UAE Unveils $1M AI Film Prize at 1 Billion Followers Summit
▼ Summary
– The UAE is launching a $1 million AI Film Award, the world’s largest, to be announced at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January 2026.
– The award requires films to be at least 70% AI-generated using specific tools like Google Gemini’s Imagen or Veo and be 7-10 minutes long.
– Submissions for the award, which must follow one of two specified themes, close on 20 November 2025, with finalists announced in January 2026.
– UAE officials state the initiative aims to establish the country’s leadership in AI and creative industries, building on its success in attracting AI talent.
– The Summit will also feature a large creator’s market, a ventures accelerator, and expects over 30,000 attendees from more than 140 nations.
The United Arab Emirates has launched a groundbreaking initiative to propel artificial intelligence in filmmaking, introducing a $1 million AI Film Award set to be presented at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January 2026. This landmark prize, developed in collaboration with Google Gemini, represents the most significant financial incentive of its kind globally. The event itself is poised to be a major gathering, hosting more than 400 influential speakers whose combined audience exceeds three billion people at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
This ambitious award is designed to stimulate powerful narratives crafted with artificial intelligence. Entrants must ensure their films are a minimum of 70 percent generated using specific AI tools, including Google’s Imagen, Veo, and Flow, or other compatible software. Each submission needs to run between seven and ten minutes, can be in any language provided it includes English subtitles, and must explore one of two thematic prompts: “Rewrite Tomorrow” or “The Secret Life of”. The deadline for filmmakers to enter the competition is November 20, 2025, with the finalists being revealed at the summit the following January.
Saeed Al Eter, who chairs the UAE Government Media Office, emphasized that this award is a strategic move to solidify the nation’s standing as a leader in both artificial intelligence and the creative sectors. This effort builds upon the UAE’s impressive achievement of being ranked third worldwide for its ability to attract top-tier AI professionals. Anthony Nakache of Google MENA highlighted the partnership’s goal, stating that Gemini’s advanced technology will empower creators from all walks of life to transform their imaginative stories into reality.
Beyond the film competition, the Summit will host an extensive program including a Creator’s Market showcasing over 100 startups and a ventures accelerator committed to investing more than AED 50 million in promising content creators. Representatives from every major social media platform are scheduled to participate. Anticipating an attendance of 30,000 people from more than 140 countries, the UAE is clearly establishing itself as a central hub for the burgeoning AI-driven creative economy.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
