IICT and YouTube unveil first AI-enabled short films

The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and YouTube have launched the first four short films under their collaborative ‘Create with AI’ programme. The initiative, originally announced in November 2025, aims to strengthen India’s capabilities in emerging technologies and establish a robust ecosystem for AI-driven filmmaking.

The debut films, which cover themes ranging from history and mythology to space exploration, were produced by several studios: Eleventh Door Studio, Avium Studios, Karthik Kult Kreations, and Kalpanik Films LLP. Specific titles include ‘Chekavar’, ‘CHANAKYA – The Mind of an Empire’, ‘DEVI: The Nine Astras’, and ‘Laika’.

The programme integrates IICT’s infrastructure and faculty mentorship with YouTube’s AI software and tools. This allows filmmakers to experiment with artificial intelligence across various stages of production, including concept development, visualization, and post-production, while keeping the human filmmaker central to the storytelling process.