In this talk, Carlos Fueyo, filmmaker, creative director and co-founder of playard studios, will share an in-depth and honest look at the current state of virtual production, based on over 15 years of VFX experience and a pioneering transition to real-time workflows. From big Hollywood productions like Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania to independent projects like Replica, Carlos explores what really works, what mistakes we keep making, and how to rebalance the relationship between creativity and technology.

In it, he also raises an urgent need: VFX as we know it needs a change of direction. The industry has standardized inefficient processes, unsustainable burdens on artists, and a growing disconnect between creative and technical teams. Virtual production, properly applied, is not just a tool, but an opportunity to rethink that model. It is not about replacing, but evolving: bringing the worlds of design, storytelling and visual execution together in the same collaborative space.

Through concrete examples, we will address the tangible benefits, such as collaborative visualization, creative control and set efficiency, as well as common limitations, including lack of readiness, technical overreliance and cross-departmental communication challenges.

Finally, we will look to the future: artificial intelligence, intellectual property developed from real-time engines, and how a new generation of studios and creators is leading a shift towards more responsible, sustainable and story-centric workflows.

An invitation to rethink filmmaking from a place of trust, collaboration and purposeful innovation.