Lithuanian sound design platform Sonic Alchemist has won the European competition at this year’s San Sebastián Zinemaldia & Technology Startup Challenge. Spanish voice dubbing software Dubme triumphed in the domestic competition. Both projects secured prizes of €10,000 ($11,168).

A special mention entrepreneur prize of €3,000 ($3,350) was awarded to the Danish company Kaspar K1, which offers an editing program allowing filmmakers to search through thousands of hours of footage using text prompts.

Alongside their cash prizes, this year's winners are conditionally eligible for free access to incubation spaces during their first year at one of the Business Innovation Centers (BIC) in the Basque Technology Park Network. They are also qualified for potential funding of up to €500,000 ($559,000) to develop their projects through subsidies managed by the Basque BIC Network, articulated by the Basque Government Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment via the SPRI and Provincial Councils.

Since launching its Zinemaldia & Technology Startup Challenge in 2019, the festival has seen a significant evolution in its focus, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence. This year, AI was a major topic of discussion, highlighting its increasing influence in the audiovisual industry. Presenters often emphasized that their software was developed within ethical and legal frameworks, addressing concerns about AI's implications.

Another trend was the emergence of independent content creators as a significant commercial force in the screen industries. Nearly half of the pitches were geared not only toward large media companies but also included business models for solo digital-first creators like YouTubers, influencers, and independent animators.

Sonic Alchemist, this year’s European winner, utilizes computer vision to synchronize and adapt sound effects for films, producing editable multitrack sketches. Kaspar K1 functions like a search engine for an editor’s footage library and will eventually facilitate AI-generated rough cuts.

Other noteworthy pitches included Filmanize, a U.K.-based company streamlining the filmmaking process through semi-automated pre-production tasks; Phont, a German software that modernizes subtitle display using AI; and Thol, a sound design suite that generates sound effects matching on-screen action.

Spanish winner Dubme was notable for its professionalism, presented by Elias Moreno, a former YouTube executive. Dubme aims to “eliminate language barriers in professional audiovisual content using artificial intelligence and human professionals” while significantly reducing dubbing costs.

Another Spanish startup, Current Anima, received a special mention for its software that creates 3D virtual videos from text prompts. Emotional Films, developed by Spain’s Professor Octopus AI Lab, is a new format blending video games and films that adapts to viewers' emotions. Hulahoop is an investment platform enabling users to invest in film projects and track their stakes via blockchain. The day concluded with a pitch from Vocality, which creates cloned voices using generative AI.

Jamie Lang