Monday | October 6 | 9:00 AM BST

Navigating the Latent Space

What is Latent space ? This presentation breaks down how we can map and visualize this abstract concept to gain powerful insights into our models. More importantly, we’ll explore how to manipulate this space directly, learn about dimensionality reduction technique and how that can help us builder better and stronger tools.

Enzo Crema is a Software Engineer for AWS, making Lambda a better tool for everyone ! In his spare time, he works as a Technical Artist and creates tools for Houdini in order to reduce iteration time and improve artists life. He loves Volumes, Explosions and Benchmarking GPUs!  

Monday | October 6 | 9:45 AM BST

Houdini ComfyUI Bridge: a CG-AI toolkit

Discover how to build your own CG-AI workflows using the Houdini ComfyUI plugin, enabling seamless data exchange between Houdini and ComfyUI. In this talk, Rafael Drelich will present workflows spanning from motion capture to AI-powered image and video generation. Developed by Rafael Drelich and Anatolii Iudanov, this research demonstrates how traditional VFX pipelines and creative practices evolve alongside generative AI technologies.

Rafael Drelich is an Effects TD, educator based in Toronto specialized in digital simulations, procedural workflows and is currently researching the intersection between Computer Graphics and Generative AI with Houdini and ComfyUI. He has previously worked at WeFX, Pixomondo, and Mr. X, contributing to high-profile projects such as "Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities" (2023), "From" (2023), "Halo" (2022), "American Gods" (2021), and other notable shows. 

Monday | October 6 | 10:45 AM BST

Procedural Meets Generative: Houdini + AI in Practice

Learn how Houdini’s procedural tools can work with modern AI to speed up ideas, textures, models, and iterations without losing control. Explore where generative AI and proceduralism overlap, and I’ll share insights from my research, tests, and practical case studies. Along the way I’ll show specific nodes and workflows, with tips to get things moving quickly and to avoid common traps.

Eldad Sery is a Houdini expert and educator who builds procedural tools and teaches artists how to turn ideas into scalable workflows. He bridges technical art and AI, focusing on fast iteration, and engine-ready assets for games, medical and render. Eldad runs the NodeNuggets series and a free intro to Houdini course, and consults on pipelines connecting Houdini, Unreal, and Maya. Heading the Game-Dev and 3D department at ThriveDX College, he has taught over 3,000 students , many now work in the industry.  

Monday | October 6 | 11:30 AM BST

Cairos.ai: motion from conversation service with Houdini

Explore Cairos.ai, a web service that produces 3D humanoid motion from conversation with an AI. We'll cover its inner workings and the vision behind it.

Hristo Velev started as a visual effects artist specialized in simulation work and procedurals, and grew into is a founder and executive at Bottleship on projects in the visual effects, software development and virtual production fields. His latest focus is the AI character animation platform Cairos.ai and the Claros virtual production technology.     

Monday | October 6 | 1:45 PM BST

From Research Papers to Houdini Tools

Learn how to translate papers into working tools in Houdini. Get and overview of the general ML workflow and dive into the specifics with an implementation case study.

Jakob Ringler is an ML TD based in Berlin, Germany. Before joining SideFX he used to work in the VFX industry as an FX TD. Fascinated by the intersection of film, design and tech he stumbled into the world of RND, where he is currently exploring the use cases of machine learning for CG.  

Monday | October 6 | 2:45 PM BST

Panel Discussion: The Future of AI in Houdini

This panel discussion explores the intersection of AI and human creativity, focusing on how artists and technologists can use generative tools to expand storytelling, design, and VFX workflows. The speaker discusses the rise of user-generated content, the balance between human intention and machine assistance, and how accessible technology is empowering new voices in the creative industry. Through examples and reflections, the talk highlights the evolving collaboration between artists and AI—showing how procedural and data-driven methods can enrich artistic expression and reshape the future of visual storytelling.