San Sebastian Startup Challenge Puts AI, Immersive Tech and Green Production in Focus

AI watchdogs, virtual production tools and carbon-tracking platforms are among the technologies heading to San Sebastian this year, as the festival’s Zinemaldia Startup Challenge unveils a 10-strong lineup drawn from Spain and across Europe. The competition, launched in 2019 to spotlight emerging tech with applications for film and the wider audiovisual business, received 68 submissions […] San Sebastian’s Zinemaldia Startup Challenge selects 10 AI, virtual production, streaming and sustainability tech finalists. Ten finalists will pitch at Zinemaldia & Technology after the competition drew a record 68 submissions AI watchdogs, virtual production tools and carbon-tracking platforms are among the technologies heading to San Sebastian this year, as the festival’s Zinemaldia Startup Challenge unveils a 10-strong lineup drawn from Spain and across Europe.

The competition, launched in 2019 to spotlight emerging tech with applications for film and the wider audiovisual business, received 68 submissions this year – its biggest field to date. The finalists will pitch on Sept. 24 during Zinemaldia & Technology. The selection maps neatly onto some of the industry’s perennial preoccupations, from AI and virtual production to streaming reliability, location management and sustainability. Spain’s Dymensium is using 4D Gaussian Splatting to create high-fidelity digital doubles and immersive environments, while Volum is developing real-time volumetric capture