June 30, 2025: Exploring the Future of Cinema at Tech Forward: Technology and Cinema

HYSEA, in collaboration with IIIT Hyderabad, hosted an inspiring edition of the Tech Forward series recently at IIIT-H, focused on how emerging technologies are transforming the art and business of filmmaking.

The session was chaired by Manohar Reddy, CEO of Feuji and HYSEA Managing Committee Member, and brought together a diverse audience of technologists, academics, filmmakers, and innovators.

The session featured thought-provoking talks by:

Shobu Yarlagadda , Co-Founder of Mihira Visual Labs and producer of Baahubali, who reflected on the challenges and opportunities in adopting technology for large-scale cinematic storytelling.

Prof.P J Narayanan , Director, IIIT Hyderabad, and a pioneer in computer vision and graphics, who shared deep insights on image-based modeling, virtual production, and AI-powered creative workflows.

Key points discussed by Manohar Reddy, Shobu and Prof. PJN included:

AI has democratized production, enabling small, lean teams to create high-quality content faster and more affordably.
Movies remain primarily about stories and creativity. While visuals enhance the experience, they are not the soul of a film.
Pixar and other pioneers have developed proprietary tools over decades to achieve exceptional VFX quality—while open-source tools like Blender are powerful, they still differ in polish and scalability.

Motion capture, game engines, and virtual production are streamlining workflows and opening new creative possibilities. India has the potential to become a global hub for animated and fully CGI content.

The Tech Forward Series is driven by academia, industry, and the broader tech ecosystem, fostering dialogue and collaboration to shape the future of technology-led innovation.

A big thank you to our speakers, partners, and participants for making this session a success!