Futureproof Festival / 2026
The conversations worth coming back to.
Illustrated session recaps from Futureproof Festival of AI, October 28–30, 2026, Vancouver.
A few places to start.
The talks gave us things to argue with, try out and carry into our own work. These recaps follow the ideas through the photographs, presentation pages and work people brought to Futureproof Festival of AI.
Written by Kris Krüg. Each article connects its session to the people, projects and community work that give it a longer life.
This is a partial edition. The chapters below are the documented coverage currently released. Historical 2026 program.
Sara Blenkhorn
Sara Blenkhorn: stop making good people start from scratch
Photograph / 2026
Image description
A presenter stands beside a large projection reading We are all system designers now.
Sara Blenkhorn's Futureproof Festival talk connects life-centred AI, systems thinking and the work of helping people coordinate instead of starting over.
Alexandra Samuel
Alexandra Samuel: before you start another damn AI project
Photograph / 2026
Image description
A presenter stands in front of a projected card naming Alexandra Samuel and AI for Quirky Humans, with the seated auditorium audience in the foreground.
Alexandra Samuel's Futureproof Festival talk shows how AI can support different ways of working, from visual prototypes to her Go Dog Go pause.
Kevin Friel
Kevin Friel: the film was unfinished. The person deserved a screen.
Photograph / 2026
Image description
A filmmaker holds a microphone on stage beneath the projected words Green light yourself, with seated audience members in the foreground.
Kevin Friel's Futureproof Festival talk on AI filmmaking, showing unfinished work, and the care a filmmaker deserves when they press play.
Mayumi Rollings
Mayumi Rollings: teach the choice, then let people make it
Photograph / 2026
Image description
A presenter addresses the auditorium in front of a colourful BC + AI Film Club projection.
Mayumi Rollings's Futureproof Festival screening connects AI animation, Film Club experiments and teaching people to make their own choices about tools.
Philippe Pasquier
Philippe Pasquier: let the artist learn the instrument
Photograph / 2026
Image description
Philippe Pasquier holds a microphone beside a projected Calliope music interface, with the seated auditorium audience in front.
Philippe Pasquier's Futureproof Festival talk asks what changes when artists shape creative AI around their own material and learn it as an instrument.
Michael Running Wolf
Michael Running Wolf: the goal is a conversation with your grandparents
Photograph / 2026
Image description
A presenter in a grey jacket holds a microphone before the blue Futureproof Festival projection.
Michael Running Wolf's Futureproof Festival talk connects language learning, community-built AI and the path from practice to conversations with elders.
Peter-Lucas Jones
Peter-Lucas Jones: teach the computer. Keep authority with the people.
Photograph / 2026
Image description
A presenter speaks into a microphone beneath a projected card naming Peter-Lucas Jones and Te Hiku Media.
Peter-Lucas Jones's Futureproof Festival talk traces Te Hiku's language technology through broadcasting, community expertise, research and data sovereignty.
Ben Shneiderman
Ben Shneiderman: the camera can focus. You choose the frame.
Photograph / 2026
Image description
Ben Shneiderman speaks into a microphone in a red shirt beneath a projection bearing his name and closing-talk title.
Ben Shneiderman's Futureproof Festival closing talk asks who controls AI tools, which decisions stay with people, and who answers for them.
