
The HPA Tech Retreat Supersession committee has announced that the highly anticipated 2025 HPA Tech Retreat Supersession-guided by working industry leaders and visionaries-will focus on the evolving role of humans in AI-driven production and post. The multifaceted topic represents both significant opportunities and complex challenges vital to the industry's future. The 30th anniversary of the HPA Tech Retreat takes place from February 16 through 20, 2025 at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. The Supersession takes place on Tuesday, February 18.
A renowned predictor of emerging trends and technologies, the Supersession offers a glimpse into the entertainment industry's future. The transformative day explores the shifting roles of human talent across business and creative functions, from the back office to the screening room and the varied steps in between. Panels featuring over 30 industry leaders run parallel to Live Without a Net, a groundbreaking day-long demonstration from industry visionaries showcasing AI's potential to enhance, not replace, human creativity. In-depth discussions, case studies, and demonstrations- including operational applications, business analytics, creative process tools, and content monetization- showcase how AI can enhance (rather than replace) human creativity and expertise. The HPA Tech Retreat Supersession continues its tradition of interactive, thought-provoking showcases, demonstrating AI's capabilities in post-production workflows.
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Live Without a Net: AI & Creativity Use Cases
During an expert-led day moderated by Rachel Joy Victor (FBRC,) this day-long session explores the transformative potential of AI tools in post-production. Professionals in animation/rigging, video editing, and visual effects tackle tasks that traditionally take days, and attempt to complete them within a single day using AI-driven tools. AI-driven analytics for marketing strategies and predicting industry trends; strategic decision-making insights powered by AI; cutting-edge scriptwriting tools, visual effects, and post-production. The session looks at how AI fosters a symbiotic relationship between technology and human creativity.
Embracing Evolution: The Evolving Human Role in an AI World
Renard Jenkins (I2A2 Technologies)
As AI has become increasingly integrated into media and entertainment production, concerns emerge regarding the role of humans in this evolving landscape. How will these tools be utilized? Where is the appropriate boundary between AI-generated content and human creativity? Should such a distinction be drawn? Can new processes demonstrate the seamless integration of AI and human capabilities? How can individuals prepare for this technological transformation? What are the implications for human practitioners in the media and entertainment industry? A comprehensive and up-to-date overview of AI implementation in media and entertainment, emphasizing the continued significance of human integration within the production ecosystem and exploring the evolving roles of humans in conjunction with technological advancements.
Reality vs Fantasy: The Current State of AI and VFX
Barbara Ford Grant, (Media and Entertainment Executive/Filmmaker)
AI is having a major impact on the VFX creation process, but what are the implications now and where will VFX artists and producers leverage this powerful tool in future workflows.
AI and Animation
Lin Tam (Writer-Director-Producer)
How AI can streamline workflows and unlock new creative possibilities with storyboarding, character design, voice synthesis, and animation rendering, lip syncing, rendering and more to provide a clear roadmap for studios and creators to leverage these tools efficiently and inspire filmmakers and animators to adopt AI-driven solutions while maintaining creative control and artistic vision.
MovieLabs 2030 Greenlight: Making the Vision Real for Creatives
Mark Turner (MovieLabs), Jim Helman (MovieLabs), Daniel Lucas (MovieLabs), Chris Vienneau (MovieLabs), Christina Lee Storm (Asher XR), Erik Weaver (Entertainment Technology Center)
MovieLabs will demonstrate how the 2030 Vision delivers significant benefits to the creative community today and in the future. This session will feature how leading media and technology companies utilize the principles of the 2030 Vision, the MovieLabs Ontology for Media Creation, and AI to drive secure, interoperable, software-defined workflows in pre-production, production and post.
Provenance and How It's Critical to Creativity
Chris Bennett (Dolby), Dave Davis (Protege Media)
An overview of a set of principles that will unlock data for AI model builders to improve their products and also open up new opportunities for the content owners who make that possible.
Insider Keynote: What We Can Learn from the Music Industry
AI & Filmmaking: A Director's Perspectives
David Slade (Director)
The director of feature films including Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and television episodes from Breaking Bad and Black Mirror, David brings a deep understanding of the creative process and technology. He'll share his unique perspectives on the creative use of AI and will showcase some of his work.
Artificial Intelligence Policy and Intellectual Property: Where are we going from here?
Karyn Temple, (MPA)
An overview of the current landscape of AI policies and their implications for intellectual property (IP) protections in the media and entertainment industry. Critical questions such as IP issues in the US vs internationally, emerging standards and best practices for content creators will be addressed and valuable insights into key considerations for creators.
Unleashing the Storyteller
Jagger Waters, (Curious Refuge)
An award-winning filmmaker and the fir
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
17/07/2026
From intimate acoustic settings to large-scale festival stages, her focus has remained constant: preserving the true natural voice of the violin in every perfor...
17/07/2026
New and returning series, live festival broadcasts, powerful documentaries and major sporting moments headline RT Radio 1's summer schedule
RT Radio 1 is...
17/07/2026
Up For The Match - Live From Croke Park this Saturday at 8pm on RT One and RT ...
17/07/2026
RT Commercial has today announced DiscoverIreland.ie, as sponsor of The Traitor...
16/07/2026
Media organisations with tested plans for new products, services or revenue models can now apply for grants of up to 30,000 through the Business Innovation Syn...
16/07/2026
A new benchmark in bass enhancement
Described as a new benchmark in bass enhancement , Baby Audio's latest release has been designed to augment the lo...
16/07/2026
Popular library rebuilt in new Orbita Engine
Other Worlds Evolved is the latest of Zero G's sample libraries to be treated to a ground-up rebuild using ...
16/07/2026
Created in collaboration with A. G. Cook
The newest addition to Native Instruments' software collection introduces a new synth created by A. G. Cook, a ...
16/07/2026
Rohde & Schwarz supplies conformance test systems to Marquistech for India's...
16/07/2026
Modern broadcast facilities are no longer confined to a single control room. Production teams are spread across multiple workstations, machine rooms, studios, c...
16/07/2026
Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Full Fiscal Year 2026 F...
16/07/2026
More interfaces now compatible with Focusrite Control 2 Your Focusrite interface might now be compatible with a public beta support of Focusrite Control 2. If...
16/07/2026
Together the semi-finals had a combined reach of 1.98 million unique individuals...
15/07/2026
Launched alongside new FreqSoft installer
Designed to bridge the gap between hardware and software, Freqport's FreqInOut FO1 unit provides a simple way ...
15/07/2026
Save up to 55% on software until 23 July 2026
Expressive E have just launched their Summer Offer sale, with discounts of up to 55% now applied across their ...
15/07/2026
Real-time stem-separation tool updated
zplane have recently released a new and improved version of their real-time stem-separation plug-in which they say ma...
15/07/2026
A new benchmark in bass enhancement
Described as a new benchmark in bass enhancement , Baby Audio's latest release has been designed to augment the lo...
15/07/2026
DMC Production's AR 1 and AR 2 units reverse the conventional OB workflow, keeping all production-critical processing at the venue while operators work remo...
15/07/2026
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Screeners and press pack now available: Gomorrah: The Or...
15/07/2026
Trinity's Treasures features Ruth Negga, Eleanor McEvoy, and David Norris, a...
15/07/2026
Join geographer Dr Susan Hegarty, Engineer Tim Joyce and Architect Orla Murphy a...
14/07/2026
Plug-ins for heavy music
Avalanche Tones is the brainchild of Ava Toton, a 17-year-old musician and developer who says her goal is to make the lives of gui...
14/07/2026
Launched alongside new Singer Showcase purchase model
IK Multimedia's innovative vocal-synthesis software has just gained its latest voice add-on, the R...
14/07/2026
Registration open until 1 September 2026
The MIDI Association have revealed that the registration deadline for this year's MIDI Innovation Awards has no...
14/07/2026
88-note model completes MK4 range
Novation have just introduced the final model in their flagship MIDI controller keyboard range, the Launchkey MK4 88. Roun...
14/07/2026
Tuesday 14 July 2026
First look revealed for Friday the 13th prequel, Crystal ...
14/07/2026
When immersive audio dominates industry headlines, it's easy to assume that every broadcaster is preparing for an Atmos future. The reality is quite differ...
14/07/2026
Emma and Sophie from ICG's marketing team joined thousands of fellow marketers, brands and agencies at MAD//Fest London 2026, one of the UK's biggest ma...
14/07/2026
Pilot Project Shows How Retailers Are Prepared for the Next Step in the Evolution of Digital Commerce
Arvato Systems Drives Agentic Commerce Forward
G terslo...
14/07/2026
As part of this commitment, weve joined the SME Climate Hub, publicly pledging to:
measure our greenhouse gas emissions
reduce them in line with a net zero p...
13/07/2026
Adds new intelligent Mix Assistant feature
With their product range now featuring numerous processors across two distinct line-ups, the M-Series and T-Serie...
13/07/2026
Plug-ins for heavy music
Avalanche Tones is the brainchild of Ava Toton, a 17-year-old musician and developer who says her goal is to make the lives of gui...
13/07/2026
Popular sustain effect overhauled
Latvia-based innovators Gamechanger Audio have just launched a new and improved version of their popular sustainer unit. B...
13/07/2026
Celebrating Two Decades of ICG and League Football Education This year marks 20 years of working with League Football Education (LFE) the charity responsible ...
13/07/2026
Silver for Arvato Systems at the 2026 Service Provider Award
Award in the AI as a Service Provider category recognizes AI expertise and innovative strength
...
13/07/2026
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Mag Raollaigh as the new Managing Editor of Nuacht, the Irish Language News and Current Affairs service a...
12/07/2026
Offers six-channels and built-in effects
Korg's latest release introduces a new analogue mixer that's been designed to act as a hub for live electro...
11/07/2026
Promises a vividness and depth rarely found in software
Switzerland-based Handcrafted Audio's latest creation is an interesting hybrid instrument that...
10/07/2026
Discounted rates available through 27 August 2026
The Audio Engineering Society (AES) have announced that Early Bird registration is now open for the AES Sh...
10/07/2026
New in-ear monitors to launch in August 2026
Sony have announced the upcoming launch of a new pair of in-ear monitors that promise to deliver a secure, stab...
10/07/2026
New RT documentary explores Irish-led efforts to build bridges in divided Cyprus
More than a Game: From D1 to Pyla airs Monday 13 July
More Than a Game: Fro...
09/07/2026
Latest analogue-emulation plug-ins revealed
Universal Audio have just added two new analogue-emulation plug-ins to their DSP-powered UAD line-up. Developed ...
09/07/2026
Limited-edition mic celebrates rock icon
Neumann have partnered with the Bon Scott Estate to create a limited-edition version of the U 47 FET that honours b...
09/07/2026
Handles organisation, updates, troubleshooting & more
Created by pro-audio software developer Julian Worden, Plugin Station from Julian Michael Technologies...
09/07/2026
Introduces new $1 million advance programme
LANDR have just announced the next phase of their Fair Trade AI programme, a pioneering opt-in music-licensing p...
09/07/2026
Four new titles now available
Spitfire Audio have just introduced four new titles in their Originals range, bringing the total count of libraries in the low...