Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi has been awarded the world’s largest AI Film Award worth $1 million for his film ‘Lily’ during the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the prestigious award, organized in collaboration with Google Gemini.
Record-Breaking Global Participation in AI Film Award Competition
The AI Film Award attracted unprecedented global interest with over 30,000 participants from 116 countries expressing interest in the competition. A specialized jury of 40 experts reviewed 400 hours of film submissions, ultimately selecting 100 films that met the award’s criteria and thematic focus.
The rigorous evaluation process included advanced technical assessment using Google Gemini to verify that each film was produced using a minimum of 70% generative AI tools from Google. Following comprehensive judging, ‘Lily’ emerged as the winner from a final shortlist of five films.
UAE’s Commitment to Supporting Creative Industries Through Technology
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa emphasized that the UAE remains committed to nurturing talent that contributes to shaping the future of cultural and creative industries. The award ceremony took place during the 1 Billion Followers Summit at Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future in Dubai from January 9-11.
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Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Film ‘Lily’ Showcases Innovative AI Filmmaking Excellence
The winning film follows a lonely archivist whose life is transformed by a doll trapped on his car bumper after a hit-and-run accident. The story explores themes of guilt, redemption, and moral accountability as the protagonist ultimately confesses to police and reunites the doll with the injured child in the hospital.
The distinguished jury included Dan Germain from Google Studios London, Ali Ali from Good People and Cannes Lions Film Jury member, Christian Haas from YouTube, Piotr Dabkowski from ElevenLabs, and Marina Mogilko known as ‘Silicon Valley Girl’ with over 18 million followers.