The 1 Billion Followers Summit, a major initiative by the UAE Government Media Office, has announced the top 12 finalists for its $1 million AI-Generated Film Award. The competition, held in collaboration with Google Gemini, marks a significant milestone at the intersection of artificial intelligence and the content creation economy.
Public voting for the shortlisted films is now open and will run from December 21 to 25 on the summit’s official website.
Global Storytellers In The Spotlight
The 12 selected films were chosen from over 3,500 global submissions and are divided into two thematic categories: Rewrite Tomorrow, which envisions future possibilities, and “The Secret Life of Everything,” which tells undiscovered stories of existing characters.
The finalists represent a diverse pool of international talent, including several filmmakers from the MENA region. Notable entries include Heal by Egyptian director Mohamed Gomaa Rizk, which explores emotional AI and memory, Dreams Don’t Die by Palestinian filmmaker Omar Rammal, a story of children finding refuge from war in a magical storybook, The Beginning by Jordanian director Ibraheem Diab, and LILY by Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi.
Other films in the running come from South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, the United States, the Philippines, and Canada, covering topics from microplastic pollution to the essence of human connection.
A Rigorous Selection Process Powered By AI
The selection was conducted by a specialized jury of 40 industry experts who reviewed over 400 hours of content. From an initial 3,500 submissions, the panel created a shortlist of 100 films that met the award’s eligibility criteria.
These 100 films then underwent an advanced technical review using Google Gemini to verify content quality and technical standards. A key requirement was ensuring that each film was produced using a minimum of 70% generative AI tools developed by Google.
The Road To The Summit
Following the public vote, the judging panel will select the top five films. These will be screened on January 10, 2026, during the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit. The final winner of the world’s most valuable AI-Generated Film Award will be announced on January 11, 2026.
About The 1 Billion Followers Summit
Organised by the UAE Government Media Office, the 1 Billion Followers Summit is the world’s largest summit dedicated to the content creation economy. The event gathers creators, platforms, and industry leaders to explore trends and opportunities in the digital media landscape. The upcoming summit will be held from January 9 to 11, 2026, under the theme “Content for Good.”
Source: Khaleej Times
