Can One Indie, AI-Made Film Really Shake Hollywood? What ‘Shape of Things to Come’ Means for Investors

Tony Savo’s ‘Shape of Things to Come’ just won ‘Best AI Film’ at the 2025 Hollywood Stage Script Film Competition, marking the fourth consecutive festival selection for a project that cost almost nothing to make. The Sacramento filmmaker built his sci-fi epic entirely on an Android phone using KineMaster, alongside AI tools like Dream Machine and Runway that anyone can access. The film’s now catching attention from streaming giants and film investors – warning studios that IP development rules have changed.

The DIY Playbook That Beat Hollywood Resources

Savo’s approach reads like a manual for bypassing traditional film financing. He shot everything on mobile, edited with KineMaster’s professional-grade app and used Runway AI’s Gen-3 capabilities alongside Dream Machine by Luma Labs to create Hollywood-level visuals. The entire toolkit costs less than most film schools charge for a single course.

The film follows Tommy Timex, a Sacramento gig-worker who gets pulled into Silicon Valley’s AI scene. Its anime-meets-synthwave aesthetic, complete with synthwave tracks from VHS Ghost and VHS LOGOS, targets audiences hungry for unconventional stories. Film festivals have increasingly embraced experimental formats, giving projects like this serious consideration.

The global AI in Film Market is projected to grow from $1.8 billion in 2024 to $14.1 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 25.7%. Major studios are actively acquiring AI-generated film IP, supported by festivals and funds promoting AI storytelling.

Streaming Interest and LinkedIn Buzz

Savo’s public statements about streaming platform interest reveal how the attention economy now works for indie filmmakers. ‘Right now, the LinkedIn profile is getting hits from people at Paramount,’ he said. ‘I know they have a passion for captivating sci-fi stories and they know how to deliver.’

His observation about online buzz carries weight in an industry where traditional gatekeepers matter less. ‘The amount of buzz the film’s been receiving online with ChatGPT and Google Gemini is proof people are ready for something fresh and crispy,’ Savo noted. AI-generated content discussion has become a form of market validation.

Paramount has engaged in multipicture streaming deals with Netflix and is actively negotiating streaming and content licensing arrangements with Amazon Prime Video. Amazon’s $8.5 billion MGM acquisition demonstrates how tech platforms are reshaping content acquisition.

Festival Success Across Demographics

The Runway AI Film Festival 2025 featured AI-generated films with gala screenings in NYC and LA, giving winners exposure on streaming platforms. Runway’s Hundred Film Fund offers up to $1 million grants to filmmakers using generative AI, backed by investors including Google, Nvidia and Salesforce Ventures. AI ventures are attracting serious funding as investors recognise the potential for disruption.

The Investment Calculus

For investors, the project represents a new category of IP development. Venture capital investment in AI-related media and entertainment increased significantly in 2024, with global VC investment rising to $368 billion. The combination of low production costs and high scalability makes AI-generated content attractive for portfolio diversification.

The film’s production using readily available tools like KineMaster’s professional mobile editing platform and Dream Machine’s AI video generation capabilities demonstrates how barriers to entry have collapsed. What once required million-dollar budgets and studio backing now happens with smartphone-level investment.

The Reality Check

The film remains unrated and without official distribution, scheduled for release during 4 July weekend. Not all festival buzz converts to streaming deals or profitable exits. Most indie projects, even those using accessible AI tools, fail to break through.

The democratisation of filmmaking tools doesn’t guarantee audience attention or commercial success. While the tech becomes increasingly accessible, the challenge moves to storytelling, marketing and finding the right distribution channels in an oversaturated content market.

What Happens Next

Savo described the award as ‘a mountain-top moment’ that validates his approach to AI-enhanced filmmaking. The recognition suggests broader acceptance of AI-generated content within industry circles, particularly as films using AI become eligible for Oscar nominations this year.

For content investors and streaming platforms, projects like ‘Shape of Things to Come’ represent both opportunity and threat. They offer low-cost IP development with potential for significant returns, but also signal how traditional studio advantages in resources and distribution are eroding. Entrepreneurs across entertainment sectors are using AI to level the playing field, creating new competitive pressures for established players.