Pre-Hack Workshops & Networking & Team Formation

Before the SIGGRAPH hackathon begins, we’re bringing together builders across world models, spatial AI, VFX, and AI filmmaking for an evening of talks, hands-on workshops, and team formation. This is where ideas turn into direction – and strangers turn into teams. 🚨 For the first time, we’re offering Spatial Camera System access during the session, allowing participants to capture or generate Gaussian splats in advance – and build directly on top of them. Turn your favorite places into interactive experiences, games, and spatial worlds. Agenda 3:30 - 3:45 PM – Check-in3:45 - 4:00 PM – Welcome & Kickoff4:00 - 4:30 PM – SIGGRAPH Researchers & Community Lightning TalksTyler Varacchi (StoryboardTo3D), Keith Zhang (SoulScape), Fred Grinstein (Machine Cinema), Todd Terrazas (FBCR)4:30 - 5:30 PM – Idea Pitches, Team Formation, Food & Networking5:30 PM - 5:50 PM – VFX Workflows (Virtual Production, VFX Pipelines)Barnabas Csutak (District Cinema), Fernando Rivas-Manzaneque (Volinga)5:50 PM - 6:30 PM – Agent-Powered & XR Workflows (Spatial Workspace, MCP, Agent Tooling)Alex Carrabre (Mint), Oliver Edis (ReactVision), David Gene Oh (PICO), Nigel Hartman (SensAI Hackademy)6:30 PM - 7:00 PM – Inference & GenAI Workflows (Content & 3D Asset Generation, Splat Scene Population)Noah Miller (Magnific), Benny Guo (Tripo AI)7:00 PM - 7:50 PM – World Model Workflows (World Building, Splat Analysis, Branched Narration)Willem Helmet Pickleman (Reactor), Brittani Poeppel (World Labs), Nigel Hartman & Johannes Tscharn (SensAI Hackademy), Nigel Hartman (Splat Analyzer)7:50 PM - 8:10 PM – Reality Scan Workflows (3D Capture, Spatial Reconstruction)Lukasz Mirocha (XGRIDS & Opus Lab), David Romero (Lightwheel)8:10 - 9:00 PM - Mixer Focus Areas Structured, interactive Gaussian splatsBuilding playable worlds with UGC and AINode-based and generative world building workflowsTurning places into game-ready 3D worlds3D reconstruction and real-world scanning with XGRIDSPreviz to real-time scene creation with AIAI cinematography, VFX and virtual production workflowsAgentic systems for game and spatial content creationIdeation, Team & Project Formation Get ready for the #WorldsinAction Hack at SIGGRAPH! Join our pre-hack online sessions: