The 14 outstanding Finalists demonstrate how AI can unlock new artistic possibilities, from deepfakes and surrealist aesthetics to reflections on memory, displacement, and identity. They also show how affordable AI tools open up opportunities for those otherwise excluded from the global film industry.

"The core issue is the incredibly high barrier to entry in traditional filmmaking," said Senegalese filmmaker and finalist Hussein Dembel Sow. "With synthetic production, I can democratise access to high-end visual storytelling and position authentic African narratives on the global stage."