertising director
With over 15 years of experience in advertising directing, Gilles Guerraz is a recognized expert in creation enhanced by generative artificial intelligence. He has directed several dozen AI video projects, founded the training company NexTrend, co-founded the AI video production company BANGGER, created the newsletter Generative, as well as the AI directors’ collective Prompt Club.
Ysé Brisson
actress, screenwriter & producer
Ysé Brisson is a French actress, screenwriter, and producer with 10+ years as a media & entertainment expert.
She has consulted for groups (Lionsgate, Endemol, XII Tribes, Panini Media, Casablanca, Hitlab) and founded human-rights film festivals, including a Paris event for women’s voices hosted at the French Parliament.
Today she develops VR for healthcare, creating content that helps hospital patients reduce pain and isolation.
Sana Shaheer Abbasi
President and Co-Founder of 8 Billion Voices
Sana Shaheer Abbasi is the President and Co-Founder of 8 Billion Voices (8BV), a global initiative weaving wellness, art, AI, and storytelling into social impact. With a background in global health, refugee advocacy, and humanitarian work across Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S., she builds bridges between communities and systems of care. Through projects like Divine Roots—an organic fashion line—and trauma-informed workshops, Sana champions healing, intentional living, and creative expression. With 8BV, she envisions a future where AI heals through simulation, creating spaces where every voice is seen, valued, and whole.
Riccardo Acciarino
CEO & Founder of OOVIE Studios SA.
Riccardo Acciarino is an international clarinet/bass-clarinet performer and the CEO &
Founder of OOVIE Studios SA. He pioneers music-interactive AI films, where visuals are
generated live from performance so every screening is unique. Trained in classical and
contemporary music, he works between Zurich and Milan.
STEPHANE DAVI
CEO & Founder of IMAGO PICTURES
With 15 years of experience in audiovisual production, my goal is to share my passion for imagery through a variety of projects.
My work spans from directing to artistic direction, including special effects and VFX supervision.
Always at the cutting edge of technology, I am proficient in the latest software such as Unreal Engine 5, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, SynthEyes, and DaVinci Resolve.
I am also an expert in generative AI and master advanced creative workflows using ComfyUI, allowing me to push the boundaries of visual storytelling and digital creation.
EUGENIO FIERRO
Senior Art director | AI Creative Specialist and Educator
Eugenio Fierro is a Senior Art Director, Creative Strategist, and AI Creative Specialist & Educator. With a career that began in traditional art direction and evolved alongside the digital revolution, he now focuses on merging creativity, strategy, and artificial intelligence to expand the possibilities of visual storytelling and brand communication.
As a creative partner of Pixverse and Image Art, he supports brands and professionals in integrating AI into their workflows, turning innovation into actionable solutions. In addition to consulting, Eugenio teaches Graphic Design History at IUAD, guiding students in exploring design and communication in the digital era.
Vincent Lowy
Director General at the École Nationale Supérieure Louis-Lumière
A leading figure in French cinema, Vincent Lowy holds a PhD in Information and Communication Sciences. He is a specialist in memory cinema, a documentary filmmaker, and a series editor. He has taught at the University of Haute-Alsace, the University of Strasbourg, and the University of Lorraine, where he also directed the IECA. He later became Director of the École Nationale Supérieure Louis-Lumière.
Remi Tereszkiewicz
President of Miluna Productions & Consulting
Rémi Tereszkiewicz holds degrees in Physics and Economics and has devoted his career to media innovation. He has held VP/SVP positions at Eurosport, Netgem, Lagardère Studios/Mediawan, and Warner Bros, where he launched several premium TV and VOD services. Since 2019, he has been developing AI-powered marketing and sales solutions at BetaSeries, leveraging usage data from its 3 million TV fan community across Europe. He supports producers and platforms with market insights, script analysis tools (co-financed by Creative Europe MEDIA), and AI audience discovery solutions. He also contributes to new television standards (CMO Europe of UHD World Association), Creative Europe and CNRS research projects, and regularly speaks at industry events and film schools about AI, innovation, and media strategy.
Eric Lentulo
Strategy & Influence | Communication & Visibility | Ecosystem Connector | AI, Media, Events | Startups & Leaders in Motion
A graduate of Sciences Po and ESCP, Eric Lentulo has built his career in the media and telecommunications industries, notably at M6, Mediawan, SFR, and Médiamétrie, before dedicating himself to advising executives and cultural organizations on innovation and communication strategies.
Having lived for several years in Sweden and Norway, he brings an international perspective to the transformations within the creative sector and the growing role of artificial intelligence in storytelling. He designs and leads numerous panel discussions and keynotes on AI and the media, notably for ESCP, HEC, and ESSEC.
At WAiFF, he applies his experience to the festival’s development and the structuring of its content, convinced that AI marks the beginning of a new era of dialogue between technology and imagination.
Élisabeth Guthman
Casting director, AI filmaker, AI Instructor for Professionals
Élisabeth Guthmann is a multidisciplinary creator with thirty years of experience in French cinema. Former assistant director and casting director (The War of Thrones, Timbuktu, Benedetta), she now devotes herself to generative cinematographic creation. She develops series for National Geographic TV and Planète+, and directs award-winning short films mixing AI and human emotions also a certified drama therapist, she explores creation as a tool for care and transformation.
Jiajian Min
Award-Winning AI +XR Artist, Researcher, Founder, Curator, Speaker, Consultant, Educator | Chair, MIT AI Film Festival | Cofounder, HarvardXR | Cofounder, MYStudio
Jiajian Min is a new media artist, researcher, and creative entrepreneur. He co-founded MYStudio and HarvardXR, chairs the MIT AI Film Festival Committee, and advises the Seattle AI Film Festival. A former Harvard researcher and NEW INC XR member, he has taught at leading art schools in China. His work explores emerging technology and multisensory storytelling, shown at the Venice Biennale, Ars Electronica, Siggraph Asia, and more. He was selected as one of the 2023 Forbes China 100 Most Influential Chinese.
Yasser Alsaied
AI & IoT Visionary | Middle East Ambassador
A technology leader with over 30 years bridging innovation from silicon to global platforms, Yasser served as Global VP of IoT at Amazon Web Services, launching connected device ecosystems and establishing AWS’s cloud infrastructure across the Middle East, including the Saudi Arabia region. Previously at Qualcomm, he built the smartphone ecosystem in China and pioneered open-source mobile innovation frameworks. Of Arabic-speaking heritage with deep roots in Middle Eastern culture, he has lived and led transformative projects across Japan, China, and Saudi Arabia. Currently President of Facilis.ai, he champions agentic AI that empowers creators to control their data and vision. As WAiFF’s Middle East Ambassador, he bridges AI, storytelling, and regional cinema innovation.
