UNSHOT Wins Multiple Awards for “Plastic Ocean,” Showcasing AI as a Tool for Creative Craft

Los Angeles–based AI production company UNSHOT has been recognized with multiple honors for its project “Plastic Ocean,” earning both the Jury Award and Audience Award in the Best Use of AI category, as well as the Audience Award in Film Craft.

The recognition highlights UNSHOT’s approach to AI-driven production—one that places storytelling and creative intention at the center, using technology as a means to elevate, rather than replace, the craft.

“AI can generate images, but it can’t replace intention. What makes the difference is the thinking behind it: the concept, the tone, the decisions you make before you even write a prompt”, said Alena Llopis.

Founded in Los Angeles, UNSHOT collaborates with agencies and brands to develop cinematic, high-end visual content where artificial intelligence is integrated into the production pipeline, but never serves as the starting point. The company’s philosophy is rooted in protecting creative integrity while embracing new tools to push visual storytelling forward.

For “Plastic Ocean,” UNSHOT combined a range of technologies—including Midjourney, Google Flow, and Magnific—to build the film’s visual language. Each tool played a distinct role within a broader creative process that involved concept development, scripting, visual exploration, and refinement.

At the core of this process is a clear belief: technology is only as strong as the ideas behind it.

“There’s a misconception that the technology does the heavy lifting. In reality, it amplifies whatever you bring into it. Strong ideas get stronger. Weak ideas stay weak,” said Vicent Llopis.

UNSHOT emphasizes that the most critical phase of any project happens before AI tools are even used—defining the concept, shaping the narrative, and identifying the emotional core of the piece. Prompts, they argue, are simply the translation of that foundational work.

Looking ahead, the company sees the future of AI in advertising not as a replacement for traditional production, but as an expansion of it. Hybrid workflows—where AI collaborates with directors, designers, VFX artists, and performers—are already redefining how stories are crafted and experienced.

With “Plastic Ocean,” UNSHOT positions itself at the forefront of this evolution, demonstrating that innovation and craftsmanship are not at odds, but can coexist to produce work that is both technically advanced and creatively meaningful.