Google’s DeepMind research unit has struck a $75 million partnership with A24, the independent studio behind Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and The Bear, to build artificial intelligence tools designed specifically for professional filmmakers.
The Deal
Announced June 22, 2026, the collaboration is explicitly a research and development arrangement — not a content licensing deal. Google will have no access to A24’s film library and will not use any of its productions as AI training data. DeepMind researchers will instead work alongside A24’s team to develop new filmmaking workflows.
The initial focus is on AI-generated storyboards and visual pre-production tools, with both parties noting the scope will expand as the partnership matures. A24 retains full creative control over all its productions.
Creator-First by Design
Both companies have been deliberate about positioning this as a creator-led initiative. A24 partner Scott Belsky described the tools as something that ‘won’t look anything like the prompted generation type of AI that people feel uncomfortable with.’ Google DeepMind VP Eli Collins added: ‘We believe breakthroughs happen when you get technology into the hands of the best minds in the field.’
The $75 million also functions as equity investment, helping A24 maintain financial independence — comparable to prior backing from Thrive Capital — without ceding creative or intellectual property rights to a technology company.
A Counter-Model for the Industry
Hollywood has been fractured over AI. Major studios and streaming platforms have pushed for broad AI rights in talent contracts, while unions and independent producers have resisted. A24, known for protecting artistic autonomy on projects by directors including Ari Aster, Sofia Coppola, and Yorgos Lanthimos, is putting forward an alternative: AI built with and for working artists, trained on production workflows rather than on existing content libraries.
Why It Matters for Georgia
Georgia has a distinctive cinematic tradition — from Tengiz Abuladze’s Repentance to Otar Iosseliani’s internationally recognized career. The Georgian National Film Center continues to support local production, and Georgian studios increasingly co-produce with European partners.
Pre-production — particularly storyboarding and visual development — is among the most resource-intensive stages for independent films. AI tools designed to support filmmakers rather than replace them could meaningfully reduce those costs for small Georgian studios working with limited budgets.
The A24-DeepMind model also establishes an ethical benchmark for how AI can enter creative industries: developed alongside artists, not imposed upon them. That principle will matter to Georgian filmmakers as they navigate AI’s growing role in their own productions.