Next AI Film

Sunflowers (8')
AI Short Film / 2026
Written & Directed by Yong Jik Lee

The film explores the intersection of history, memory, and future ethics through a unique fusion of storytelling and emerging technology. Inspired by forgotten chapters of the past, it reimagines human struggles and institutional failures while asking how we might design a more responsible future. The narrative connects historical events with speculative visions, inviting audiences to reflect on dignity, resilience, and the evolving relationship between humanity and technology.

In 2045, the rise of AI beyond human intelligence has made human labor unnecessary, turning countless people

into a surplus population. In search of survival, many desperately look for new forms of work. At that time, John

Magnus, the CEO of Sunflower Corporation—a company producing future food made from sunflower seeds—

announces large-scale job openings on his farms.However, behind Magnus’s offer lies a hidden motive: to exploit

people for his own greed.One day, Logan, a 10-year-old boy, finds a Sunflower Company advertisement and

excitedly tells his father about the opportunity. Filled with hope, Logan, his father, and many others board the bus

bound for the Sunflower farms—believing they are heading toward a new beginning.

Production Notes

Technically, the work is created through a hybrid production pipeline. Approximately 60–70% of the imagery was

generated using AI, combined with traditional 3D modeling, digital compositing, and precise editing. AI was not

employed as a replacement for creativity, but as a collaborator—expanding visual language and enabling

experimental approaches that traditional methods alone could not achieve. Human artistic direction remained

central throughout, guiding AI outputs toward a cohesive and emotionally resonant vision.

By blending emerging AI technologies with established CGI craft, the project embodies the spirit of innovation

and convergence celebrated by the New Media Film Festival. It demonstrates how new tools can coexist with

time-tested techniques to tell stories that are both deeply rooted in history and urgently relevant to the

future.The film ultimately asks: How can technology help us not only remember the past but also imagine better

worlds ahead?