Kazakhstan is preparing to host the first international artificial intelligence film festival, the Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF 2026). Media outlets, creative teams, and independent filmmakers from around the world, including Turkmenistan, have been invited to participate in the large-scale competition, as reported by the turkmenistan.gov.tm.
The general information partner of the event is the Television and Radio Complex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Holding such events is in line with the strategic priorities of Turkmenistan’s state policy, where, under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, special attention is paid to digitalization, the study of advanced global practices, and the integration of artificial intelligence technologies into the media environment.
The key theme of the AAIFF 2026 competition program is “A Future Worth Living In.” Participants are invited to submit short films in Full AI format, each up to 10 minutes long. Winners in the open section will be determined in five categories: Best Direction, Visual Language, Strong Storytelling, Compelling Concept, and Character Development. The total prize fund for the competition is $1 million.
International experts, directors, producers, and creative tech leaders will evaluate the submitted works, with an AI jury planned for the preliminary selection stage. The application deadline is August 15, 2026. The jury will select the 25 strongest films from all submitted projects, and the final screenings and awards ceremony will take place in Astana from September 28 to October 1 as part of Astana AI Week.
The participation of Turkmen specialists in the festival opens up excellent opportunities for showcasing domestic creative potential, exchanging experiences with foreign colleagues, and establishing partnerships with leading technology studios.
