Over the past year, we’ve seen how creators globally have used our AI models and tools to share their stories with the world. That’s why we launched the AI ​​Film Award last September with a simple belief – that AI is here to become a strong partner in the creative process.
The response was overwhelming. We received 3,500 entries from all corners of the globe, each showcasing the incredible potential of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Last week we were pleased to announce the winner of this special contest at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, one of the largest annual creator events globally. The winner received $1M, offered by our partner, 1 Billion Followers Summit!
Meet the winner: ‘Lily’
The top honor went to Zoubeir ElJlassi, a visionary graphic designer and filmmaker from Tunisia. His film, Lily, tells the story of a lonely archivist whose life is turned upside down by a doll found at the scene of a hit-and-run. The film shows that objects are silent witnesses to our secrets, eventually pushing the main character to confess and make things right.
The jury – which included creative leaders from technology, content creation and filmmaking – was captivated by how ElJlassi blended human emotion with technology. He didn’t just show what the tools could do; he used them to serve a deeply moving narrative.
Creativity powered by Google AI
When we launched this award, we introduced creators to a range of tools designed to bring their visions to life. ElJlassi’s winning entry is a testament to how these models can be used in professional filmmaking:
- Cinematic vision with Alas: Using our advanced video generation model, Zoubeir was able to create the film’s distinct, somber aesthetic – generating consistent, high-quality video that set the atmospheric tone of the piece.
- Precision control with Flow: To ensure the characters conveyed the necessary sense of empathy, Flow allowed sophisticated control over scenes and styles.
- Visuals with The twins: From storyboarding to identifying the look and feel of characters, Gemini played a critical role in the creative pipeline.
A global celebration of storytelling
While Lily took home the top prize, the shortlist highlighted the incredible diversity of AI films. The finalists tackled our two core themes – “Rewrite Tomorrow” and “The Secret Life of Everything” – with unique perspectives from around the world:
- The Translator (USA): A story of connection with nature in a dying world.
- Portrait No. 72 (Philippines): A heartwarming bond between an elderly photographer and a child.
- Cats Like Warmth (South Korea): A robot that discovers the meaning of emotional warmth.
- HEAL (Egypt): A futuristic journey into memory and healing.
What’s next?
The AI ​​Film Award has proven that when you put powerful tools in the hands of talented storytellers, the boundaries of creativity expand. We would like to thank all creators who submitted a film and the 1 Billion Followers Summit for hosting this landmark event and for their partnership.
Congratulations to Zoubeir ElJlassi on this historic win. We can’t wait to see what he creates next.