Dubai has launched a groundbreaking $1 million award for short films generated entirely by artificial intelligence, in partnership with Google’s Gemini. The contest was announced as part of the upcoming 1 Billion Followers Summit and aims to showcase AI’s potential in filmmaking.
By the Numbers
The award is one of several major initiatives being launched at the upcoming summit:
- $1 Million: The grand prize for the winning AI-generated short film.
- 10 Films: The number of top entries that will be screened at the summit in January 2026.
- $13.6 Million: The amount allocated by the UAE to fund creative projects by content creators.
- 400+ Speakers: The number of global speakers, with a combined following of over 3 billion, who will attend the summit.
A New Frontier for Filmmaking
The competition requires that entries be fully AI-generated and will be judged on narrative quality, innovative use of AI, technical execution, and their ability to deliver a humanitarian message. The UAE Media Government Office stated that the competition aims to “support and encourage the production of purposeful films using diverse AI tools… and enhance creative capabilities, aesthetic vision, and advanced skills in integrating AI into film production.”.
Fueling the Content Economy
The award is part of the UAE’s broader push into the “content economy,” which UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al-Gergawi described as “an economic power with limitless horizons”. As part of this vision, the UAE has also allocated $13.6 million to fund creative projects by content creators and an additional $13.6 million to support startups.
A Global Summit for Content for Good
The 1 Billion Followers Summit, held under the theme “Content for Good,” will take place from January 9–11, 2026, in Dubai. The event will gather top tech firms, creators, and entrepreneurs to advance international collaboration in content and creative technology.
Source: MEA Tech Watch
You stopped this response
