ABOUT CINEMA SHIFT
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Cinema Shift Festival is a curated international film festival and conversation platform focused on story-driven AI-assisted and hybrid cinema. Our mission is to create a serious cultural space where AI is approached as a creative tool guided by human authorship, not as an autonomous or substitutive force in filmmaking.
Cinema Shift focuses on films that use AI in the service of story, character, cinematic intent, and broader creative expression. We prioritize works where creative decisions are made by identifiable human authors and where AI is integrated thoughtfully within the filmmaking process.
We do not treat AI as a spectacle, product, or novelty. Instead, we examine how it reshapes creative practice, authorship, and storytelling within contemporary film culture.
HOW WE CURATE
All films are reviewed and selected through a human-led curatorial process. Selection is based on narrative clarity, artistic intent, and meaningful use of AI in relation to the story being told.
We value:
Alongside screenings, Cinema Shift hosts a focused program of conversations designed to bring filmmakers, writers, scholars, and practitioners into direct discussion.
We are committed to supporting ethical and transparent creative practices. We believe the future of AI in cinema depends on how tools are shaped by human values, responsibility, and storytelling traditions - not on automation alone.
TEAM
Executive Director
Ruza Vrdoljak Licina is an executive leader and business strategist with extensive experience in cultural projects, digital transformation, and international initiatives. At Cinema Shift, she oversees strategy, partnerships, operations, and long-term development of the festival and conference.
Curator and Advisor
Fabio Montanari is a filmmaker and scholar who has written series for major networks, including HBO and Netflix, and is the creator of an original international TV series for Amazon Prime Video. He holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University and is an Assistant Professor at York University.
Partnerships & Community Relations
Maria Mrvel is a Senior Manager at KPMG, where she supports partner operations, onboarding, and strategic initiatives. With a background spanning healthcare, non-profit, and corporate environments, she brings a structured and people-focused approach to complex organizational processes. Maria is also an active mentor, supporting newcomers in building meaningful careers in Canada.
Curator
Boris Licina is a screenwriter and curator focused on narrative authorship and AI-assisted storytelling. He holds a BFA in Screenwriting from York University and works across film and emerging media with an emphasis on story-driven, human-led cinema.
