The Unfinished Film: Where your imagination leads and AI follows

The Unfinished Film poster.

What if you could take an unfinished film and turn it into your own masterpiece? Let’s find out.

We’re rolling out a new social campaign called “The Unfinished Film” with a clear message: Creativity is better when it’s shared. Creativity rarely happens in a straight line, and it’s almost never a solo act. This initiative calls on artists, designers, filmmakers, and storytellers from around the world to come together and co-create.

And here’s the twist: AI isn’t taking the wheel — it’s enhancing the process. Adobe’s creative AI tools are here to help spark ideas, speed up workflows, and make your wildest concepts possible. Think of it as a creative sidekick that helps you do more of what you love, faster.

With Adobe Firefly, the unknown isn’t intimidating; it’s where imagination takes off. We teamed up with director Sam Finn—a pioneer at the intersection of AI and storytelling — to launch The Unfinished Film, a collaborative project designed to let AI amplify your creativity.

The Unfinished Film is a community storytelling project designed to celebrate creative freedom and collaboration. We started with a simple question: What happens when you hand off an idea — not a finished product — to the creative community and invite them to take it further?

Whether you’re a filmmaker, an animator, a sound designer, or just someone with an idea, this is your chance to be part of something bigger. The film’s unfinished—and that’s exactly the point.

“It used to take years of learning—and a lot of money—to make a film. Now anyone with a vision can start. I’m excited to see what creators from non-traditional backgrounds will make when those barriers fall away. That’s what The Unfinished Film is about: opening the door for new voices and unexpected perspectives.”

-Sam Finn (@samfinn.studio), director of The Unfinished Film project

Firefly unlocks your creative capital

Firefly gives you the freedom to generate images and videos wherever you are, using the same technology from some of the most popular Adobe creative products like Photoshop, Premiere, and Lightroom.

Whether you want to reimagine a scene, shift the tone, or completely reshape the narrative, the Adobe Firefly app gives you the power to do it — fast. From AI-generated video, audio, and effects to Firefly Boards for mood boarding and ideation, our tools are built for how creators actually work — collaboratively, iteratively, and on their own terms.

“Before AI, creativity felt like a tradeoff—your imagination was shaped by time, tools, and complexity. With Firefly and generative tools, I can now create exactly what I envision, almost as quickly as I think it. For the first time, filmmaking feels like a stream-of-consciousness art form”

-Sam Finn (@samfinn.studio), director of The Unfinished Film project

Firefly handles the heavy lifting so you can stay in flow, moving from concept to production without friction. Want to experiment with new looks or styles? Firefly is home to an ecosystem of models that gives creators the freedom to choose based on their creative mediums. And with Content Credentials, every AI-generated asset includes clear attribution. You’re in control of your work and your vision.

You’re the director now

Download Sam’s original sequence, jump into Firefly, and create your version of the story. Remix it, reshape it, and share it using #AdobeFirefly. This is your moment to turn unfinished into unforgettable.

Looking for inspiration? We also asked four creators — storytellers with big visions and DIY mindsets — to bring their own spin to Sam’s original sequence. Each used Firefly to shape a story that’s uniquely their own. The results are unexpected, deeply personal and incredibly inspiring. You can watch their finished films — along behind-the-scenes content, and creative tips to inspire your own interpretation — starting today on @adobefirefly. Spoiler alert: They are doing some pretty amazing things:

Noémie Pino (@pinoemie_) is a content creator who blends lifestyle, fashion, and travel with an imaginative visual style. For this project, she fused physical claymation with digital tools to explore the intersection of tactile creativity and generative AI — bringing a playful, handcrafted dimension to the film.

“I’ve always loved the tangible feel of clay, but the process is incredibly time-consuming—I never imagined I’d be able to bring it to life like this. With Firefly, Photoshop and After Effects I could blend the handcrafted with the digital and turn seconds of motion into something that feels real and emotionally textured.”

- Noémie Pino (@pinoemie_)

Phil Cohen (@thepacman82) is a creative director who combines his love for fashion and visual effects to produce highly cinematic, futuristic content. In his film, Phil pushed the boundaries of storytelling by using AI as a co-creator — showing what’s possible when VFX, style, and imagination collide.

“We’re entering a new era where imagination doesn’t have to wait on budget or big teams. With tools like Firefly, designers can direct, photographers can animate—creativity becomes immediate and accessible. This project is a glimpse of what’s next.

-Phil Cohen (@thepacman82)

Jad Kassis (@jadkassis) is a brand designer and AI creative specialist known for his emotionally resonant design solutions and deep expertise with Adobe Firefly. Jad brought this project to life by showcasing the full range of Firefly’s creative controls — across Image, Video, and Boards — demonstrating how AI can amplify intent and unlock powerful visual storytelling.

“Firefly changed how I use time. What once took days now takes minutes—so I can chase ideas while they’re still alive, still emotional. I’m not just designing frames; I’m directing fleeting moments before they disappear.”

-Jad Kassis

Keenan Lam (@keenanlam) is a filmmaker, content creator, and founder of Dropcuts.com, a platform for digital tools that support creative workflows. Keenan approached this project as both a cinematographer and educator, using Firefly to demonstrate how AI can streamline short-form production and expand what’s possible — without sacrificing craft.

“As someone who’s spent years behind the camera, I’ve always been a perfectionist—so the idea of giving up control to AI was intimidating at first. But this project challenged me in the best way. I realized generative tools like Firefly can extend my creativity, not replace it. They unlock shots and transitions I couldn’t easily achieve on my own”

-Keenan Lam

Want to finish The Unfinished Film? Start now — because your best ideas are just getting started. Download Firefly in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.