Google names Tunisian filmmaker winner of Global AI Film Award
Short film Lily takes top prize after attracting thousands of entries worldwide, highlighting the growing role of generative AI tools in filmmaking.
Google has named the winner of its Global AI Film Award, selecting Lily, a short film by Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir ElJlassi.
The company said it received around 3,500 submissions from creators across the world. The winner was announced last week at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, where the top prize of $1 million was offered by the summit partner.
The award went to Zoubeir ElJlassi, a graphic designer and filmmaker from Tunisia. Lily tells the story of a lonely archivist whose life is disrupted after he finds a doll at the scene of a hit-and-run. In the film, everyday objects act as silent witnesses, pushing the protagonist towards confession and redemption.
Google said ElJlassi integrated several of its generative AI tools into his creative workflow. Veo was used for video generation to establish the film’s sombre, atmospheric visual style, while Flow enabled precise control over scenes and character expression. Gemini supported storyboarding and helped define the look and feel of the characters.
The company said the final shortlist reflected the global reach of the competition, with finalists including The Translator from the United States, Portrait No. 72 from the Philippines, Cats Like Warmth from South Korea and HEAL from Egypt. The shortlisted films explored the contest themes “Rewrite Tomorrow” and “The Secret Life of Everything”.
Google thanked all entrants for participating and acknowledged the 1 Billion Followers Summit for hosting the awards ceremony, while congratulating ElJlassi on winning the top honour.
The Recap
- Google selected Lily as the Global AI Film Award winner.
- The competition drew 3,500 entries from around the world.
- The winner received $1 million at the 1 Billion Followers Summit.
