Urbanworld founder and CEO Stacy Spikes has criticised the Writers Guild of America East’s decision to end its sponsorship of the BIPOC-focused film festival after 12 years, following the launch of an AI-focused sidebar. He argued that withdrawing support risks discouraging emerging filmmakers and could lead industry bodies to police which tools creators are allowed to use, while the guild declined to explain its decision publicly.

The new programme, developed with the New School, will include AI-generated films and short films, discussions and demonstrations of AI tools at Urbanworld’s 30th edition in October. The WGAE has strongly opposed improper uses of AI, including through its #AINeedsHumans campaign and 2023 strike negotiations; the dispute reflects wider division at film festivals, where Cannes excluded AI films from its official selection while Tribeca recently screened an AI-generated feature.