The best films created using artificial intelligence were recognized at the Astana AI Film Festival, where Latvian filmmaker Nikolay Shestak won the Grand Prix and a $450,000 prize.
The festival took place Oct. 1-3 as part of AI Month, a series of events dedicated to artificial intelligence.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at the opening ceremony. He described the festival as a unique project that gives participants an opportunity to showcase their creativity and innovative ideas.
Tokayev also addressed AI safety and responsible use, comparing technology’s dual nature to the fire of Prometheus — a symbol of both progress and destructive power. He cited nuclear energy as an example.
The president said artificial intelligence expands opportunities for young people and lowers barriers to entering the film industry. Small creative teams can now compete with major studios, he noted, while filmmakers increasingly have the tools to produce films without relying on production companies or seeking sponsors. In Tokayev’s view, this fosters competition and creates more opportunities for talented people to realize their potential.
«Of course, artificial intelligence will not replace the Creator’s spark, but it can become an indispensable tool for anyone who has dedicated their life to creativity,» he said.
The festival received 8,067 submissions from 125 countries. A selection committee chose 25 films for the final program.
Who won the top prizes?
Ten films competed in the main thematic program, titled The Future Worth Living In. The Grand Prix went to Shestak for «The First Honest Day,» a story about how a person’s actions can change them. In the film, bad deeds make the protagonist uglier, while good deeds help him become a better person.
Shestak said he began directing about four years ago and started making films with AI two years ago. He plans to invest the prize money in new films and the development of his projects.
Second place and $200,000 went to Indian filmmaker Abhik Banerjee for «SITARA.» Spanish filmmaker Ernest Desumbila took third place and $100,000 for «Looking For Perseida.»
The international jury included Audrey Azoulay, former director-general of UNESCO and former French culture minister; Ma Ping of the China Film Studio’s AI Research Institute; and Wang Hao, deputy dean of the Animation School at the Beijing Film Academy.
The festival’s total prize and investment fund amounted to $2 million. Of that sum, $1 million was allocated for competition prizes, including awards in the main and open competitions. The Freedom Shapagat Corporate Fund, a subsidiary of Freedom Holding Corp., contributed to the festival’s prize funding.
Another $1 million was earmarked for investment in promising teams working with artificial intelligence. The funding is intended to strengthen production capabilities and support the development of Kazakhstan’s AI ecosystem.
Freedom Holding Corp. was the festival’s general partner, The Network School was its technology partner, and Kino.kz was a partner.
