MIXED* is a first-of-its-kind storytelling showcase in Portland that brings this question to the big screen. Drawn from 211 film submissions representing 44 countries, the event presents a curated selection of hybrid films exploring the messy middle between traditional cinema and generative AI—placing Portland at the center of a global creative conversation.

At a moment when film and creative industries are experiencing rapid technological change, MIXED* offers a grounded examination of how artists are actually working today. Rather than framing AI as a binary choice between adoption or rejection, the showcase focuses on hybrid creative practices—where human authorship, intention, and craft remain central, even as generative tools reshape old workflows.

The inaugural MIXED* program reflects this reality. Selected films span narrative, documentary, animation, horror, comedy, and experimental forms, combining live-action production, analog effects, and AI-assisted processes. During the judges selection process, patterns emerged that challenged common assumptions on all sides of the AI debate.

“A lot of the strongest work submitted came from creators with a deep background in traditional storytelling,” says Garett Stenson, creator of MIXED*. “There’s a misconception that AI filmmaking is just one-shot prompting. But in practice, the most compelling films often used a layered stack of generative and traditional tools—guided by taste, experience, and a high bar for craft.”

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