nmatic.ai, Alibi Studios launch AI VFX studio The Next Valley
May 6, 2026
nmatic.ai, one of the world’s first Hybrid AI creative production studios and technology companies, has announced a strategic partnership with Alibi Studios, a collective of award-winning VFX artists and creative leaders behind some of the world’s most celebrated film, advertising and immersive experiences.
The partnership, led by nmatic.ai CEO Nick Price and Alibi Studios CEO Nicolas Cotta, will be run under the umbrella of a new jointly owned company – The Next Valley.
The Next Valley will be one of the first dedicated Hybrid AI VFX studios, committed to providing clients with the highest levels of creative excellence, value and guarantees of delivery.
At the centre of the partnership is Mark Benson, Chair of Alibi Studios and former CEO of MPC and President of The Mill – global leaders in VFX, creative production, design and immersive experiences for the advertising and entertainment industries.
The partnership seizes the opportunity to harness nmatic.ai’s Hybrid AI capabilities – the fusion of human-led creative disciplines, including live action, CGI, photography and Generative AI – alongside Alibi Studios’ heritage in high-end VFX.
The creative vision for the partnership will be spearheaded by Nathalie Girard, Executive VFX Supervisor (Alibi Studios),Carl Lyttle, Chief Digital Officer (nmatic.ai), and Chris Catchpole, Chief Creative Officer (nmatic.ai).
The partnership has been established to meet the evolving demands of global brands, film studios and content creators who are turning to AI to unlock new creative workflows, enhance visual storytelling and reduce the time and cost of high-end content production.
nmatic.ai’s Hybrid AI approach is grounded in enhancing human craft rather than replacing it. The company enables filmmakers and brands to produce premium content up to 30 per cent faster and up to 30 per cent more cost-effectively than traditional production techniques.
Nick Price, Founder and CEO of nmatic.ai, said: “Hybrid AI integrated with VFX represents one of the largest shifts in content production in a generation. By building it into the workflow from the ground up, The Next Valley can deliver work of the highest visual quality, faster and more cost-effectively, at a time when budgets are squeezed and craft has felt threatened. We believe the model not only solves a real issue in the entertainment and advertising industries today, but also helps forge a new path for how AI can work as an effective part of a craft-led culture in the future.”
Nicolas Cotta, Founder and CEO of Alibi Studios, commented: “Whilst Alibi will continue to use a traditional approach to VFX, our commitment to The Next Valley will take our collaborations to another level, where we will have a dedicated team that not only uses what AI offers us today, but leverages AI alongside Unreal Engine and other tech platforms to proactively develop new workflows for our clients and partners in the future.”
Mark Benson, Chair of Alibi Studios, added: “I am inspired by the ambition of Nicolas and Nick for The Next Valley, and see enormous potential for this partnership. The critical commitment to creative excellence and craft is at the heart of their collective strategies, and I am excited about the growth plans that the business has identified.”
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