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REPLY: The jury for the second edition of the Reply AI Film Festival is announced, which will celebrate the best AI-generated short films

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Gabriele Muccino, together with Caleb & Shelby Ward, Caroline Ingeborn, Charlie Fink, Denise Negri, Dave Clark, Filippo Rizzante, Guillem Martinez Roura, Paolo Moroni, and Rob Minkoff, will evaluate the shortlisted films based on creativity, production quality, and the use of Artificial Intelligence.

CHICAGO, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Reply, an international group specialized in the development of new business models enabled by Artificial Intelligence and long committed to the exploration of emerging technologies and supporting the growth of new talent, announces the jury for the second edition of the Reply AI Film Festival. The international competition open to creatives, filmmakers, and videomakers who wish to experiment with the production of short films using the AI tools and explore the continuous evolution of the collaboration of human creativity and technology and the power that this combination brings to storytelling.

The jury will be chaired by Gabriele Muccino, an Italian director and screenwriter known for films such as The Pursuit of Happyness, and Seven Pounds. Joining him on the panel for the second edition of the Reply AI Film Festival are returning members Rob Minkoff, co-director of The Lion King and creator of numerous films including Stuart Little, The Haunted Mansion, and Mr. Peabody & Sherman; Caleb & Shelby Ward, co-founders of Curious Refuge, the first online community dedicated to filmmakers using Artificial Intelligence; and Denise Negri, journalist for SkyTg24 and Sky Arte, and correspondent for major international film events such as the Academy Awards, Cannes, and Venice Film Festivals. New to the jury this year are Dave Clark, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Promise, a production company focused on films, series, and innovative formats created in collaboration with some of the world’s most talented GenAI artists and storytellers worldwide, and Charlie Fink, columnist for Forbes US and expert in Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and AI. The jury also includes Filippo Rizzante, Chief Technology Officer at Reply; Caroline Ingeborn, Chief Operating Officer at Luma AI, a platform for creating highly realistic 3D images and videos; Paolo Moroni, Head of Lexus Italy; and Guillem Martinez Roura, AI & Robotics Lead at ITU AI for Good, the United Nations initiative focused on harnessing AI for the benefit of society.

The theme chosen for the 2025 edition is “Generation of Emotions” — an invitation to explore how Artificial Intelligence can evoke authentic and engaging emotions through cinematic language. The jury will evaluate submissions — due by June 1st, 2025 via the platform aiff.reply.com — based on creativity, production quality, and the use of AI in the various stages of development, from script to post-production.

Gabriele Muccino commented: “The Reply AI Film Festival is a pioneering event showcasing technology and art’s exciting intersection. AI is not a replacement for human creativity, but a catalyst for innovation. It will enable filmmakers to explore new styles, genres, and narratives that were previously unimaginable. As President of the Reply AIFF Jury, I’m honored to be part of this journey, discovering new talents and celebrating the bold experiments that will shape the future of cinema. The AI revolution is just beginning, and I’m thrilled to be at the forefront of this creative explosion.”

“The role of AI in the future of the film industry won’t be about replacing filmmakers—it’ll be about expanding what’s creatively possible. It will be a creative collaborator, helping filmmakers visualize ideas faster, experiment more freely, and bring ambitious stories to life with fewer limitations. From pre-production to post, AI will streamline workflows and democratize access to powerful tools, opening doors for more diverse voices and bold storytelling. But filmmaking will always be human at the core because AI can’t feel joy, loss, or love. It hasn’t lived the stories we’re here to tell. Used with intention, AI won’t diminish creativity but elevate it,” said Dave Clark founder and Chief Creative Officer of Promise.

“We are delighted to launch the second edition of the AI Film Festival because we believe in the importance of creating spaces and opportunities to experiment with emerging technologies,” said Filippo Rizzante, CTO of Reply. “The success of the first edition, with over 1,000 short films submitted from 59 countries, underlines the global interest — not only among the younger generations — in initiatives that challenge both technical and creative skills.”

In addition to selecting the most outstanding original short films, the jury will also award two special prizes that are new to this edition: the Lexus Visionary Award, recognizing the most visionary and innovative production that successfully integrates technology, design and forward-thinking, in line with the values that have always guided Lexus’ approach to creativity. And the AI for Good Award, promoted in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which recognizes the best short film that highlights the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Paolo Moroni, Head of Lexus Italy, commented: “It is an honor to be part of the jury for this festival, which invites us to explore how Artificial Intelligence can accelerate the creation of authentic and engaging emotions through the language of cinema, combining innovation, creativity and vision. Much like Lexus – with whom it shares values such as innovation, creativity and forward thinking – this competition celebrates the evolution of film and technology’s ability to support the generation of deep emotions, constantly pushing the boundaries of imagination.”

“I’m thrilled to join the Reply AI Film Festival as a juror and to present the ‘AI for Good Award’. This festival is a unique opportunity to showcase the creative potential of generative AI technologies in storytelling. I’m looking forward to seeing how filmmakers use AI to tell compelling stories, highlighting the importance of sustainable development. AI can be a powerful tool for driving positive change, and I’m excited to see how the festival will inspire new ideas and innovations,” said Guillem Martinez Roura, AI & Robotics Lead at ITU “AI for Good”.

The creatives behind the shortlisted works will be invited to a premiere event, organized by Reply and Mastercard, taking place in September in Venice where the three overall winners will be officially announced.

Reply
Reply [EXM, STAR: REY, ISIN: IT0005282865] specializes in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Reply is a network of highly specialized companies supporting key industrial groups operating in the telecom and media, industry and services, banking, insurance and public administration sectors in the definition and development of business models enabled for the new paradigms of big data, cloud computing, digital media and the Internet of Things. Reply services include: Consulting, System Integration and Digital Services. www.reply.com 

Press contact

Reply
Fabio Zappelli
f.zappelli@reply.com
Tel. +390117711594

Irene Caia
i.caia@reply.com
Tel. +39 02 535761

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HFS Research Launches Data Intelligence Suite, Delivering Proprietary Enterprise Intelligence Across AI, GCCs, Buyer Sentiment, and Pricing

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New suite transforms proprietary datasets on AI, global operations, and enterprise investment into actionable intelligence for business leaders

NEW YORK, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HFS Research, a leading global research and advisory firm, today announced the upcoming launch of its HFS Data Intelligence Suite, a new set of proprietary intelligence assets designed to help enterprise leaders move beyond fragmented insights and make decisions grounded in real-world data. The suite will be formally launched on May 5, 2026.

As enterprises face increasing pressure to make faster, higher-stakes decisions, many continue to rely on incomplete or inconsistent data, often spread across internal sources, vendor narratives, and static research. While access to information has increased, confidence in that information has not kept pace.

The HFS Data Intelligence Suite addresses this gap by bringing together HFS’s proprietary datasets into a unified, accessible platform that reflects what is actually happening across enterprise technology and operations.

The suite includes:

A library of more than 1,800 real-world AI deployments, enabling leaders to identify what is delivering measurable outcomes across industries and functionsIntelligence on over 1,500 Global Capability Centers (GCCs), providing visibility into how enterprises are structuring and evolving their global operationsThe Enterprise Mandate Index, built on more than 500,000 data points, offering a data-driven view of enterprise priorities and investment trendsThe HFS / HEX Benchmark Suite, delivering independent benchmarks for pricing and performance across services and technology engagements

Together, these assets provide enterprise leaders with a clearer, more comprehensive view of market activity, supporting decisions across AI investment, global operating models, sourcing strategy, and commercial performance.

According to Ashish Chaturvedi, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research and lead for the initiative, “Enterprises are not lacking in data, they’re lacking in usable, connected intelligence. With the Data Intelligence Suite, we are bringing together our proprietary datasets in a way that allows leaders to move beyond isolated insights and see the full picture. This is about enabling faster, more confident decision-making based on what is actually happening in the market.”

The launch of the Data Intelligence Suite reflects a broader evolution in the HFS model—from delivering research and analysis to providing structured, interactive intelligence that can be directly applied to enterprise decisions.

“The analyst model is being overtaken by a simple reality: if your insights aren’t grounded in real data, they won’t survive AI scrutiny,” said Phil Fersht, CEO and Chief Analyst at HFS Research. “This is our move to put proprietary intelligence at the core of how HFS delivers value. The future isn’t more reports, it’s decision-grade intelligence leaders can actually act on.”

Saurabh Gupta, President at HFS Research, added, “The traditional analyst business model is under pressure. Seventy to eighty percent of what analysts produce can now be found through AI tools. The Data Intelligence Suite represents the other twenty percent: proprietary, structured, verified data that enterprises cannot get anywhere else.”

The HFS Data Intelligence Suite will formally launch on May 5, 2026, with demonstrations and previews already being offered to select enterprise leaders and early access provided to a subset of clients. The suite will be available to subscribers, with premium tiers and advisory add-ons for deeper engagement.

About HFS Research
HFS Research is a leading global research and advisory firm helping Fortune 500 companies navigate IT and business transformation. With a focus on bold insights and practical strategies, HFS empowers enterprises to make confident decisions through deep research, demand-side data, and direct engagement with industry leaders. For more information, visit www.hfsresearch.com.

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ContractorHUB Announces Strategic Investment from Webrunner Media to Deliver End-to-End Growth Infrastructure for Contractors

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Strategic partnership aligns marketing and operations to help contractors attract, convert, and operate more effectively, supported by strategic investment from Webrunner Media.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ContractorHUB, an AI-native operating system built to help contracting businesses scale, announced a strategic partnership with Webrunner Media, a leading full-stack marketing agency for contracting businesses. The partnership will improve access to quality growth solutions for contractors by connecting expertise in customer acquisition to advanced business operations technology.

As part of the partnership, Webrunner Media‘s founding team has also made a strategic investment in ContractorHUB, reinforcing a shared commitment to building long-term infrastructure that supports sustainable growth for contractors.

Together, the companies aim to create a new category of end-to-end growth infrastructure for contractors—an integrated foundation that helps contractors not only generate stronger demand, but effectively convert that demand into revenue while improving profitability.

Delivering a Better Growth Solution for Contractors

Contractors today often rely on disconnected tools and service providers to manage different parts of their business. Marketing platforms generate leads, while operational systems manage execution, creating gaps between demand generation, delivery and attribution.

This fragmentation can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and the inability to truly measure performance. The partnership between ContractorHUB and Webrunner Media is built to close that gap.

By aligning Webrunner’s performance-driven marketing expertise with ContractorHUB’s intelligent operational platform, contractors gain a more integrated approach to growth.

“Contractors don’t just need more leads, they need a complete system to turn demand into growth,” said Sarah Parks, Co-Founder & CEO of ContractorHUB. “This partnership allows us to better connect marketing and operations for our customers, while also bringing Webrunner’s expertise directly into our product strategy, so we can build smarter, more impactful tools for contractors.”

Setting a New Standard for the Contracting Industry

The collaboration between ContractorHUB and Webrunner Media represents a shift in the home services technology landscape toward more connected, ecosystem-driven solutions.

By combining marketing execution with operational infrastructure, the partnership enables:

improved visibility across the customer lifecyclestreamlined access to customer acquisition solutionsmore efficient conversion of leads into revenuedirect input from a leading contractor marketing firm into ContractorHUB’s product strategy

This integrated approach provides contractors with stronger tools while reducing friction across their workflows.

Matt Parks, ContractorHUB Founder and Chief Product and Innovation Officer said, “Not only does this alignment solve fragmentation problems for customers, but it breeds innovative new solutions as we collaborate with Webrunner to drive product advances, too. It’s rare to have experts in both operational excellence and customer acquisition at the same product development table, and we’re excited to put that expertise to work for our customers.”

Strategic Investment Signals Continued Momentum

Webrunner Media’s investment follows ContractorHUB’s latest round of funding, which included an earlier operator-led investment from contracting business owners actively using the platform, as part of a rolling close.

“We work closely with contractors across North America and see firsthand where technology falls short,” said Marc Levesque, Co-Founder and CEO of Webrunner Media. “What stood out about ContractorHUB was how clearly Matt and Sarah understand those challenges, and how effectively the product is already solving them in the field. That gave us immediate confidence in both the solution and the team, and we’re excited to support what we believe is a meaningful step forward for the industry.”

This combination of operator investment by customers and ecosystem investment from an industry partner reflects a deliberate approach to building alongside the end user and key service providers in contracting.

Building a Foundation for Long-Term Growth

ContractorHUB believes the future of the industry will be defined by platforms that unify how contractors operate their businesses.

The company expects its partnership with Webrunner Media to serve as a foundation for deeper collaboration across marketing, operations, and performance management, while continuing to expand its strategic partnerships across the contracting and home service ecosystem.

About ContractorHUB

ContractorHUB was built from firsthand experience to help small businesses run smarter, more human-centered organizations that give people back their most valuable asset—time. It is an AI-native software platform that enables home service businesses to scale with confidence by centralizing everything they need in one place.

About Webrunner Media

Webrunner Media is a full-service digital marketing agency helping contractors scale with confidence. Specializing in SEO, PPC, Web Design, and Marketing Automation, Webrunner delivers the strategy and execution contractors need to grow — and has become the trusted marketing partner for 100+ contractors pursuing long-term, sustainable growth.

Media Contact:

Sarah Parks
Co-Founder, CEO
sjp@contractorhub.app

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Brooklyn Steel Co. Expands into Home Electrics with Launch of All-in-One Espresso Machine

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NEW YORK, Apr. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Responding to the growing demand for elevated, café-quality experiences within the home, Brooklyn Steel Co. is expanding its presence in home electrics with today’s launch of its first at-home espresso machine. This introduction marks a new chapter for the brand, moving beyond cookware and kitchen essentials to offer thoughtfully designed home coffee solutions.

Combines professional-grade features with accessible pricing, alongside the launch of a newly redesigned website

In tandem with the product launch, Brooklyn Steel Co. has also unveiled a newly redesigned website, created to reflect the brand’s expanded focus on at-home coffee and provide a more immersive, streamlined shopping experience. To explore the new espresso machine and complementary accessories, visit www.brooklynsteelco.com.

“This launch marks a new chapter for Brooklyn Steel Co. as we expand into home coffee,” said Allison Picard, Product Development Manager at Core Home. “We designed this machine to deliver consistent, café-style performance at home in a way that is straightforward and easy to use.”

Redefining the At-Home Coffee Experience

The Brooklyn Steel Co. Talos 20 is designed to transform daily coffee rituals, making them more intentional, personal, and accessible. Built for both beginners and aspiring home baristas, the machine combines precision engineering with an intuitive, all-in-one design, eliminating the need for multiple devices.

Positioned to compete with higher-end machines at a more accessible price point, the Talos 20 espresso machine delivers a balance of performance, design, and value, allowing customers to build a complete at-home café experience complemented by a growing collection of accessories.

Precision Engineering for Professional Results

The Talos 20 sets itself apart by integrating professional-grade performance into a streamlined design. 

Key Features at a Glance

Integrated Conical Burr Grinder (27 settings) for precise, fresh grindingProgrammable Grind, Extraction & Temperature to save your preferred settings and deliver consistent espresso automatically with every use20-Bar Italian Pump for rich, café-quality espressoPID Temperature Control + Dual Thermoblock System for consistent heat and faster transitions360° Steam Wand for microfoam milk and latte artReal-Time Pressure Gauge for dialing in espresso extraction

Together, these features create a streamlined system that supports consistent espresso extraction, stable temperature control, and precise milk texturing—all within a single, integrated machine.

Unlike many entry-level options, the Talos 20 includes a commercial-size 58mm portafilter and a full suite of barista tools—including a bean hopper, hopper extender, milk pitcher, dosing ring, tamper, tamping mat, single and double filter baskets, and cleaning tools—providing a complete setup out of the box and bridging the gap between accessibility and professional performance.

The Brooklyn Steel Co. Talos 20 is available for purchase directly through the company’s website and on Amazon, retailing for $499 with free shipping. For more information, visit www.brooklynsteelco.com.

Brooklyn Steel Co. is a New York-based brand known for thoughtfully designed cookware and kitchen essentials. With a focus on elevating everyday rituals, the brand creates products that bring intention and style into daily routines.

With its first espresso machine and newly launched website experience, Brooklyn Steel Co. brings its focus on design and performance into the at-home coffee category, offering customers a more seamless and elevated way to shop and brew.

Brooklyn Steel Co. is part of Core Home, a global housewares company known for developing innovative products across kitchen, hydration, and home categories. Learn more at www.brooklynsteelco.com.

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