The discussion, which took place on Thursday, brought together industry heavyweights Ashraf Fouda, Alexander Kissel, Steven Hacker, and Hamza Azzam to confront one of cinema’s most provocative questions presented by the panel's title, "The Future of Storytelling: Will Generative AI Replace Human Film and Drama Makers."
Moderated by producer and media personality Amr Qoura, the discussion ranged from scriptwriting to production workflows, examining the global, regional, and ethical dimensions of generative AI in filmmaking.
Tech: From shocks to norm
Ashraf Fouda opened the discussion with a historical perspective, noting that technological disruption is nothing new in the industry.
Filmmakers have repeatedly faced waves of innovation, from the transition from film to digital cameras to the rise of television and social media. Each time, initial shock gave way to adaptation and transformation.
“AI won’t take the place of humans,” Fouda said. “But it will change how we work and when we work.”
For Fouda, resisting technology is futile; embracing it allows creators to push boundaries. Like previous innovations, the emergence of AI offers a chance to elevate storytelling rather than replace it.
AI as a partner
Alexander Kissel and Steven Hacker elaborated on the ways AI is already reshaping global filmmaking workflows.
From script analysis to production planning, previsualization, and visual effects, AI tools help filmmakers work faster and more efficiently, tackling sequences that were once prohibitively expensive or technically impossible.
Yet both experts emphasized that machines cannot feel. While AI can suggest camera angles, design environments, or generate complex effects, it cannot replicate intuition, empathy, or emotional intelligence. The most compelling stories remain fundamentally human.
“The future we see is one of collaboration,” Kissel explained. “AI is a tool that supports creativity, but it does not replace the artist. It amplifies your vision; it doesn’t define it.”
Hacker added that AI enables filmmakers to experiment on a scale previously unimaginable, simulating hundreds of variations without compromising artistic intent. However, the creative choices and emotional impact remain with human creators.
Transition in the global industry
The panelists noted that AI is transforming filmmaking worldwide.
In Hollywood, studios are experimenting with human-AI hybrid workflows for previsualization, environment design, and accelerated editing.
In Europe and Asia, AI assists with concept design, 3D modeling, and even dialogue generation for minor characters.
In the Arab world, smaller studios are using AI to reduce production costs, create realistic effects, and develop ambitious narratives that once required massive budgets, leading to a democratization of creativity.
However, these advances bring legal and ethical challenges. AI is often trained on copyrighted scripts, images, and models, raising concerns about intellectual property and consent.
What happens when an actor’s likeness is used without permission, or when a script is repurposed by an algorithm? Regulations are still catching up.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about what’s allowed and what isn’t,” said Hacker. “Every AI platform sets its own rules. OpenAI has its guidelines; Google has others. Until there is a universal regulatory framework, creators have to be careful — but not afraid.”
Human touch remains irreplaceable
Despite rapid changes, all panelists agreed that AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. While it can streamline workflows and accelerate production, the core of storytelling, emotion, perspective, and humanity, cannot be automated.
AI is best used as an assistant, helping creators focus on narrative depth and character development while enabling fast iterations of scenes, concepts, and edits.
At the same time, AI helps artists reimagine their roles and push creative boundaries, while those who resist risk falling behind.
Hamza Azzam presented an inspiring vision for AI in the Arab film industry. For him, AI is more than a technical tool; it is a creative equalizer. It helps regional filmmakers create projects once out of reach, from grand fantasy worlds to superhero epics.
“AI is opening new horizons,” Azzam said. “It speeds up the workflow, boosts visual creativity, and gives producers the confidence to attempt ambitious films, the likes of which were previously impossible in the Arab world.”
For Azzam, AI democratizes high-level filmmaking, making it accessible to smaller studios and emerging creators, reshaping global cinema, and enabling innovation across cultures.
The panel concluded with a clear message: AI is not the end of human creativity. It is a powerful tool that expands what filmmakers can achieve, but it cannot replace emotional and narrative intelligence.
The next generation of filmmakers must master AI, integrating it thoughtfully, exploring its potential, and ensuring the human heartbeat remains at the centre of every story.
As the panel emphasized, AI may change how films are made, but it cannot replace imagination, intuition, or emotional resonance.
Filmmakers are not competing with machines; they are learning to work alongside them, amplifying creativity while safeguarding the soul of storytelling.
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