Inside the EXNW AI Filmmaking Hack-a-Thon: Creators made films in six hours on Moonlite Labs
Twenty-six creators, working across nine teams, took their projects from initial concepts to completed short films in a single afternoon in Vancouver.
On July 24, 26 creators at the EXNW AI Filmmaking Hack-a-Thon in Vancouver had six hours to develop and deliver a finished short film. Working across nine teams, they used Moonlite Labs to take their projects from initial concepts to completed films within a single afternoon.
As the platform partner, Moonlite Labs gave participants access to its AI-powered creative workspace throughout the challenge. Before the competition, the Moonlite Labs team led a practical workshop to familiarize participants with the platform and help them use their production time effectively.
The hackathon opened EXNW, a creative summit organized by the Racial Equity Screen Office. The event supports diverse voices working across film, television, streaming, gaming and animation.
Some participants brought years of production experience, while others were exploring AI filmmaking for the first time. Despite working with the same platform and deadline, the teams produced films with distinct visual styles and approaches to storytelling.
The completed projects ranged from comedy and drama to animation. Their variety showed how a shared platform can support different creative outcomes. Moonlite Labs provided the production environment, while each team's concept and creative decisions shaped its final film.
The projects also showed how AI filmmaking can support creators with different levels of experience. Established filmmakers can use these tools to explore new production methods, while emerging creators can use them to turn an idea into a finished film more easily.
Moonlite Labs congratulates all nine teams on completing their films and thanks EXNW and the Racial Equity Screen Office for creating a space where creators could experiment with new approaches to filmmaking.
