19.-21.09.2025

AI in Preproduction: Storyboarding from Scripts

19.-21.09.2025 - 3 DAYS - ON-SITE - DOWNTOWN HELSINKI

This intensive 3-day course explores how generative AI tools can be integrated into the early stages of film and media production. From script breakdowns to visual development, participants will learn how to leverage AI to accelerate creative decision-making and enhance previsualization. Whether crafting moodboards, building storyboards from prompts, or generating concept art and pitch trailers, the course offers hands-on methods and industry-relevant workflows. Participants will leave with a complete AI-supported preproduction package for their own short or concept project.

APPLICATIONS OPEN 14.07.2025

Key Learning Outcomes

A complete AI-enhanced storyboard / pitch deck for a short film or concept

Understanding of how to prompt and direct AI tools effectively

Confidence in using AI as a co-creator in visual storytelling

Exposure to real-world workflows for film preproduction with generative tools

Who Should Attend?

Directors, screenwriters, producers

Production designers, concept artists

Cinematographers and editors seeking previsualization tools

Anyone interested in the intersection of storytelling and AI

Fees & Application dates

APPLICATIONS OPEN 14.07.2025

Early Bird (until 21.07.) 590 EUR

Regular (until 04.08.) 640 EUR

Late Bird (until 17.08.) 860 EUR

Application period 07.-17.08.2025.

Selected participants informed 28.08.2025.

*inc. lunches for all three days and a networking event

The Course

Day 1 - AI in Preproduction: From Script to Visuals

Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming film preproduction, from early concept development to visual storytelling. This session introduces AI’s role in the film industry, focusing on how screenplay text can be translated into compelling visuals through advanced prompting techniques. Participants will get hands-on experience generating moodboards and concept boards using AI tools, while real-world case studies from AI-enhanced short films showcase the technology’s creative potential.

Day 2 - AI-Driven Storyboarding & Visual Development

Discover how AI is revolutionizing storyboarding, pitch development, and production design. This hands-on session explores AI-assisted workflows for transforming concepts into dynamic visual sequences, guiding participants through the creation of AI-powered pitch trailers. Learn how generative tools enhance production design and maintain visual continuity, and engage in group feedback sessions to refine and iterate on creative ideas.

Day 3 - Bringing AI into Your Preproduction Workflow

In this final session, participants will refine and finalize their AI-driven storyboard packages, preparing them for real-world application. Project presentations will be followed by a group critique and a wrap-up discussion on the ethical, creative, and legal considerations of AI in filmmaking. The session concludes with practical guidance on integrating AI into future preproduction workflows, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights and industry-ready skills.

Before Applying / Requirements

Course language English

Group work Yes

Technical prerequisites

Basic understanding of storytelling or visual media is recommended

No coding skills needed

Some familiarity with visual or creative tools (Photoshop, Canva, Figma, etc.) is helpful

Project? Bring your own project idea or be ready to develop one during the course

What to expect?

Interactive lectures on AI tools and their cinematic applications.

Hands-on workshops with state of the art AI tools

Group work and feedback sessions

Independent project time

Guided ideation + visual development exercises

Who can apply?

Even if our courses are designed with a specific target audience in mind, all film, TV, gaming, literary and creative industry professionals are welcome to apply. We believe this is what enhances the cross-industry experience and takes us all further.

Meet Umberto Onza

A distinguished and multitalented creative professional, renowned for expertise in Product Design & Innovation, Brand Experience, and Generative AI. With a keen eye for Concept Design and Development, Umberto crafts visionary solutions that seamlessly blend aesthetics with functionality. Experience design excellence that transcends the ordinary.

He’s a gifted designer with a truly international perspective and a ready eye for the remarkable – wherever he finds it. Born into a multilingual family with an Italian father and a Finnish mother, this rather rare sort of European mix of cultures has given him both a Nordic persistence and directness – and also the true passion and classical wholistic thinking of a modern Renaissance professional.

Umberto is a internationally recognised design lead who has won numerous high-profile awards for product design and brand experience around the world – including the coveted Red Dot and Eurobest Innovation Gold -award. His strong foundation of both education and experience in industrial design, design management, fashion and marketing positions him perfectly to bring an unusually wide perspective and skillset to his professional work.

Where? Sofia Helsinki

 

Application process

  • We look forward to you sending your application! Please note the different dates for Early Bird, Regular and Late Bird prices.

  • Your application will be carefully evaluated by the HFL team together with the Masterclass holder. We take great care in creating a group of participants from different backgrounds and experience levels that suite the course in the best way possible.

  • Selected participants will be informed, and the invoice for the course fee will be sent. Please note that the fee needs to reach us within 7 working days unless stated otherwise. After this, the spot might be offered to a participant in the waitlist.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • If a project is needed with your application, it will be clearly indicated on the course page. 

  • The number of participants depends greatly on the course. In general, the more group work there is, the fewer participants are accepted. We pride ourselves with giving the best possible learning experience to all attendees and hire teaching assistants for larger course groups if needed.

  • Courses at Helsinki Film Lab must be applied to, after which we select participants together with the masterclass holder. Courses are either online or onsite in Helsinki or an international destination. This will be clearly indicated in the course information.

  • Helsinki Film Lab courses are held either online or on-site in Helsinki or at different international locations. The course information will include the location, and upon being selected for a course, you will receive detailed information.

  • Helsinki Film Lab courses are always in English unless stated otherwise in the course programme.

  • Helsinki Film Lab does give a 10% discount to participants from the following organisations: EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), Sunklo (Finnish Writers’ Guild) and AVATE Audiovisual Authors and Performers Finland. If your organisation is not listed here, please let us know: moi@helsinkifilmlab.fi We are always looking for ways to be more accessible to creative industry professionals. 

  • Being on the Waitlist for a course means that your application has been successful, but we might not have space. Spots on the course become available if someone does not accept their place or cancels.

  • To apply to a Helsinki Film Lab course, you need to fill in the application form here. If the course you want to apply for is not indicated in the application form, the course does not have dates yet. In this case, please register your interest on the specific course page. We will inform you as soon as the dates have been secured.

  • The different fee rates depend on the date we receive your application.

  • We look forward to hearing from you! Please email us at moi@helsinkifilmlab.fi.

  • Our selection process is very streamlined, and we aim to respond within 14 days.

  • Helsinki Film Lab does not organise accommodation or flights at the moment, but we do offer special rates with our Official Hotel Partner, Hobo Hotel Helsinki. All selected participants will receive a special code they can use.