Kazakhstan hosts the world’s largest AI film competition

ASTANA, Sept 17: Kazakhstan hosted the Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF 2026), described as the world’s largest international competition for films created using artificial intelligence, attracting 8,067 entries from 125 countries, Kazinform News Agency reported Monday.

The United States recorded the highest number of submissions with 1,395 films, followed by Kazakhstan with 829, India with 702, China with 550 and South Korea with 349.

“Just a few months ago, we were launching an international competition, and today we have received more than 8,000 entries from 125 countries,” said Almaz Zhali, co-founder and chairman of the AAIFF board.

AAIFF co-founder and creative director Aizatulla Khussain said the festival was conceived in Astana in December 2025 amid rapid advances in generative video technology.

The festival received 3,138 films for its main theme, “The Future Worth Living In,” while another 4,929 works were submitted to an open competition covering 19 genres.

The entries have a combined runtime of more than 100,000 minutes and were created by 4,756 filmmakers using more than 80 generative AI models.

The festival has a $1 million prize pool, including $750,000 for its main thematic program and $250,000 across five open categories. A separate $1 million investment fund established by entrepreneur and investor Balaji Srinivasan will support promising AI teams.

Srinivasan said declining production costs could create new opportunities for smaller language communities to produce films reflecting their own cultures.

“You can actually have Kazakh-language content,” he said. “Smaller language spheres can get their own movies. It won’t just be Hollywood everywhere.”