[London: 07 May 2026] – Today, nmatic.ai, one of the world’s first Hybrid AI creative production studios and technology companies, has announced a strategic partnership with AlibiStudios, a collective of award-winning VFX artists and creative leaders behind some of the world’s most celebrated film, advertisingand 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 – TheNext 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 premiumcontent up to 30% faster and up to 30% more cost-effectively than traditional production techniques.
Nick Price, Founder and CEO of nmatic.ai,commented:
“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 groundup, 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 advertisingindustries 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 AlibiStudios, 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, wherewe 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, commented:
“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 creativeexcellence and craft is at the heart of their collective strategies, and I am excited about the growth plans that the business has identified.”
-ENDS-
About nmatic.ai
nmatic.ai isone of the world’s first hybrid AI creative production studios and technology companies. The company fuses Generative AI with world-class human craft to produce premium content faster, smarter, more sustainably, and more affordably than traditional methods.
Its philosophy is simple: AI should amplify human creativity, not replace it.
nmatic.ai works with global brands including Dyson, Warner Brothers, Unilever, Twinings, Investec, Bank of Singapore, AB InBev, Merck & Co, Sonova, Bolt,and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, to deliver high-end visual and audio content with a level of speed and scale that supports the industry’s evolving economics.
The company delivers end-to-end creative production for all types of campaign content, including film, TV, stills, photography, and social media. Their modelcombines traditional craft with an AI-first lens. Since launch, the studio has produced over a quarter of a million AI-powered images and videos – all built on a hybrid pipeline that merges Generative AI with traditional craft.
About AlibiStudios
Alibi Studios is a global creative production collective specialising in high-end VFX and immersive media. The company blends traditional storytelling craftwith newer technologies such as real-time engines, virtual production and AI-driven content pipelines.
Across film, television, advertising, gaming, and immersive experiences Alibi Studios develops work that spans visual effects through to interactive and large-scaleinstallations, combining storytelling, design, and technology to deliver ambitious visual work for multiple platforms and audiences.
Alibi operates as a collective of studios with a singular pipeline providing clients with creative vision and leadership alongside flexible and cost-effectiveproduction solutions.
About Nick Price, Founder and CEO of nmatic.ai
Nick Price is an award-winning creative pioneer who has spent nearly 30 years reshaping how content is made across broadcast and advertising. He producedthe UK’s first audio-described film for visually impaired audiences in 1996, launched Havas Media’s first in-house agency at MPG, and founded Flare BBDO in 20 global markets, and Flare Studio a groundbreaking production tech platform for Omnicom. He consistentlydisrupts traditional production models in pursuit of changing client and creative needs.
In March 2024, Nick founded nmatic.ai as the next step in that mission – building a global, AI-empowered creative ecosystem that enhances human craft ratherthan replacing it. Today, he leads a team of creatives and technologists dedicated to redefining how premium content is produced, making creation more accessible, more responsible, and more innovative than ever.
About Nicolas Cotta, Founder and CEO of Alibi Studios
With over three decades of industrial expertise, Nicolas Cotta is a Visual Effects Society Award-winning VFX Supervisor, photographer, and entrepreneur whohas worked on worldwide campaigns including multiple tentpole feature films. As the founder of three successful companies, Nicolas has built a thriving global talent network, supporting premier VFX firms and helping to reshape the industry’s creative landscape.
From pioneering cutting-edge technology to establishing a global one-stop shop for VFX and new tech services, Nicolas’ leadership is rooted in trust, creativity,and innovation. For him, every project is an opportunity to blend artistry with technology to push the boundaries of what is possible creatively.
About Mark Benson, Chair of Alibi Studios
Mark Benson is a visionary executive with extensive leadership experience as CEO of MPC and President of The Mill, both of which are global leaders in VFX,creative production, design and immersive experiences for the advertising , feature film and entertainment industries.
A successful driver of local and global growth, Mark’s experience includes building and maintaining eight international studios and delivering award-winningcreative work, alongside consistently profitable commercial performance. Mark brings together strategic leadership, developing collaborative and impactful management teams, and a strong industry reputation for building innovative global production studios.
