Over the past year, we've seen how creators around the world have been using 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 be a powerful partner in the creative process.
The reaction was amazing. We received 3,500 entries from all over the world, each showing the incredible power of AI in filmmaking. Just last week, we were delighted to announce the winner of this special competition at the 1 Million Fans Summit, one of the biggest annual events for creators around the world. Winner receives $1M, provided by our partner, 1 Million Followers Summit!
Meet the winner: 'Lily'
Top honors go to Zoubeir ElJlassi, a Tunisian photographer and filmmaker. His film, Lily, tells the story of a lonely archivist whose life is inspired by a doll found at the scene of a hit and run. The film shows that objects are silent witnesses of our secrets, ultimately pushing the main character to confess and make things right.
The jury – which included creative leaders from technology, content creation and filmmaking – was drawn to how ElJlassi combined human emotion with technology. He didn't just show what the tools could do; he used them to achieve an emotional narrative.
Art powered by Google AI
When we launch this award, we introduce creators to a set of tools designed to bring their ideas to life. ElJlassi's winning submission is a testament to how these models can be used in professional filmmaking workflows:
- The idea of cinema with Wow: Using our state-of-the-art video production model, Zoubeir was able to create a unique, dark film aesthetic — producing consistent, high-quality video that sets the tone for the episode's atmosphere.
- Precision control with The flow: To ensure that the actors convey the necessary sense of empathy, Flow allowed sophisticated control over scenes and styles.
- What is seen with Gemini: From gathering the stories to identifying the look and feel of the characters, Gemini played an important role in the creative process.
A global celebration of storytelling
While The lily took home the grand prize, the shortlist highlighted the incredible diversity of AI cinema. The winners tackled our two key themes – “Rewrite Tomorrow” and “The Secret Life of Everything” – with unique ideas from around the world:
- Translator (USA): A story of communication with nature in a dying world.
- Photo 72 (Philippines): A touching bond between an elderly photographer and a child.
- Cats Like Warmth (South Korea): A robot that finds 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 want to thank every creator who submitted a film, and the 1 Million Fans Summit for hosting this milestone event and their partnership.
Congratulations to Zoubeir ElJlassi on this historic win. We can't wait to see what he creates next.
