The fully AI-generated feature film “Dreams of Violets” will make its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City next week [1, 2, 3].
The selection marks a historic milestone as the first fully AI-made feature selected by a major international film festival [5]. By documenting the Iranian protest movement through synthetic media, the project tests the boundaries of traditional cinema and the accessibility of feature-length production.
Iranian-British director Ash Koosha created the film with collaborator Pooya Koosha [1, 2]. The movie runs for 75 minutes [1]. According to production data, the film was completed in three months [1].
The project was produced at a fraction of traditional cinematic costs. Reports on the budget vary slightly by currency, with one source stating the cost was less than 2,000 euros [1], while another cited a cost of $2,000 U.S. [2].
Jane Rosenthal defended the inclusion of the synthetic work in the festival lineup. "It should be seen right now at this time," Rosenthal said [5].
The narrative focuses on the Iranian resistance, utilizing AI tools to visualize the struggle of the protest movement [1, 2]. The use of generative tools allowed the filmmakers to bypass the logistical and safety constraints typically associated with filming in conflict zones or under restrictive regimes.
“The first fully AI-made feature selected by a major international film festival.”
The acceptance of “Dreams of Violets” into a prestigious venue like Tribeca signals a shift in how the film industry views generative AI. By reducing the cost of a feature film to approximately $2,000 [2] and the production time to three months [1], the project demonstrates a democratization of filmmaking that could allow marginalized voices to produce high-impact political narratives without traditional studio backing or on-site crews.
