London UK | Oct 6, 2025
Join industry professionals, artists, and technical directors for a full day of educational presentations and networking focused on the intersection of Houdini and AI/ML.
Houdini HIVEai will showcase some of the ways in which machine learning – in combination with proceduralism – are empowering VFX, animation, motion design, and real-time artists. Together we'll cut through the hype of AI over-promises, and focus on transparent, controllable workflows for powerful storytelling.
Whether you're a seasoned Houdini user or exploring AI's potential in creative workflows, HIVEai will offer insight, inspiration, and community connection.
Location:
9 AM - 6 PM
Curzon Soho
99 Shaftesbury Avenue
London W1D 5DY
United Kingdom
8:30 AM
REGISTRATION
12:15 AM
LUNCH
2:45 PM
Paul Ambrosiussen & Mortiz Schwind |
Bismuth Consultancy B.V & Entagma
4:00 PM
SOCIAL
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 | 1:00 PM BST
Kayowa: A Hybrid VFX-AI Workflow for Powerful Storytelling
This session explores Kayowa, a proof-of-concept for an African TV series that blends traditional VFX pipelines with cutting-edge AI techniques. From drone-based location scouting in the Congo and rapid 3D reconstruction to performance capture and AI-assisted rendering, the project demonstrates how hybrid workflows can achieve both speed and quality while preserving cultural authenticity. Learn how Houdini and AI tools combine to make high-quality episodic animation scalable and accessible.
Didier Muanza is a DFX supervisor with 30 years on films like *Hugo and Blade Runner 2049. Now, he is using AI and VFX to revolutionize African storytelling with NDB project *KAYOWA*—a 3D/AI mini-series based on true 17th-century DRCongo events.
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
Pioneering MLOps: Paul & Moritz on the Future of AI in Houdini
Paul Ambrosiussen is a freelance Senior Technical Artist at Bismuth Consultancy, specializing in procedural content generation, pipeline development, and the use of machine learning in creative production. He works extensively with tools like Houdini and Unreal Engine to build scalable solutions for studios. Previously, he led tool and workflow development at SideFX Labs, collaborating with teams across games, film, and tech. Paul thrives on solving complex pipeline challenges, prototyping experimental workflows, and bridging the gap between artistry and technology through talks, workshops, and community-driven initiatives.
Moritz Schwind is gonna take part in it all - Be it pixels, hardware, code or cameras. And sometimes even reassemble it. In his spare time, he likes to dabble with code and create generative artwork. He claims his early exposure to QBasic is no help at all when working in Houdini, Blender, Processing or Arduino. But it might have been what started his fascination for the boundaries of code and art. When not wreaking havoc to any intriguing devices around him, he works as a freelance Technical and Art Director. His more recent areas of interest cover the use of scientific algorithms in generative design and the application of AI in creative fields.