Tunisian Filmmaker Wins $1 Million AI Film Award with LILY

A nine-minute film about redemption and moral responsibility, created entirely with AI tools, has taken the world's largest AI filmmaking prize.

Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi won the inaugural $1 million AI Film Award on January 11, 2026, for his short film LILY. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, presented the award during the 1 Billion Followers Summit's fourth edition in Dubai.

The competition, organized by the 1 Billion Followers Summit in collaboration with Google Gemini, attracted 3,500 film submissions from 116 countries. More than 30,000 participants expressed interest in the award, making it the most significant AI filmmaking competition to date.

The Story Behind LILY

Set in a rain soaked city, LILY follows a lonely archivist whose life changes after a hit and run accident. A child's doll becomes trapped on his car bumper, haunting him with its silent presence. The object leads him to confront his guilt, confess to authorities, and ultimately reunite the doll with the injured child at a hospital.

The nine minute French language film explores themes of moral responsibility, redemption, and how inanimate objects can bear witness to human actions. Jlassi named the film after his daughter, who inspired the story's emotional core.

The narrative falls under "The Secret Life of..." theme, one of two creative directions offered to filmmakers. This theme encouraged exploring hidden stories in everyday objects and experiences. The alternative theme, "Rewrite Tomorrow," asked filmmakers to envision positive futures.

Created Entirely with Google Gemini Tools

LILY was generated using Google's generative AI toolkit, including Gemini, Veo, Imagen, and Flow. The film met the competition's requirement that at least 70 percent of content be created with these tools. A 40 member specialized jury verified technical compliance through Google Gemini assessments.

The production demonstrates current AI filmmaking capabilities. Visual composition, character generation, environmental design, and atmospheric effects all originated from AI systems. Jlassi directed creative decisions, guiding the tools to realize his narrative vision.

His approach demonstrates what AI filmmaking looks like in practice. Technology handles visual generation while human creativity drives storytelling, emotional pacing, and thematic depth. The tools expand what solo filmmakers can achieve without reducing the creative input required.

The Competition Structure

The 1 Billion Followers Summit, organized by the UAE Government Media Office under the theme "Content for Good," hosted the award as part of its January 9-11, 2026 program. Events took place across Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future.

The competition timeline:

• October/November 2025: Open submissions period
• December 2025: Initial review by 40-expert jury, narrowing 3,500 entries to 100 eligible films
• December 20, 2025: Announcement of top 12 shortlisted films
• December 21-25, 2025: Public voting period via aifilm.1billionsummit.com
• January 10, 2026: Premiere of top 5 finalist films at the summit
• January 11, 2026: Winner announcement and award presentation

The jury reviewed over 400 hours of submitted content. Each entry underwent technical verification to confirm compliance with the 70 percent AI generation requirement and adherence to ethical filmmaking standards.

Top 5 Finalists

LILY competed against four other films in the final round:

Portrait No. 72 - Directed by Rodson Verr Suarez (Philippines). Exploring identity and representation through AI-generated visual storytelling.

Cats Like Warmth - A film examining comfort and connection in urban environments through feline perspectives.

HEAL - Directed by an Egyptian filmmaker. Addressing themes of recovery and transformation.

The Translator - Directed by Pylyp Li (USA). Exploring communication barriers and cross-cultural understanding.

Each finalist demonstrated the judging criteria: clear storytelling, visual aesthetics, skillful AI integration, artistic innovation, and commitment to transparency and ethical practices.

The Broader Shortlist

Twelve films reached the shortlist before final selection:

Under "Rewrite Tomorrow" theme:

• HEAL (Egypt)
• Dreams Don't Die (Palestine)
• Cats Like Warmth (Israel)
• We Are Now (USA)
• Beyond the Clouds (Kenya)
• Wild Fire (India)

Under "The Secret Life of..." theme:

• The Translator (USA)
• Portrait No. 72 (Philippines)
• Ceremony (Germany)
• The Beginning (Jordan)
• LILY (Tunisia)
• Pursuit of Pearl (Canada)

This geographic diversity reflects the competition's global reach and the UAE's positioning as a hub for international creative talent.

Distinguished Jury Panel

The judging panel included industry leaders across entertainment, technology, and creative fields:

Dan Germain - Executive Creative Director, Google Studios London Ali Ali - Filmmaker and Cannes Lions jury member Christian Haas - Executive Creative Director, YouTube Piotr Dabkowski - CTO, ElevenLabs Marina Mogilko - Entrepreneur and content creator

These judges brought expertise spanning traditional filmmaking, digital platforms, AI technology, and creator economy dynamics. Their evaluation balanced technical AI proficiency with storytelling craft and ethical considerations.

What LILY's Win Signals

Jlassi's victory demonstrates several developments in AI filmmaking:

Geographic Democratization: A Tunisian filmmaker competing equally with entries from established film markets. AI tools reduce the infrastructure barriers that historically favored filmmakers in well-funded regions.

Solo Production Capability: One filmmaker achieved results requiring traditional production teams. Visual effects, set design, cinematography, and post-production all originated from AI-guided processes.

Narrative Focus: The winning film prioritized story and emotional impact over technical spectacle. Judges rewarded thematic depth and character development rather than visual complexity alone.

Ethical Integration: The film's exploration of moral responsibility resonated with the "Content for Good" theme. AI filmmaking can address meaningful subjects rather than existing purely as technical demonstration.

French Language Success: LILY proves AI generated films can work across languages. The French dialogue, culturally specific emotional textures, and European aesthetic sensibilities all translated successfully through AI tools.

The 1 Billion Followers Summit Context

The AI Film Award exists within the broader 1 Billion Followers Summit, which brought together more than 15,000 content creators, 580 speakers, and 150 CEOs. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the summit.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa's remarks at the award ceremony emphasized the UAE's commitment to creative innovation: "Honouring creatives and encouraging innovation across content creation fields underscore the UAE's commitment to nurturing talent that contributes to shaping the future of the cultural and creative industries."

She added that the award "will help drive and grow the digital content industry, while encouraging young people to innovate" and noted the film achieved "an inspiring balance between technology and artistic vision."

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of UAE Cabinet Affairs, positioned the summit as "the largest global annual gathering of content creators, and a key platform for advancing the content economy."

Implications for Independent Filmmakers

LILY's production and recognition carry practical implications for filmmakers worldwide:

Production Cost Reduction: AI tools eliminate expenses for location shooting, equipment rentals, crew salaries, and post-production facilities. A filmmaker can produce professional-quality work from a personal computer.

Creative Control: Solo creators maintain complete artistic vision without compromising for budget, scheduling, or collaboration constraints. The filmmaker's decisions drive every creative choice.

Technical Accessibility: Filmmakers without cinematography training, VFX expertise, or production design experience can realize complex visual concepts. The AI handles technical execution while the creator focuses on storytelling.

Global Competition: Filmmakers from any location can compete for recognition and prizes based purely on creative merit. Geographic advantages matter less when production doesn't require physical infrastructure.

Festival Viability: The competition proves AI-generated films can compete for major awards. Traditional filmmaking credentials become less relevant than creative vision and narrative execution.

Technical Requirements and Standards

The competition established clear technical parameters that may influence future AI filmmaking standards:

Minimum AI Generation: At least 70 percent of content created with Google Gemini tools (Gemini, Veo, Imagen, Flow) Running Time: Films between 7-10 minutes Technical Verification: Google Gemini assessment to confirm AI usage compliance Ethical Standards: Transparency about AI usage and adherence to ethical filmmaking practices Thematic Alignment: Content supporting "Content for Good" mission with positive societal messaging

These requirements balanced creative freedom with technical demonstration. Filmmakers needed to showcase AI capabilities while maintaining narrative coherence and ethical responsibility.

What Google Gemini Brings to Filmmaking

The competition highlighted specific capabilities of Google's generative AI toolkit:

Veo: Video generation from text descriptions, enabling scene creation without filming Imagen: Image generation and manipulation for visual assets and scene elements Gemini: Core AI model providing language understanding and creative guidance Flow: Animation and motion capabilities for character movement and scene dynamics

These tools work together as a filmmaking pipeline. A creator describes a scene in text. Veo generates visual content. Imagen refines specific elements. Flow adds movement. Gemini orchestrates the process based on creative direction.

The integration allows filmmakers to iterate rapidly. Testing scene variations, adjusting visual elements, and refining narrative pacing all happen faster than traditional production workflows.

The Future of AI Filmmaking Competitions

The $1 million prize positions this as the most significant AI filmmaking award globally. The scale of participation, 3,500 submissions from 116 countries, indicates substantial filmmaker interest in AI tools.

Future competitions will likely refine technical requirements as AI capabilities advance. The 70 percent threshold may adjust as tools improve. Running time restrictions might expand as longer-form AI content becomes viable.

The judging criteria, emphasizing storytelling clarity and ethical responsibility alongside technical proficiency, establishes valuable precedents. AI filmmaking competitions need frameworks that evaluate creative merit rather than pure technical demonstration.

Geographic diversity in both submissions and finalists suggests these competitions can genuinely represent global creative talent. The barrier-lowering effect of AI tools means future winners may emerge from anywhere rather than traditional filmmaking centers.

Accessing the Films

The top 5 finalist films premiered at the 1 Billion Followers Summit on January 10, 2026. The official competition website, aifilm.1billionsummit.com, provided voting access during the public selection period. Information about broader film access for audiences worldwide remains to be announced by the summit organizers.

For filmmakers interested in exploring Google Gemini's filmmaking capabilities, the tools used in LILY and other competition entries are available through Google's generative AI platforms. The competition demonstrates these tools' current production readiness for serious creative projects.

What This Means for AI Films Studio

The competition validates what platforms like AI FILMS Studio have been building: comprehensive AI filmmaking ecosystems offering multiple model access. While LILY used Google Gemini exclusively per competition rules, most AI filmmakers benefit from multi-model approaches.

AI FILMS Studio provides access to Google Veo 3, OpenAI Sora, Kling AI, Luma DreamMachine, and other leading platforms. Each model excels at different visual styles and technical requirements. Filmmakers can match tools to specific creative needs rather than working within single-platform constraints.

Jlassi's success demonstrates that AI-generated films can compete for major recognition. As more competitions emerge and distribution channels expand, filmmakers need platforms offering flexibility, quality, and professional capabilities. The barrier to entry continues falling, but creative excellence remains the differentiating factor.

Conclusion

LILY's victory represents more than one filmmaker's success. It demonstrates AI filmmaking's viability as a serious creative medium capable of producing work that resonates emotionally, explores meaningful themes, and competes for major recognition.

Zoubeir Jlassi used technology to tell a human story about guilt, redemption, and moral responsibility. The tools enabled his vision rather than defining it. This relationship, where AI serves storytelling rather than becoming the story itself, points toward the medium's maturation.

For the thousands of filmmakers who submitted work and the tens of thousands who expressed interest, the competition signals opportunity. AI filmmaking tools continue improving. Distribution channels expand. Competitions and festivals increasingly recognize AI-generated work. The infrastructure for a new generation of filmmakers is taking shape.

The $1 million prize and global attention prove that audiences, institutions, and industry leaders take AI filmmaking seriously. What matters now is what creators do with these tools.

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Credits and Sources

Event Organizer: 1 Billion Followers Summit
Organized by: UAE Government Media Office
In Collaboration with: Google Gemini
Award Presenter: Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority

Winner: Zoubeir Jlassi (Tunisia)
Winning Film: LILY
Award Amount: $1,000,000 USD
Award Announcement: January 11, 2026
Event Dates: January 9-11, 2026
Locations: Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, Museum of the Future, Dubai, UAE

Official Website: 1billionsummit.com/ai-film-award
Competition Platform: aifilm.1billionsummit.com

Sources

1. UAE Government Media Office. "Latifa bint Mohammed honours Zoubeir Jlassi, winner of the world's largest AI Film Award." mediaoffice.ae, January 10, 2026.

2. Zawya. "1 Billion Followers Summit announces the top 12 shortlisted entries in the world's largest AI-generated film award, valued at $1mln." December 20, 2025.

3. Google Blog. "1 Billion Summit & Google Gemini announce details of AI Film Award." blog.google, 2025.

4. Arab News. "Tunisian filmmaker wins $1 million global AI film contest." arabnews.com, January 11, 2026.

5. BroadcastPro ME. "Tunisian filmmaker wins $1 million AI Film Award for 'Lily'." broadcastprome.com, January 11, 2026.

6. Dubai Eye 103.8. "Tunisian Zoubeir Jlassi wins $1million AI film award for 'Lily'." dubaieye1038.com, January 10, 2026.

7. Gulf News. "Dubai: World's biggest AI film award unveiled for 1 Billion Followers Summit." gulfnews.com, 2025.