DUBAI: Dubai has announced a $1 million award for short films generated entirely by artificial intelligence in collaboration with Google’s Gemini as part of the 1 Billion Followers Summit.
The winning short film will take home the grand prize, while the top 10 competing films will be screened during the fourth edition of the summit, set to take place in Dubai from Jan. 9 to 11, 2026.
In a statement on Wednesday, the UAE Media Government Office, which organizes the event, said the contest aims to highlight the potential of AI in filmmaking, with creativity, realism, and storytelling among the core judging criteria.
Submitted entries must be fully generated using AI tools, and will be evaluated on the quality of storytelling, creative use of AI, technical execution, and the film’s ability to deliver a humanitarian message.
Further details about the competition will be announced next month, the office added.
“The Summit aims to support and encourage the production of purposeful films using diverse AI tools, raise awareness of the humanitarian messages such films should convey, and enhance creative capabilities, aesthetic vision, and advanced skills in integrating AI into film production,” the office said in a statement.
Organizers added that competition will focus on short films, given their powerful ability to deliver impactful messages to audiences.
UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al-Gergawi said the summit is part of the country’s efforts to help drive the “content economy.”
He added: “The content economy is an economic power with limitless horizons. Today, the UAE is not only keeping pace with its developments but is also leading and charting new directions within that economy.”
As part of this, the UAE also allocated $13.6 million to fund creative projects by content creators. It will provide grants for projects with global cultural and economic impact and back joint ventures to establish companies led by content creators or creative tech developers.
An additional $13.6 million has been dedicated to help startups and content creators pitch their ideas to top investors and companies, who will sponsor and invest in the most promising proposals.
Held under the theme “Content for Good,” the summit brings together top content creators, leading tech firms, industry experts, and entrepreneurs to foster global networking and empower creators with a supportive environment to scale and thrive internationally. The upcoming edition will feature 400 speakers with a combined following of over 3 billion followers.
