Flick

Based in San Francisco, California, Flick develops end-to-end artificial intelligence filmmaking software that enables individual creators, film studios, and enterprise businesses to produce cinematic short films. The platform utilizes an infinite canvas interface alongside chat-based generation tools to maintain coherent storylines, cinematic aesthetics, and consistent characters across multiple complex scenes. Operating with a dedicated team of two employees, the company has already facilitated the creation of four complete AI-generated short films that have collectively won over 20 awards at international film festivals. The startup is backed by Y Combinator as part of its Fall 2025 batch, with Garry Tan serving as a primary partner, and leverages technical and creative expertise drawn from previous professional experience at Instagram and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology film festival. Flick was officially founded in 2025 by Ray Wang and Zoey Zhang.

High-Level Overview

Flick is an end-to-end AI filmmaking software that enables users to create Hollywood-level short films entirely through AI, offering a coherent narrative, consistent characters, and cinematic quality that surpasses typical AI video tools producing short clips[1][2]. It serves filmmakers and creators who want to harness AI for storytelling with greater creative control and flexibility. Flick’s product is designed as an intuitive canvas interface where users can script, generate, and edit films collaboratively with an AI agent, akin to "Figma for AI filmmaking"[1][3]. The company is building not only the software but also a creative community producing award-winning AI films, positioning itself as a category-defining platform in the emerging AI-driven film industry[1][2].

Origin Story

Flick was founded by an award-winning filmmaker and a founding engineer from Instagram, combining deep expertise in filmmaking and technology[1]. The idea originated from the creation of Zoey’s first AI film, which won a best visual award at the MIT film festival, demonstrating early proof of concept and creative potential[2]. Since then, Flick has produced four complete AI short films that have collectively won over 20 international awards, validating its approach and attracting a growing community of AI filmmakers[1][2]. The founders’ backgrounds and early success have shaped Flick’s mission to revolutionize filmmaking by integrating AI into the creative workflow naturally and powerfully.

Core Differentiators

• Product Differentiators: Flick offers an infinite canvas interface where filmmakers can upload or generate text, images, and videos as interconnected nodes, enabling a natural, script- and scene-based creative flow rather than simple prompt-to-video generation[2][4].
• Developer Experience: The platform supports iterative editing directly on the canvas, allowing creators to refine shots and narratives fluidly, which mirrors traditional filmmaking workflows but enhanced by AI assistance[2].
• Speed, Pricing, Ease of Use: Flick integrates multiple AI models into one seamless environment, reducing fragmentation and complexity common in other AI video tools, making high-quality filmmaking accessible to a broader audience[1][2].
• Community Ecosystem: Flick fosters a creator residency program and collaborates with established filmmakers who share behind-the-scenes workflows as reusable templates, building a vibrant ecosystem of AI storytellers[1][2].
• Industry Expertise: The involvement of John, a USC professor and ACE member with widely used editing textbooks, as an advisor bridges Hollywood craftsmanship with AI innovation, enhancing Flick’s credibility and creative depth[2].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Flick rides the wave of generative AI transforming creative industries, particularly the film sector, where AI is shifting from simple content generation to complex storytelling tools[1][2]. The timing is critical as AI capabilities mature, enabling filmmakers to produce high-quality, coherent films faster and with fewer resources. Market forces such as the creator economy, demand for novel content, and democratization of filmmaking technology favor Flick’s growth. By defining a native AI filmmaking interface, Flick influences the broader ecosystem by setting standards for AI-driven creative workflows and inspiring new forms of visual storytelling[1][2][3].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Flick is poised to expand its influence by scaling its community, refining its AI tools, and deepening collaborations with industry professionals. Future trends shaping its journey include advances in generative AI models, increasing demand for immersive and personalized content, and the integration of AI in traditional film production pipelines. As Flick evolves, it may become the foundational platform for AI filmmaking, much like Figma transformed design collaboration, fundamentally changing how films are conceived, created, and consumed[1][2][3]. Its success will likely accelerate the adoption of AI in creative industries and redefine storytelling paradigms.