Young talent from Gujarat has made a significant mark on the global stage of cinema and technology. Team Kalpanik, featuring filmmakers from Vadodara and Rajkot, clinched the prestigious Best AI Film award at the CinemaAI Hackathon, a flagship event held during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.
The Winning Team and Their Creative Triumph
The victorious team consisted of young filmmaker Manav Soni from Vadodara, Aayush Raj from Rajkot, and Samir Talavadekar from Mumbai. Their award-winning short film, titled 'The Red Crayon', was celebrated for its highly original narrative, impressive technical execution, and the clever application of various AI tools. The team highlighted that the music, composed by Ugam Khetani, played a crucial role in adding a profound emotional layer to their project.
A Grueling 48-Hour Filmmaking Challenge
The path to victory was not an easy one. Team Kalpanik first secured a spot in the Top 10 during the preliminary round. For the final showdown, the hackathon presented an intense challenge: all participants were required to conceptualize and produce a brand-new film from scratch within a demanding 48-hour timeframe. Under this immense pressure, the trio managed to deliver a polished and compelling narrative that earned high praise from the jury, ultimately leading them to secure the top honor.
A New Chapter for AI-Driven Storytelling
The team described this award as a powerful validation of their creative vision. They stated that this recognition serves as a major motivation to pursue more ambitious projects that lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cinematic storytelling. The CinemaAI Hackathon was organized by Waves Film Bazaar and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), attracting a diverse pool of filmmakers, technologists, and creative AI teams from across the world. The IFFI itself is a collaborative effort organized by the NFDC, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).
