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UAE residents can watch, vote for the best AI-generated film; top 12 revealed
The award is organised by the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest summit dedicated to the content creation economy, in collaboration with Google Gemini
The world's largest AI-generated film award, valued at $1 million, just announced its 'top 12' list. The award is organised by the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest summit dedicated to the content creation economy, in collaboration with Google Gemini.
The summit is organised by the UAE Government Media Office. The shortlisted 12 films will be open for public voting from December 21 to 25 on the summit's website.
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The 1 Billion Followers Summit is hosted by the UAE from January 9 to 11, 2026 across Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future, under the theme Content for Good.
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Top 12 list
The 12 films are under two main themes: “Rewrite Tomorrow,", which explore what the future will look like, and “The Secret Life of Everything,” which uncover tales centred on characters that already exist in the world, but whose stories are yet to be told.
Take a look at a short summary of these 12 films:
“Rewrite Tomorrow”
Heal, directed by Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Gomaa Rizk. Set in the year 2030, the film follows Laila, a young Egyptian woman who lost her voice due to psychological trauma. Using emotional artificial intelligence, she enters the memories of her mother, who is in a coma, embarking on a deeply moving healing journey between past and present.
Cats Like Warmth, directed by Lee Su Yeol from South Korea, tells the story of a data-driven robot living in a Korean village that learns the meaning of emotional warmth and discovers that true connection comes from the heart, not from code.
Homeward, directed by Nav Lotay from the United Kingdom, follows the story of Arri, who is lost in space for years before being sent back to Earth’s past, where he finds an unexpected opportunity for reconciliation with himself and a path back home.
Roots of Tomorrow, directed by German filmmaker Daniel Titz. The film explores the threat of microplastic pollution to the future of humanity, as a scientist and her dog travel to distant planets in search of a plant capable of breaking down plastic, only to discover that the true solution is not what anyone expected.
Maestra, directed by Spanish filmmaker Hilario Abad, tells the story of a veteran musician who confronts an artificial intelligence that surpasses her technical abilities, only to realise that her years of struggle are what enable her to guide and elevate this new form of art.
Dreams Don't Die, directed by Palestinian filmmaker Omar Rammal, tells the story of a mother that tries to escape the horrors of war by hiding her child inside a magical storybook, where children from different war-torn countries find refuge. When war invades this enchanted world, the children must rely on their dreams to face the darkness they tried to escape.
“The Secret Life of…”
The Translator, directed by Philip Lee from the United States, tells the story of how a young woman’s obsession with plants becomes humanity’s lifeline in a dying world, as she discovers the silent language of the Earth that guides her to hidden water sources offering renewed hope for life.
Portrait No. 72, directed by Rodson Fer Suarez from the Philippines, centres on an elderly photographer in the city of Varanasi who documents images of the dead. He finds new meaning in life after an unexpected bond forms between him and a curious child, restoring a sense of human warmth.
Ceremony, directed by German filmmaker Mark Wachholz, which tells the story of a young girl who is the sole survivor of a city that has been completely erased. During an interview to tell the world what happened, she carries a dark secret that reveals a disturbing truth about children in our society.
The Beginning, directed by Jordanian filmmaker Ibraheem Diab, follows the journey of Adamu, a young man who travels 3,500 miles in search of safety and education. With the help of kind strangers, he learns that human compassion has the power to turn hope into reality.
LILY, directed by Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi, is set in a rain-soaked city where a guilt-ridden archivist is haunted by a doll linked to a hit-and-run victim. This pushes him to confess and seek redemption, affirming that even silent objects carry truth and moral weight.
Pursuit of Pearl, directed by Canadian filmmaker Zahir Khan, tells the story of a young pearl diver from Dubai who survives drowning after a surreal, glowing encounter in the depths of the sea. The experience stays with him for a lifetime following the loss of his father in a storm.
Selection process
A specialised jury, comprising 40 experts and specialists, selected these 12 films from a total of 3,500 submissions, which accounted for over 400 hours of review.
After a comprehensive evaluation, 100 films were shortlisted, as per the award's eligibility criteria. These then underwent an advanced technical review conducted using Google Gemini, which verified technical standards and content quality.
This included AI-based verification to ensure that each film was produced using a minimum of 70 per cent generative artificial intelligence tools developed by Google.
After the shortlisting of the top 12 films and the public vote, the judging panel will select the Top 5 films to 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.
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