And just like that, another VIEW Conference is behind us.
Huge thanks to Maria Elena Gutierrez and her amazing team for an unforgettable week of inspiring talks and insightful panel discussions with the brightest and best minds from the world of VFX, Animation & Games.
This year felt particularly like a turning point: more than ever the festival mixed auteur filmmaking and blockbuster craft and academic insight with a balanced practical focus on how AI and real-time tools continue to shape creative workflows.
Big names, broad remit..
VIEW’s program was expansive: organisers billed 150+ speakers across panels, masterclasses and screenings, ranging from film directors and VFX supervisors to game directors and AI researchers.
The lineup included an amazing range of high-profile studio figures and directors. From smash hit KPop Demon Hunters Co-Directors Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans and Elio director Madeline Sharafian to the legendary Tippet Studios team, Pixar’s Dylan Sissen, ILM's Hal Hickel, Doug Chiang & David Vickery and so many more leaders and creators from the world of VFX, Animation and Games — reflecting the conference’s cross-industry reach.
Highlights & human stories..
Headline moments included director talks, premiere screenings and studio leadership spotlights, but the conference also made space for craft and mentorship. VIEW’s mix of veteran leaders and emerging artists kept panels honest and practical. Attendees got concrete takeaways on career pathways, studio hiring trends, and how to up-skill for AI-augmented workflows.
A number of sessions emphasised resilience and adaptation in an industry still absorbing layoffs and shifting business models.
Why this year mattered..
Two things made VIEW 2025 feel pivotal:
- Convergence of tools — real-time engines, virtual production and generative AI are no longer experimental add-ons but core parts of many pipelines. From Agentic AI with Ian Massingham from Griptape to Gaussian Splatting with Eloi Champagne, VIEW Conference 2025 made it clear studios are actively integrating these tools, and hiring to match.
- Serious conversations about impact — the program balanced demos with ethics, workflows and labour implications, signalling the industry’s growing appetite for responsible, operational answers about AI.
Key Takeaways...
If you work in VFX, animation, games or immersive media, VIEW 2025 left three actionable lessons:
- Learn the language of real-time: engine literacy is now a transferable asset. 80.lv
- Get pragmatic about AI: focus on tools that improve throughput without eroding creative control. awn.com
- Network across silos: cross-discipline skills and collaborators are where new opportunities are appearing. VIEW Conference 2025
From a Recruitment and Talent perspective, View Conference remains a top destination for networking with industry leaders across creative, technical, academic and executive levels.
With so many hi-lights and fantastic speakers and panels, it is always a great opportunity to reconnect with the creative tech community and absorb the energy and insights it is always happy to share.
Looking forward to returning in 2026!