A Groundbreaking AI Film Makes Its Debut
A movie created entirely using artificial intelligence has made history by being accepted into a major film festival. Dreams of Violets, a 75-minute docudrama, is the first AI-generated live-action feature-length film to be included in the official lineup of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. It will have its world premiere on June 10, as announced by its production studio, Fountain 0.
The film draws inspiration from real events that took place over 47 years of Iranian civilian resistance. It was produced on a $2,000 budget over the course of three months by directors and producers Ash and Pooya Koosha. The brothers, who were born in Iran and left the country in 2009, initially had no intention of creating a film without actors, sets, or cameras.
Ash Koosha shared his thoughts in a director’s statement: “I want to be honest about why I made it the way I did. It was not a technological exercise. I would have preferred to make this film with a crew, with actors, with the dignity of a full production. That was not available to me. I am one person, in exile, with no access to Iran, no access to the locations, no access to the people.”
He added, “The AI pipeline made it possible to do what would otherwise have been impossible: to create a memorial film for an event that happened behind a wall I cannot cross.”
A Story Based on Real Tragedy
Dreams of Violets is a fictional dramatization of a massacre of civilians that occurred in January of this year. The film follows the story of five Iranians who meet in an alley in Tehran before being executed, which is witnessed from a window by a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy.
While the images and characters in the movie are generated by AI, the dramatizations are based on real photographs, journalistic reporting, and eyewitness accounts. This blend of technology and real-life events makes the film both unique and deeply impactful.
The Debate Over AI in Filmmaking
As AI continues to make its way into Hollywood, the film industry has been divided on whether the technology should be used as a filmmaking tool. The topic has recently sparked intense discussions at the Cannes Film Festival, where some filmmakers and actors, like Steven Soderbergh and Demi Moore, have expressed support for the use of AI in the industry. They encourage others to adapt to the changes.
However, Hollywood writers have raised concerns about the implications of AI tools. These tools are being used for tasks such as speeding up film production and even replicating late actors like Val Kilmer in posthumous projects. In response, some celebrities are taking legal action to protect their likenesses. For example, Matthew McConaughey has taken legal steps to safeguard his image and advised other actors to do the same.
Cate Blanchett has also taken a stand by launching a non-profit organization aimed at preventing AI companies from using artists’ work without permission.
A Statement from the Koosha Brothers
Ash and Pooya Koosha acknowledged the concerns of those working in the film industry. In a statement, they said, “We fully understand the very genuine sensitivities of those individuals working in the movie industry, and like them we are worried what the unknown implications are for the livelihoods of many. New types of jobs will undoubtedly be created in the AI film generation world. But the reality is that this film never would have been made if it were not for the AI capabilities that we were able to develop.”
Recognition from Tribeca Film Festival
Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Festival, praised the film in a statement: “The Tribeca Festival has long championed artists who push the boundaries of storytelling and explore new creative frontiers. Dreams of Violets from first-time filmmakers Ash and Pooya Koosha is a powerful example of how emerging technologies like AI can be used not simply as tools of innovation, but as vehicles for deeply human storytelling.”
She added, “At this time in history when both artificial intelligence and Iran are central to global conversation, this film offers audiences a rare and intimate perspective into a conflict many have not been able to fully see or understand. What moved us was not just the technological achievement, but the emotional immediacy and urgency of the story itself.”
About the Tribeca Film Festival
The 2026 Tribeca Film Festival is set to run from June 3 to 14 in New York City. The festival is known for showcasing innovative and boundary-pushing films that reflect the evolving landscape of storytelling.
