Kazakhstan will host its first international film festival dedicated to artificial intelligence – the Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF 2026). The project concept and the launch of the application process were introduced at a press conference in the capital.

According to the organizers, the central event of the festival will be an international competition of short films created using artificial intelligence. Creators from all over the world will be eligible to participate, regardless of country of origin, experience, or access to a professional studio.

“We expect the Astana AI Film Festival to become an annual event in the creative industries and a sustainable international platform for new formats and emerging names. Participation is open to everyone: both teams and individual creators can submit their work,” said Aizatulla Hussain, founder of Ozen and one of the festival’s organizers.

Applications will open in May 2026 and can be submitted via the festival’s official website.

“According to the competition rules, participants must create an AI-generated short film of up to 10 minutes and upload it to the festival’s platform along with a project description. Applications will be accepted from May through the end of August,” noted Almas Zhali, festival organizer and head of Brave Talents.

Astana AI Film Festival is scheduled to take place in autumn 2026. The festival will serve as a platform for projects at the intersection of the film industry and AI technologies, bringing together authors, digital creators, technology companies, experts, and investors.

The total prize fund will amount to $1 million, making it one of the largest in its category. The project is financed through sponsorship and partnership contributions.

The festival program will include film screenings, an AI content conference, as well as pitch sessions for creators and producers.