The inaugural Reply AI Film Festival has announced its winners, highlighting the innovative intersection of artificial intelligence and filmmaking. The festival, organised by Reply in collaboration with Mastercard, celebrates original short films created with AI, focusing on the theme “Synthetic Stories, Human Hearts.”
The top honour of Best Short Film went to To Dear Me by Gisele Tong. This poignant film explores themes of self-discovery and healing through the lens of a young woman grappling with her past and finding solace in self-love. Tong’s film stood out for its emotional depth and innovative use of AI in storytelling.
In second place was One Way by Egor Kharlamov, a narrative of about second chances and the cost of redemption. The film delves into the concept of finding new opportunities when all seems lost, offering a reflective look at life’s potential for renewal.
Third place was awarded to Jinx by Mansha Totla. This film presents a hauntingly personal account of World War II through the character Jinx Akerkar, emphasising the fragility of life and the enduring impact of historical trauma. Totla’s work was noted for its authenticity and the creative use of AI to reconstruct historical footage.
The festival, held at the Hotel Excelsior’s Priceless lounge in Venice, featured these films alongside eleven other finalists. The competition drew over 1,000 entries from 59 countries, showcasing a diverse array of narratives from AI artists, directors, and animators. The films were selected by an international jury including notable figures such as Adam Kulick and Rob Minkoff.
Reply’s CTO, Filippo Rizzante, highlighted how AI is transforming storytelling by enabling new forms of narrative and visual expression. “The winners of the Reply AI Film Festival illustrate how AI can create captivating content while preserving the essential human elements of film—vision, heart, and soul.”
The festival also serves as a platform for emerging talent to explore AI’s role in creative processes. “Technology is advancing rapidly, and the ability to use AI in film and animation represents a significant breakthrough,” said second-place winner Kharlamov. “This festival showcases how technology can enhance creativity and open up new possibilities for storytelling.”
Third-place winner Totla praised the festival for recognising the potential of AI in filmmaking. “AI is set to revolutionise the industry, and this festival has been a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how AI can complement human creativity and intuition.”
The Reply AI Film Festival is part of Reply’s broader initiative to promote innovation among young creators and explore new technologies. The competition reflects the company’s commitment to integrating AI with creative arts, providing a platform for experimenting with AI-driven narratives.
Luca Fiumarella, Head of Marketing Italy at Mastercard, expressed pride in supporting the festival. “Our goal is to merge technology with passion to create new opportunities for artistic expression. This festival not only celebrates creativity but also aims to make artistic production more accessible and inclusive.”
For more on the winning films and finalists, visit aiff.reply.com.