Cinema & AI: Amal Takes Top Jury Award in Venice and Named Finalist at Burano’s BAIFF

Directed by Roberta Colombo and based on the book by journalist Nino Orto, the short film wins the Special Jury Prize in Venice and advances to the festival in Burano.

A prestigious recognition has put the spotlight on Amal. The short film was awarded the Special Jury Prize during the AI Film Award Venice 2026 ceremony held yesterday in Venice. The film continues its successful festival run by also securing a spot in the finals at the BAIFF 2026 (Burano Artificial Intelligence Film Festival).

This double achievement celebrates technological innovation, production complexity, and, above all, the deep human and social value of a project created to explore the nuances of the present and the historical trauma surrounding the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Following the award ceremony in Venice, director Roberta Colombo emphasized the responsibility and collaborative vision behind the work:

“Working on this film was a massive responsibility: we were dealing with a complex and sensitive topic. That is precisely why this award means so much to us. It honors the message we set out to convey—that humanity endures, above all else and beyond every wall—while recognizing the incredible teamwork required for an AI production like this. It’s not just about technical skill; it’s about a tight synergy between direction and screenplay, developed hand-in-hand with author and journalist Nino Orto.”

Reflecting on the project’s origins and the transition from the written page to visual AI generation, author and journalist Nino Orto shared:

“Seeing the characters I brought to life in my book, ‘Israele-Palestina. Voci di una terra contesa’ (Israel-Palestine: Voices from a Contested Land), take visual shape through AI-generated cinema is an indescribable feeling and a source of immense pride. Amal is part of a broader project called ‘The Other Side of the Wall,’ which encompasses a multimedia exhibition, a book, and a series of short films inspired by these stories. Through it, we invite viewers to look ‘to the other side,’ moving past polarization and demonization in one of the most complex conflicts of our time.”

Amal is not an isolated experiment, but one of the visual cornerstones of the project“The Other Side of the Wall,” demonstrating how generative AI can transcend mere technical showcase to serve journalism, literature, and empathy.

In a landscape where emerging technologies are often viewed as impersonal, this project charts a different course: the power of AI does not replace artistic sensibility, but serves as a tool to explore and amplify the complexities of reality. The dual honors in Venice and Burano validate a socially conscious production model that fuses journalistic rigor, digital art, and social impact to truly look beyond every wall.

For more information about the project, visit the official website: The Other Side of the Wall and Next Video Trailer