As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the creative industries, this timely panel brings together leaders from media, technology, and digital arts to explore how AI is transforming the way stories are created, produced, and experienced.
Moderated by Alan Wong – President of FascinAsian, multi-disciplinary artist, and former President of ACTRA Manitoba, the discussion will feature insights from:
- Lesley Klassen, Senior Manager of AI Initiatives and Services at New Media Manitoba
- Dhruv Bahri, AI Content Creator and Post-Production Specialist
- Amy Q Cooper, Technologist and CEO of Studio Q Designs
Together, the panelists will examine the practical benefits AI can offer creatives, from streamlining workflows and enhancing post-production to unlocking new forms of artistic expression. At the same time, they will engage critically with the ethical, legal, and regulatory questions emerging alongside these tools—including job protection, authorship, consent, and the responsibility of industry and policymakers to ensure AI adoption supports a sustainable and equitable creative ecosystem.
Designed for media artists, producers, technologists, and cultural leaders, this conversation aims to move beyond hype and fear, offering a balanced, forward-looking perspective on how AI can be integrated in ways that keep the creative industries innovative, inclusive, and net positive for artists.
Moderator:
Alan Wong is an award-winning multi-disciplinary Performing Artist, Filmmaker, and Arts & Cultural Leader of Chinese heritage, born in Canada. He is the President of FascinAsian Film Festival, an organization that champions pan-Asian stories in Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton. With a background in music and theatre, Alan brings comprehensive artistic experience to his role as an advocate for art, culture, diversity, and equity. He is the former Executive Director of the Gimli International Film Festival and is the Past-President of ACTRA Manitoba, the local branch of the union for film and television performers. Alan has worked on numerous films, documentaries, and television series – big and small, many playing at festivals and in theatres around the world.
Panelist:
Amy Q Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Studio Q Designs – a design and technology agency committed to building bright futures. Amy leads an all-women team that has built brand awareness and growth for over 50 change-making organizations across Canada. She is an award-winning business leader and seeks to amplify what makes us human, foster authentic connections, and transform how we experience the digital world. In everything she does, Amy shows up authentically. She seeks to challenge expectations and build inclusive spaces where creativity can thrive. At her core, Amy cares about people – technology and design are simply the way she turns that value into action.
Panelist:
Dhruv Bahri is an independent Gen AI Specialist, director, and VFX artist based in Winnipeg, working where cinema meets generative AI. A pivotal conversation with Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull — about whether embracing AI meant betraying his VFX community — reshaped his path and unlocked opportunities few artists see. His work spans sci-fi, fantasy, and devotional storytelling, including cinematic retellings of the Ramayana and Lord Hanuman. His AI filmmaking has been featured on CityNews, and he was recently invited to meet with Canada’s Federal Minister of Artificial Intelligence.
Panelist:
Lesley Klassen brings a wealth of experience from the intersection of AI, XR, and motion capture. Before joining New Media Manitoba, Lesley was the Product Lead and Head of Strategy at Masterpiece X, a Canadian agentic AI company focused on optimizing 3D workflows. Previously, he co-founded and served as CEO of Flipside XR, a venture-backed virtual reality startup. There, he also served as Chief Innovation Officer and directed motion capture and real-time animations, securing publishing contracts with Meta, leading R&D projects for Fox’s Bento Box Entertainment (the studio behind Bob’s Burgers), and developing partnerships with industry giants like Google, HTC and Bytedance. A recognized voice in the field, Lesley has shared his insights at major global conferences, including Meta Connect, the NAB Show, and the Augmented World Expo. When he’s not immersed in the future of AI, he explores his passion for synthesizers, photography, and the spectrum of creative tech—from LiDAR to code.
The University of Winnipeg Asper Centre for Theatre and Film
The Asper Theatre at the U of W Department of Theatre and Film
400 Colony Street, Winnipeg, MB
Entrance most easily accessible from Balmoral Street (a short section of Balmoral, going one way north from Portage Avenue to Ellice Avenue)
April 29, 2026, 7:00 – 9:00 PM CDT