Bit obvious, but probably Fritz Lang and Godard. Renoir?Maybe Carl Dreyer.

Bunch of lunatics (putting it mildly)

Shaping/creating narratives and structures that A.I could never dream of. (Maybe not THE most necessary, but one of ‘em)

Fabulous chapter of entertainment history. I developed a telly series about it a few years ago, funnily enough called THE FUN FACTORY - turned down by everyone of course 😅.