On 27 March, the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln launches the new further education series ‘KI. Medien’. Multi-day seminars and workshops provide compact and practical knowledge about AI tools and workflows for use in audiovisual media.
Film and media professionals from various fields - such as producers, authors, editors and VFX and animation professionals - will gain a comprehensive insight into the latest developments and possible applications of artificial intelligence in the film and media industry.

Mick Mahler, a freelance visual effects artist, animator and AI expert who combines traditional film-making skills with innovative technology, will be responsible for the content of the series. In his successful YouTube channel Mickmumpitz, he regularly devotes himself to new developments in AI-supported filmmaking. On the importance of AI for filmmakers, he says: ‘The question is no longer whether AI will change our work, but how we use this change to our creative advantage. As a filmmaker, I understand the uncertainty in the face of the AI revolution. That's exactly why I'm dedicated to showing how these new tools enrich, rather than replace, our traditional craft.’

Nadja Radojevic, Managing Director of the ifs: ‘As a forward-looking educational institution, we want to provide media professionals with practical knowledge and the necessary tools on this highly topical subject. Our in-service training programme focuses on AI applications for different target groups, clarifies media law issues and highlights opportunities.’

The multi-part series will kick off on 27 March with the two-day »AI. Introduction« with basic knowledge on current tools, established workflows and application examples as well as potentials, limitations, ethical aspects and a legal categorisation. 
Further courses on law, film production, material development and VFX & animation will follow until the end of June. In addition to Mick Mahler, the lecturers include Renate Schmid (lawyer) and the lecturer duo Taç Romey (screenwriter, producer) and Markus Walsch (screenwriter, cross-media producer) as experts in AI-based storytelling.

Solo self-employed persons have the opportunity to apply for COMPASS funding for individual modules in the series and may receive a refund of 90% of the participation fees.

More information and registration here.