Web3 and AI entertainment fund launches with $20M at Cannes

A $20 million investment partnership between Goldfinch and Digital Genesis Fund marks a significant push toward integrating Web3 and AI technologies in entertainment production. This Cannes-launched venture represents a strategic bet on decentralized technologies fundamentally reshaping how media content is funded, created, and distributed—potentially giving creators more autonomy while offering investors unprecedented transparency into project performance.

The big picture: British film financier Goldfinch has joined forces with Luxembourg’s Digital Genesis Fund to create a $20 million investment initiative focused on Web3 and AI-powered entertainment studios.

• The partnership aims to revolutionize traditional media production by integrating tokenization, artificial intelligence, and decentralized ecosystems.
• The deal structure includes an initial $20 million from Digital Genesis, with Goldfinch International matching funds on a deal-by-deal basis.

Key components: The venture will focus on three integrated technology platforms at the intersection of entertainment and emerging digital technologies.

• Lumiere: A tokenized crowdfunding platform backed by Animoca Brands, BRINC, and Rolling Stone & RS Productions.
• The Squad: A Web3-native production studio with an AI-powered production pipeline.
• MILC.global: An immersive metaverse platform designed for production environments.

What they’re saying: Industry leaders frame this initiative as a fundamental reimagining of entertainment industry structures.

• “We’re witnessing ongoing, profound shifts in the entertainment and creative industries… Our goal is to future-proof these industries at their core,” stated Phil McKenzie and Justin Deimen of Goldfinch International.
• Hendrik Hey from Digital Genesis Fund compared the moment to early Hollywood: “This must be what it felt like when the first Hollywood pioneers built their studios and set a new era of storytelling in motion.”

Launch timeline: The initiative kicks off with a series of international events showcasing its technological capabilities.

• The official launch will take place during the TechCannes Industry event at the Cannes Film Market on May 17.
• Products for Lumiere and The Squad will be introduced to global investors at the upcoming Indonesia Creative Investment Forum, co-hosted by Goldfinch Indonesia.

Strategic partnerships: The collaborative ecosystem will leverage key technology partners to automate production processes.

• Arcware (Germany) will help automate production workflows and licensing frameworks.
• The venture aims to provide creators more control over their work while offering investors real-time performance tracking of projects.