Tunisian director Zoubeir Jlassi claimed the first-ever $1 million AI film award on Saturday for his short film “Lily,” a project created entirely using Google’s generative AI tools. The award was presented during the 1 Billion Followers Summit in a ceremony attended by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
Jlassi’s nine-minute, French-language film, named after his daughter, was produced in one month using Google’s Gemini, Veo 3, Imagen, and Flow. It tells the story of a lonely archivist haunted by a doll caught on his car after a hit-and-run, a guilt that drives him to confess and return the doll to an injured child.
“My daughter has a doll, which is also called Lily. This doll lived with us through our moments of grievances, joy, and victories,” Jlassi told Arab News. He described the doll as a silent witness that sparks the protagonist’s moral awakening, adding that the film’s message warns how routine can stifle self-awareness and responsibility.
The competition, launched in collaboration with Google’s Gemini, aimed to promote the use of AI in meaningful storytelling. It drew 3,500 submissions from 16 countries. Entries were required to use at least 70% generative AI tools from Google or Gemini-powered platforms, with verification conducted by the tech company.
A jury of international experts shortlisted 12 films based on criteria including originality, narrative, visual aesthetics, and ethical use of AI. Public voting then determined the five finalists.
“With this film, I hope to inspire aspiring filmmakers to dream, take ideas from their archives, execute them and share them… without relying on large production budgets,” Jlassi said. “This is the beauty of technology; it unleashes creativity without limits.”
The other finalists included Portrait No. 72 (Philippines), Cats Like Warmth (South Korea), Heal (Egypt), and The Translator (United States). Their works were screened during the summit, which focuses on how new media can drive positive change and sustainable growth.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
