AI film fest opens new cinematic frontier

Astana event attracts entries from 125 countries

ASTANA:

Kazakhstan hosted the Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF) for the first time, attracting 8,067 entries from 125 countries and becoming the world's largest international competition for AI-generated films, Qazinform News Agency reports.

The AAIFF also crowned winners, with $450,000 Grand Prize going to Latvian filmmaker Nikolay Shestak for 'The First Honest Day'. Kazakhstan's Myrzakhan Zhumakhan won the Best Character category for his comedy in 'It Was Just a Joke'.

The film follows a dog and its owner's brother as they quarrel over a prank, with events unfolding like a blockbuster. Zhumakhan said he enjoys pranks and humor, which inspired him to create the story. The second prize of $200,000 went to India's 'SITARA', while Spain's 'Looking For Perseida' took the third place and $100,000.

Only 25 films were selected from thousands of submissions to reach the final. They were evaluated by an international jury that included former UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and investor Balaji Srinivasan.

The festival had a total prize and support fund of $2 million. Half was allocated to awards, while the remaining amount will support promising AI teams and the development of film production in Kazakhstan.

The festival took place in Astana on 1–3 October 2026. Submissions ran from May 25 to September7. All submissions underwent a curated selection process by an independent international jury, the organisers said on the festival's website.

The AAIFF debut in the Kazakh capital marked a major step for AI-generated cinema, bringing international filmmakers together to showcase their work and compete for substantial prizes. The opening ceremony was attended by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Qazinform reported. The festival seeks to become more than a film competition. According to AAIFF Co-Founder and Creative Director Aizatulla Hussein, the more important question is what AI can do to cinema itself.