The 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest gathering for the content creation economy organized by the UAE Government Media Office, has announced the 12 shortlisted films for its landmark AI-Generated Film Award. The award, valued at $1 million and organized in collaboration with Google Gemini, has drawn significant global attention to the UAE’s role in shaping the future of digital content.
Global Competition Narrows From 3,500 Submissions
A specialized committee of 40 experts reviewed over 400 hours of footage from 3,500 submissions to select the initial shortlist. The competition attracted interest from more than 30,000 people across 116 countries, underscoring the global appeal of leveraging AI for creative storytelling.
The 12 finalists will now face a public vote, after which the jury will select the top five films. These will be screened during the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, set to take place from January 9-11, 2026, with the ultimate winner announced on the final day.
An Esteemed Jury of Tech and Creative Leaders
The judging panel features a lineup of global industry heavyweights, ensuring a rigorous evaluation of creativity, technical skill, and narrative impact. The jury includes Dan Germain, Executive Creative Director at Google Brand Studio; Ali Ali, a film director and member of the Cannes Lions Film Jury; and Christian Haas, Executive Creative Director at YouTube.
The panel is further strengthened by Piotr Dąbkowski, Co-Founder and CTO of AI voice technology firm ElevenLabs, and Marina Mogilko, the entrepreneur and content creator known as SiliconValleyGirl, who commands an audience of over 18 million followers.
A Glimpse Into the Future of Storytelling
The 12 shortlisted films explore two main themes: “Rewrite Tomorrow,” which presents positive future visions, and “The Secret Life of Everything,” which uncovers unseen stories in the world around us.
Several filmmakers from the MENA region are among the finalists. Heal, by Egyptian director Mohamed Gomaa Rizk, follows a young woman using emotional AI to enter her comatose mother’s memories. Palestinian filmmaker Omar Rammal’s Dreams Don’t Die tells the story of children in war-torn countries finding refuge in a magical storybook. The Beginning, by Jordanian director Ibraheem Diab, charts a young man’s 3,500-mile journey to find safety and education.
Shaping the Creative Economy
Her Excellency Alia Al Hammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and Director of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, emphasized the initiative’s impact. “The strong interest in participating in the award reflects the position of the 1 Billion Followers Summit as a global platform that brings together ambition and innovation, demonstrated by the exceptional level of creativity seen in some of the submissions,” she stated.
Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google in the Middle East and North Africa, added, “The award serves as a genuine platform for discovering talent among content creators and short-film makers, regardless of their resources or prior experience, and we look forward to celebrating with the winners soon.”
About 1 Billion Followers Summit
Organized by the UAE Government Media Office, the 1 Billion Followers Summit is the world’s largest event dedicated to the content creator economy. It brings together top global social media influencers to explore how new media can drive positive societal change and fuel sustainable economic growth. The summit is a key component of the UAE’s drive to foster a vibrant and globally competitive content creator community.
Source: Zawya
