Join us for a fascinating conversation with Lisa Russell, Emmy-winning filmmaker and founder of ArtsEnvoy.AI, who’s revolutionizing how stories get told in our AI-powered world. Russell shares her journey from self-taught editor to pioneering AI filmmaker, including her collaboration with Nigerian artist AkayCentric on the climate advocacy music video “Moving On.”
We explore how AI tools are democratizing creativity across the Global South, breaking down barriers that have historically limited access to professional filmmaking. Russell discusses her work bringing artists into UN policy spaces, building training platforms across Africa, and her vision for AI that’s trained on emotional stories and cultural narratives—not just technical data. This episode reveals how creative technology is becoming the great equalizer for marginalized voices worldwide.
Guest Bio
Lisa Russell is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, AI artist, and founder of ArtsEnvoy.ai, a global platform using creative AI to empower artists, activists, and cultural workers. Based in Mombasa, Kenya, she is a Women in AI Ambassador, judge for the AI for Good Film Festival, and curator of the AI for the Future Arts and Film Festival. With over 20 years of experience working with the United Nations and global advocacy movements, Lisa is pioneering how AI can be used not just to generate content, but to reshape power, reclaim narratives, and build an artist-led digital future for the social good. Connect with her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisarussellfilms.
