Dubai: The 1 Billion Followers Summit, in collaboration with Google Gemini, has announced the details of the world’s largest AI Film Award, valued at $1 million. The summit, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, is scheduled to take place from January 9-11, 2026.
According to Emirates News Agency, the AI Film Award aims to encourage the production of impactful films using AI tools. It seeks to enhance filmmakers’ creative and technical skills by integrating artificial intelligence into their productions. The award’s launch underscores the growing influence of short films as an effective medium to deliver impactful messages to a broad audience.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 expects participation from over 400 speakers with a combined following of more than 3 billion. The event is anticipated to attract over 30,000 visitors from more than 140 countries, including over 15,000 content creators. The Summit is unique in its inclusion of every active social media platform, hosting a Creator’s Market with over 100 startups and the Creators Ventures accelerator, which plans to invest over AED50 million to help creators transition into founders.
Submissions for the AI Film Award are open today and will remain open until November 20, 2025. Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, emphasized the Summit’s growth as a pivotal global event supporting talent and fostering investments in the Creator Economy. He highlighted the UAE’s commitment to establishing itself as a global hub for innovation and technology, noting its proactive integration of AI into its education system and global leadership in attracting AI talent.
Anthony Nakache, Google’s Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated that Google aims to amplify creativity and support creators through AI. The award mandates that films be at least 70 percent AI-generated, using Google Gemini, including Imagen, Veo, and Flow, as well as other third-party tools utilizing Google Gemini. Submissions should creatively address themes such as ‘Rewrite Tomorrow’ or ‘The Secret Life of’.
A panel of judges will evaluate the entries based on storytelling, creativity, AI integration, execution, and thematic excellence. Public voting for the top 10 films will occur from December 10-15, with the top 5 being announced on January 3. The grand prize winner will be revealed on January 11, 2026. Participation is open to all active content producers on social media, with films required to include English subtitles and meet specific audio-visual quality standards. Filmmakers must also demonstrate transparency in their use of AI tools and techniques.