By LAAIFF Editorial Team | December 2025
As we close out 2025, the debate over whether AI "belongs" in cinema has largely vanished, replaced by a more exciting question: What can we dream up now? The tools have matured—Runway Gen-3 Alpha, Sora, and Veo are no longer novelties; they are the paintbrushes of the modern auteur.For Latin America, these creators are not just entertainers; they are blueprints. They demonstrate how a single artist with a vision and a GPU can rival the output of a traditional studio. Here are the top 5 creators defining the medium this year.
1. Paul Trillo (USA)The Experimental Visionary If there is a "Spielberg of AI," it is Paul Trillo. In 2025, Trillo continued to push the boundaries of physics in film. His work, often characterized by impossible camera movements and morphing realities, uses AI not to fake reality, but to create new realities.
2. Jorge Aguilera (Mexico/LatAm)The Regional Pioneer A figurehead for the Latin American AI revolution, Aguilera has become the gold standard for integrating AI into regional cinema. Working with platforms like ReelMind, he has championed the "hybrid workflow"—using AI to enhance practical sets and democratize VFX for independent LatAm films.
3. Leo Cannone (France)The Emotional Architect Cannone shattered the myth that AI films lack soul. His breakout hit, Where Do Grandmas Go When They Get Lost?, used surreal, dreamlike AI imagery to explore grief and childhood memory.
4. Oh Dong-ha (South Korea)The Meta-Narrator Director of Zero, Oh Dong-ha made headlines this year when his film—a story about an AI novelist—was actually judged by an AI juror at a major festival. His work is dense, philosophical, and meta-textual, challenging the audience to question the very medium they are watching.
5. Riccardo Fusetti (Italy/Global)The Consistent Auteur From winning the Grand Prix in 2023 to securing Merit awards in 2025 with 6000 Lies, Fusetti has demonstrated incredible longevity in a fast-moving field. His recent work blends horror, beauty, and surrealism, creating "fever dream" narratives that stick with the viewer long after the screen goes black.
Looking at this list, our goal is clear. We want to see a creator from Brazil, Argentina, or Colombia in the #1 spot next year. We believe the unique magical realism heritage of Latin America is perfectly suited for the surreal capabilities.