Dubai has launched a groundbreaking $1 million award for short films generated entirely by artificial intelligence, in partnership with Google’s Gemini, as part of the upcoming 1 Billion Followers Summit. The contest aims to showcase AI’s potential in filmmaking, with creativity, realism, and storytelling as core judging criteria.
The winning short film will receive the grand prize, while the top 10 entries will be screened at the summit’s fourth edition, scheduled for January 9–11, 2026, in Dubai. Entries must 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, which organizes the event, said the competition highlights purposeful filmmaking and the power of short films to convey impactful stories. “The Summit aims to support and encourage the production of purposeful films using diverse AI tools, raise awareness of the humanitarian messages such films should convey, and enhance creative capabilities, aesthetic vision, and advanced skills in integrating AI into film production,” the office stated.
UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al-Gergawi emphasized the country’s broader push into the “content economy,” describing it as “an economic power with limitless horizons.” As part of this vision, the UAE has allocated $13.6 million to fund creative projects by content creators and an additional $13.6 million to support startups, providing opportunities to pitch ideas to investors and secure sponsorships.
Held under the theme “Content for Good”, the summit will gather 400 global speakers with a combined following of more than 3 billion, alongside top tech firms, creators, and entrepreneurs, to advance international collaboration in content and creative technology.
