CAPTAIN Premieres at AI Film Awards Cannes 2026 - Proof Big Stories Don't Need Big Budgets

Executive Producer Jennifer de Broglie, AI Film Awards 2025 winner Alex Curson, and star Taha Shah Badussha bring a fully AI-generated narrative film to Cannes with a message: cinema is now for everyone !

CANNES - 18 May 2026 - Captain, a narrative film created entirely with generative AI tools, will have its avant-première as part of the AI Film Awards Cannes 2026, the world's leading celebration of AI-driven cinema.
The film is written and directed by Alex Curson (AI Film Awards winner, 2025), executive produced by Jennifer de Broglie, and stars Dubai-based Bollywood actor Taha Shah Badussha. This year marks Curson's return to Cannes with a full narrative project, moving from experimental short-form work into a complete cinematic story with a social message.
A film about the people who keep a city moving
Set in Dubai, Captain follows Ravi, a Careem delivery driver whose "ordinary" shift becomes an unexpected odyssey. The film shines a spotlight on the city's invisible workforce, the "captains" who keep modern life running, moving from the grit of Deira's alleys to the surreal heights of ultra-luxury.
Made without a studio, with human artistic intelligence
Every frame of Captain was produced using AI filmmaking tools (including Google Veo, Kling, ElevenLabs, Suno, and Adobe), without traditional live-action production. The team describes the project as a statement about access: cinematic storytelling is no longer reserved for those with large budgets, industry connections, or a studio system behind them.
"AI doesn't replace filmmakers, however it can remove the gatekeepers," said Jennifer de Broglie, Executive Producer. "For the first time, you can build cinema from anywhere. If the idea is strong enough, the budget doesn't get to decide whether the story deserves to exist."
"Last year I won with experimentation," said Alex Curson, Director. "This year is about narrative craft - character, pacing, atmosphere -built with a new toolkit. The ceiling has moved. What matters now is taste, imagination and storytelling."
"This film is a tribute to millions of people whose lives rarely make it to the screen," said Taha Shah Badussha, Lead Actor. "AI made it possible to tell Ravi's story in a new language, one that can travel across cultures."
The film also includes a cameo appearance of Pavel Durov rendered through AI, used as a symbolic nod to the digital world shaping modern cities.

FULL PRODUCTION CREDITS
Director / Editor / Audio / Script / Color: Alex Curson (itsjustspazz.com)
Creative Director / Visual Artist: Daria Udalova (brand-da.com)
Executive Producer: Jennifer de Broglie (jennifer@thenextbigthing.media)
Cast: Taha Shah Badussha (lead); AI cameo: Pavel Durov
AI Tools: Google Veo, Kling; Audio: ElevenLabs, Suno; Post: Adobe, Topaz Video AI
About Captain
Captain is a narrative film set in Dubai exploring the hidden lives of the "captains" who power the city. Directed by Alex "Spazz" Curson, executive produced by Jennifer de Broglie and created with Daria Udalova. https://www.itsjustspazz.com/

About the AI Film Awards
The AI Film Awards is a global celebration of AI-driven filmmaking. Our first edition in Cannes city was in May 2024, where we welcomed over 200 guests, numerous sponsors, and honored six outstanding films. Following the success of our next editions in 2024 (in Venice during Mostra di Venezia, in Dubai during GITEX, and in Marrakesh during the International Film Festival), we continued to expand in 2025 with events in Paris, Cannes, and upcoming editions in Mumbai, Venice, Bali, and Hong Kong.
Cannes City Edition - Tickets & Attendance
The AI Film Awards - Cannes City Edition (Third Edition) takes place in Cannes on May 21, 2026. Attendance passes (including VIP and Gala Dinner options) are available via the official ticketing page. The organizers also offer an AI Film Pro International Membership, which includes benefits such as unlimited free submissions for one year and a 30% discount on VIP and Gala Dinner tickets worldwide.
More info: https://www.filmawards.ai/Cannes-Edition/
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-film-awards-in-cannes-city-2026-third-edition-tickets-1980824363995
Note: The AI Film Awards is an independent event and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Cannes Film Festival; "Cannes" refers to the geographic location of the event.

About Taha Shah Badussha
Taha Shah Badussha is a UAE-born Indian actor whose career has rapidly accelerated into global crossover territory. Born in Abu Dhabi and trained at the New York Film Academy, he made his feature film debut in 2011 before spending over a decade building a reputation across Bollywood and streaming platforms.
His breakthrough arrived in 2024 with his role as Nawab Tajdar Baloch in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Netflix period drama Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, which made him a national heartthrob and brought his work to a global audience. His credits also include the ZEE5 Mughal saga Taj: Divided by Blood (2023), in which he played Prince Murad, and multiple Amazon Prime Video productions.
At Cannes 2025, Taha was honoured with the Influential Actor of the Year award for his performances in Heeramandi and Paro: The Untold Story of Bride Slavery - a socially driven drama about bride trafficking directed by Gajendra Ahire, which was screened at the Marché du Film and subsequently at Oxford University and Harvard University. Paro entered the official contention list for the 98th Academy Awards.
In 2026, Taha signed with Karan Johar's Dharma Productions for the romantic drama Nazdeekiyan, and holds a prestigious three-film deal with Ramesh Sippy Entertainment - the legendary production house behind Sholay (1975), one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time - with the first project directed by Rohan Sippy. Rohan Sippy has said of Taha: "He brings a unique energy and presence to the screen. His commitment to his craft and his ability to connect with audiences is commendable."
Karan Johar, who first worked with Taha in Gippi (2013), has described him as having "a strong screen presence that combines machismo and vulnerability."
In 2026, Taha stars in Captain - one of the first commercially released narrative films produced entirely using artificial intelligence tools - executive produced by Jennifer de Broglie and directed by Alex Curson. The film is entered in competition at the AI Film Awards Cannes 2026.
Taha Shah Badussha has a fast-growing global following of over 2 million across India, the UAE, and the South Asian diaspora, and is widely regarded as one of Bollywood's most compelling international crossover talents of his generation. Instagram: @taahashah tribetahashah@gmail.com

The Next Big Thing! Media
Place saint francois, 1003 lausanne

The Next Big Thing! Media discovers and amplifies breakthrough technologies, visionary founders and future-defining innovation.

This release was published on openPR.