Tamasha Studios filmmaker Abhik Banerjee’s AI-generated film Sitara has secured second place at the Astana AI Film Festival in Central Asia, with the film receiving a prize of $200,000.
This film was created by Abhik Banerjee and his creative team in association with Rollsound Studios. Its recognition comes as filmmakers and production companies increasingly experiment with artificial intelligence for visual production and storytelling.
Astana AI festival received 8,067 entries from 125 countries, with 25 films making it to the final competition, according to reports. The scale of entries places Sitara among a relatively small group of films selected for the final stage.
Sitara Secures Second Place
Banerjee’s film uses AI as part of its production process, although details of the film’s technology and production workflow have not been disclosed in the information available. The award gives the filmmaker and his team international recognition in a festival focused specifically on AI-based filmmaking.
The $200,000 prize is also a significant financial award for an individual film at an AI-focused festival. However, the available information does not specify whether the amount is being awarded entirely to the filmmaker, shared with the production team or subject to any other terms.
The result comes as AI-generated and AI-assisted films continue to draw attention from film festivals, production companies and independent filmmakers looking at alternatives to conventional visual production methods.
Tamasha Expands AI Work
Tamasha Studios, which is associated with the project, is expanding its work in AI-driven content across several formats. Its areas of interest include films, web series, micro dramas, television serials, animation and productions combining AI with live action.
The studio is examining AI not only for visual effects but also as part of broader content production. This includes exploring how the technology can be used across different formats and production requirements.
Mithilesh Bhagat, founder of Tamasha Studios, said the studio views AI as a creative medium rather than only a production tool. The company is exploring its use in storytelling and visual production while developing content across multiple formats.
Filmmakers Test New Tools
Banerjee said AI can give filmmakers additional ways to build visual worlds that could be difficult or expensive to create through conventional production methods. At the same time, he stressed the importance of storytelling, character development and emotional depth in filmmaking.
The comments point to one of the continuing questions around AI-based cinema: how much of the value comes from the technology itself and how much depends on the underlying story and creative direction.
For production companies, AI can potentially reduce the effort involved in creating certain visual elements, but the technology also brings questions around creative control, production standards and the role of human filmmakers. The information provided does not indicate how much of Sitara was generated through AI compared with conventional filmmaking methods.
Targets Global Content
Bhagat said Tamasha Studios plans to combine Indian stories and cultural themes with AI, visual effects, animation and live-action production. The studio is looking to develop content aimed at audiences beyond India.
The approach places AI within a wider production strategy rather than treating it as a standalone format. For Tamasha, the festival result provides an early international reference point as it explores further AI-led projects.
The company has not disclosed details of upcoming projects, budgets or expected release dates as part of the announcement.
Astana AI Film Festival
The Astana AI Film Festival is a film event focused on cinema created with artificial intelligence and related technologies. It is held in Astana, Kazakhstan, and provides filmmakers with a platform to present AI-based works.
For the latest competition, the festival received 8,067 entries from 125 countries, with 25 films selected for the final competition, according to reports. Banerjee’s Sitara finished second in that competition and received the reported $200,000 prize.
The award comes at a time when AI is moving beyond experimental projects and into different areas of film and video production. For Indian studios such as Tamasha, the technology is now being tested across formats ranging from films and animation to short-form content and live-action productions.
