Open source meets AI: The future of film production?

Conversations around AI in film production often represent two ends of the spectrum; fears of job replacement on one side and unrealistic claims of AI effortlessly making entire films on the other.

But the real opportunity with AI is far more interesting and less polarising. AI in film production shouldn’t be about replacing creative roles or outsourcing the entire process to machines. Instead, it should be about designing smarter workflows that support and empower artists.

By combining the reliability of off-the-shelf tools with the adaptability of open-source platforms and the speed of AI, filmmakers and creatives today can do more. They’re able to produce more ambitious content, more efficiently, while retaining full creative control in an increasingly demanding environment.

Evolving workflows: A new dawn is upon us

The demands on the vendors and service providers working in the media industry today are intense. Deadlines are shorter, platforms are multiplying, budgets are tight and audiences expect more, faster than ever before.

Tools like Unreal Engine and suites of products from the likes of Autodesk or Adobe often remain the backbone of many productions, but even the best off-the-shelf platforms have limitations when used in isolation.

That’s where open-source and AI solutions step in. Not as replacements for traditional techniques, but as powerful complements to existing workflows.

When integrated thoughtfully, these tools add layers of flexibility and customisation to the systems that filmmakers already rely on. By automating repetitive tasks and streamlining complex processes, they free artists to focus on what truly matters: creating, innovating, and telling better stories.

AI and open source: A partnership

The most effective workflows don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. For greater efficiency, and better creative outcomes, a hybrid model works best. This means combining the flexibility and adaptability of open-source tools with trusted industry standards to meet the specific needs of each unique production.

In practice, that might look like a pipeline where a mix of open source and off-the-shelf tools work together to create a flexible and powerful foundation.

The goal is simple: build workflows that adapt to the project, rather than forcing the project to adapt to the tools. It’s an approach that can be used time and again on projects to consistently test and push the limits of what AI-driven, creative-first pipelines can achieve.

Milo and Mara: An army of two

A hybrid approach was crucial in the creation of Milo and Mara, a short animation test completed by just two artists at Dimension Studio in under four weeks. By adopting an AI-first, hybrid pipeline consisting of tools like ComfyUI, Photoshop, Firefly, and Kling the team was able to rapidly iterate, refine visuals in real-time, and stay focused on the story without being bogged down by the technicalities of more traditional processes.

What would have traditionally taken a much larger team significantly more time became a nimble, streamlined production, delivering exceptional quality in a fraction of the time.

The Milo and Mara project is proof that when technology supports creativity, small teams can achieve extraordinary results. But the point isn’t to reduce team size.

The bigger picture: Designing workflows for filmmakers

The lessons from Milo and Mara aren’t just for lean, experimental teams. Larger productions can benefit just as much from the principles of hybrid workflows. It’s about designing systems that make the best use of every resource — time, talent, and technology.

When workflows are flexible and artist-focused, they remove bottlenecks, increase efficiency, and give creatives the freedom to experiment and innovate. By integrating open-source adaptability with the stability of established OTS platforms, productions of any size can achieve more without sacrificing quality or vision.

Looking forward: A call to embrace hybrid pipelines

The future of filmmaking isn’t a choice between open source and traditional off-the-shelf tools; it’s about combining both seamlessly. Fluid, hybrid workflows that take the best of both worlds allow teams to move faster, iterate more effectively, and tell better stories with fewer barriers in their way.

The ultimate truth is technology should never overshadow creativity. When used thoughtfully, it amplifies it, putting the power firmly back where it belongs: in the hands of the people bringing these stories to life.

Junaid Baig is chief innovation officer at Dimension Studio