Speakers

Guests include:

ARAMIDE KEHINDE

Aramide Kehinde is a life-long creative and also a graduate in Data Science from DePaul University. She is an Artificial Intelligence leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she works to enable high growth companies to build solutions using AI with innovation and tangible outcomes as the goal. She also enjoys building the intersection of AI and creative arenas, and most of all, spending time with her family.

CHARLIE FINK

Charlie Fink is the producer and co-host of the AIXR Podcast and teaches at Chapman University and ASU. Fink is a columnist at Forbes, the producer of the vertical AI-animated social media series, Linda's Last Podcast (2026) and serves as CEO of Cinemation.AI, an AI animation studio he co-founded with film director Rob Minkoff, whose vertical anime series, Speed Queen, is in pre-production.

TED TREMPER

Ted Tremper is a creative producer, director, and writer who believes comedy is our most valuable tool for uncovering truth, sharing knowledge, and exposing hypocrisy. His credits include The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, The Daily Show, and I Love You, America! with Sarah Silverman, among others. He is also the co-creator of SHRINK on Peacock. He is currently the interim Executive Director of the Creators Coalition on AI (https://www.creatorscoalitionai.com).

XINDI ZHANG

Xindi Zhang is a Chinese animation director and visual artist whose practice spans narrative animation, interactive media, and AI generative art. Zhang’s work explores fractured memory, displacement, and belonging through hybrid techniques that merge stylized 3D animation, documentary storytelling, and machine learning tools.  Her thesis film, The Song of Drifter, recently won the Gold Medal at the Student Academy Awards for my experimental film. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between the highly technical aspects of AI generation and the rigorous aesthetic demands of traditional filmmakers. Xindi has worked on ComfyUI-centric pipelines in highly demanding professional environments, including previz and R&D pipeline development for Amazon and Sony Immersive Music Studio.

MATT HANNA

Matt Hanna is the Chief Strategy Officer and a co-founder of Quickture, an AI-supported editing tool built for professional post-production teams.  His purview includes sales, markeing, fund raising, and whatever else feels strategic at the moemnt.  A long-time television industry veteran with 25 years of experience creating award-winning content for networks and streamers. As the former President of Our House Media USA and EVP of Original Content at Esquire Network, he has overseen the launch of dozens of hit series, including American Ninja Warrior (Esquire), Stylish with Jenna Lyons (HBO Max), Too Cute (Animal Planet), and The Fabulous Life (VH1).  Now, as Chief Strategy Officer at Quickture, he brings his deep industry expertise and contacts to revolutionize storytelling with AI-driven editing solutions.

ANDREW MACDONALD

Andrew MacDonald is a creative producer, inventor, and founder who blends strategy, storytelling, and emerging technology. He began his career shooting for major global TV networks and news outlets, contributing to more than 500 hours of broadcast film and television, with work ranging from ocean voyages to disaster coverage. His Canadian series Ed’s Up earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination in 2010. Later, he helped launch Cream’s digital division, creating interactive work featured at Cannes, Sundance, and SXSW. A patent holder in digital humans, Andrew also developed the award-winning SurvivormanVR and now serves as a founding director of Zugazi’s ViZ Cinema Tools, advancing AI-powered cinematic previsualization.

SCOTT LYNCH

Scott Lynch is a creative director, producer, and the founder of VOYRE, an immersive cinema company. He also co-founded LOCCOL, a virtual pre-production platform for filmmakers. His background spans commercials, documentaries, and music, including winning a 2026 Emerging Media Emmy for his VFX work on the SNL 50th Anniversary Special for Meta. Leveraging a range of experience from large immersive productions to scrappy independents shapes how he gets things made and how to implement new technologies for impressive results.

JONAH ZEIGER

Jonah Zeiger is a film industry leader who helped establish Chicago as a major hub for film and television production. As Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Film Office from 2022 to 2024, he helped drive $1.75 billion in production spending, more than $4 billion in economic impact, and over 40,000 jobs. He supported major productions including The Bear, Dark Matter, and NBC’s Chicago franchise, while building partnerships with Sundance, IND/EX, and Filmscape. He also helped expand the Illinois Film Tax Credit. Today, Jonah leads CHIMEA, connecting Chicago’s creative ecosystem with national and global media opportunities.

MITCH ROTTER
Mitch Rotter works at the intersection of content, technology, and commercialization. He is Director of Strategic Content Partnerships at Shutterstock, connecting rights holders with the evolving needs of AI model developers. His background includes leadership roles at TikTok, Universal Music Group, and New Line Cinema. He also serves as faculty at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts.

KIMBERLY OFFORD

Kimberly Offord is a Webby-nominated AI filmmaker and storyteller recognized in the AI Creativity and Storytelling category. She is the Founder of the Chicago AI Film Festival, presented by Playground Pastime, and the creator of REEL SESSIONS – Black AI Film Festival, debuting June 19, 2026. Her work includes AI-generated music videos for Grammy-winning artists, and she was recently a panelist for an AI discussion with Black Caucus for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. With a background as a career marketer and AI educator, she brings a strategic and creative edge to the evolving landscape of filmmaking. Kimberly’s work sits at the intersection of technology, culture, and cinematic storytelling, pushing the boundaries of what film can be.

RSVP here: https://sites.google.com/view/depaul-university-vas/spring-2026-events/ai-conference-26/register-26