CineSparks Webinar Series

For emerging talent and techs in cinema and moving pictures
Watch on demand

About This Webinar Series

Are you an up-and-comer carving out your career in cinema? Want to land your dream job, learn more about the in-demand skills needed, and the trends, technologies, and changes shaping the industry and affecting your future in moving pictures?


Learn from visionaries and iconic institutions from across three continents!

Lightstorm Entertainment (think Avatar), The Rebel Fleet, women in exhibition, screenwriter and educator Dirk Blackman, filmmaker Yee Wei Chai, the BFI, TIFF, the Hollywood Professional Association, and more. Get inspired by their journeys. Learn from their expertise as they share their thoughts on how the industry is changing and what your role as a next-generation filmmaker, animator, sound engineer, technology engineer, screenwriter, cinematographer, etc, might look like down the road.


Our presenters have extensive backgrounds in:

Filmmaking • Post-production • Virtual production • Cinema theatres • Engineering (those who make cool technology) • Exhibition and festival management • Educational institutions

All webinars will be recorded


New webinars will be posted as soon as they are confirmed. Check back frequently for updates!

Meet the Speakers

  • 1723646758-25505cc14282b2d1
    Mariam El Bacha
    Territory General Manager
    Mariam El Bacha has been developing cinema experiences in Argentina, Great Britain, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan and now in Denmark. Thanks to her background in operations, and combined with her ability to understand different cultures and idiosyncrasies, she has been able to create cinema experiences that made a positive impact in the communities she served.

    In addition to her role as Territory General Manager at Vue Danmark, she has been a member of the Women in Exhibition board since its inception and launched the WIE Women’s Mentoring Program with the aim of creating a network of women professionals in the industry. The program is in its 3rd year running and accommodating women from around the world.
  • 1724177050-307d993acdd5a0f1
    Dirk Blackman
    Writer of Outlander and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
    Dirk Blackman, writer of Outlander and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, has built a successful, long-lasting career as a writer, educator, and communicator with deep experience and passion for telling stories in words and images. With over 30 screenplays and pilots sold to major studios and independent films produced by indies and mini majors, he has an insider's view of how movies are made. As an educator, he is consistently impressed and inspired by the next generation of student creators who will face a wild west of technology and consumption. Dirk has worked with some of the most talented marketing and advertising experts on the planet as they build internal and external communications strategies for global brands, including Nike, Sunglass Hut, Kodak and RED Digital Cinema. He is currently at work on the graphic novel Savager for Panick Entertainment, due in early 2025. Dirk is an adjunct professor with Columbia College Chicago and co-producer of EditFest London.
Sessions in this Webinar Series
  • 1722437943-b1bb93d75e141cc9
    Lightstorm Entertainment
    When Technology and Creativity Collide: Join Lightstorm's Geoff Burdick
    From Avatar: The Way of the Water and Titanic to True Lies, SVP Geoff Burdick's career at Lightstorm Entertainment is marked with glo... View more
  • 1723731967-4fd444d792375651
    Filmmaker
    The Rise of Hyperlocal Content in Southeast Asian Cinema and the Future of Cinema Technology
    While Hollywood has faced significant disruptions due to strikes and production halts over the past two years, Southeast Asia's cinem... View more
  • 1723726282-0d4aee3e1836b4a8
    Panel
    From Newbie to High-Flyer: What it Takes to Make it in Cinema
    What does it take to make it in cinema? We meet self-starters with the vision and tenacity to go from newbies to industry high-flyers... View more
  • 1724176845-8404fff205cdee6a
    Screenwriter, Educator
    Making the Right Mistakes to Stay Relevant in Cinema
    Dirk Blackman, writer of Outlander and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, details his experiences of success and adaptation in Hollywood... View more
  • 1726262893-8eec393b73e56294
    AI & Virtual Set Production
    Virtual Production and AI: Enter the New Paradigm of Filmmaking
    Join Edward Dawson-Taylor, Founder of CG Pro and Head of Technology, as he takes you through the most practical AI tools and virtual ... View more
  • 1726587404-6a0b32822f40e6b4
    Panel
    The Future of Filmmaking: Streamlining Production to Post
    Join host Christina Lee Storm and industry experts Eric Roth, VFX Supervisor on Europa, and Mike Urban, CEO and Co-founder of The Reb... View more
  • 1727123397-407b85abe2cc4ed1
    Career in Cinema
    Tech Meets Cinema: Unlocking Technical Careers in the Industry
    Ready to bring your tech skills to the big screen or dive into the world of cinema and performance spaces? You’re in the right place... View more
  • 1726857716-48fbcb786072c5cb
    Panel
    Building Teams Through Cross-Generational Collaboration
    Imagine Gen X, Gen Z, and Baby Boomers all on one team. It's not just a dream, it's the power of cross-generational collaboration. ... View more
  • 1727458256-acef2eb369a47108
    Panel
    Where Are They Now? Award-Winning NFTS Graduates Talk About How to Succeed in Filmmaking
    One route to working in the cinema is going to film school. The UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) is one of the most pr... View more

Get behind-the-scenes tips on how to get into, make it and stay in cinema, and learn more about the technology revolution in AI, FX, VR, AR, for the moving pictures industry, and lots more.

I'm ready to watch!
Ead-messages-offsite-icon-1