The Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF 2026) was officially launched in Beijing at Shougang Park, alongside the Kazakhstan-China Forum on Innovation in AI Film and Television, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in China.

The event brought together representatives of leading technology companies, film studios, universities, research institutions, investment organizations, AI developers, and film industry professionals from Kazakhstan and China. A key milestone of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Astana AI Film Festival Foundation and Beijing Zhongguancun Tongli Technology Service Co., Ltd. The agreement establishes a framework for joint initiatives in AI filmmaking, AIGC technologies, science fiction content, investment, and international distribution. Under the memorandum, the Chinese company will serve as the Astana AI Film Festival's official partner in the People's Republic of China. «China is one of the world's key partners in shaping the global AI film ecosystem. It is home to leading technology companies, outstanding creative talent, and the world's largest digital content market. This memorandum marks the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China in the creative industries,» - said Almas Zhali, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Astana AI Film Festival.

During the presentation, the organizers unveiled the international vision for the Astana AI Film Festival, which will take place in Astana from October 1 to 3 as part of Astana AI Week.

«Artificial intelligence is reshaping the language of filmmaking and making creativity truly global. Today, talented creators can produce world-class films from virtually anywhere in the world. That is why the Astana AI Film Festival is being created as an open international platform where projects are judged not by their country of origin, but by the strength of their ideas, the quality of their storytelling, and the excellence of their execution. We are confident that our partnership with China will create new opportunities for filmmakers and creators in both countries,» - said Aizatulla Hussein, Co-Founder and Creative Director of the Astana AI Film Festival. The presentation was followed by the Kazakhstan-China Forum on Innovation in AI Film and Television. During expert sessions and panel discussions, representatives of leading film studios, technology companies, and research institutions explored the application of artificial intelligence in film production, the evolution of AI-generated content, the transformation of creative workflows, mechanisms for international collaboration, and opportunities for bringing joint productions to global audiences.

The discussions featured executives and representatives from PixVerse AI, the AI Research Institute of China Film Group, Bauhinia Films (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., the Zhongguancun Science Fiction Industry Innovation Center, and other leading Chinese companies driving innovation in the AIGC sector. At the conclusion of the forum, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to building a long-term partnership between Kazakhstan and China in the fields of artificial intelligence, the film industry, and digital creative technologies. The Astana AI Film Festival will take place in Astana in autumn 2026 and is set to become one of the world's leading international events dedicated to AI-powered filmmaking.

The festival program will include an international competition with a total prize fund of USD 1 million, a conference, project pitching sessions, and meetings with leading global experts in artificial intelligence, cinema, and digital creativity