An AI-generated film about Iranian protest violence is headed to the Tribeca Film Festival

Lights, camera… artificial intelligence?

“Violet Dreams,” a feature film inspired by the protest violence and massacres that erupted in Iran in early 2026, is coming to theaters. Tribeca Film Festival On June 10th. The film is directed and produced by brothers Ash and Pooya Koosha under their AI-focused production house. Fountain 0Every visual in the 75-minute docudrama was created by artificial intelligence.

The inclusion of Violet Dreams in Tribeca comes amid the US-Israel war on Iran and ongoing tensions in the Middle East. At a time when relatively few filmmakers from the region are able to tell stories like this on a global stage, the subject matter seems particularly timely and likely to spark controversy.

Questions surrounding films like this shaped nearly every panel discussion and discussion at the AI ​​filmmaking conference I attended this week in Culver City, California, called AI on a lot. Throughout the event, speakers expressed continued optimism that AI video tools will expand access to filmmaking for underrepresented creators who have historically faced financial barriers to bringing their projects to life.

I’ve seen multiple examples of how AI is enabling artists to create visually stunning works at a fraction of the usual cost. Case in point: “Violet Dreams” was produced in two months for $2,000.

At the same time, the film raises concerns about using artificial intelligence to depict profound human experiences without the vivid perspective or emotional authenticity needed to fully flesh out the story. The project has already been listed in Tribeca It sparked heated debate on the Internet.

The film was discussed It spread across Redditwith a sharp division of reactions. Some users criticized Tribeca for programming the project, while others praised the Kosha brothers for bypassing the traditional studio gatekeepers and financial barriers that often limit independent productions.

Many commentators pointed to the work of Oscar-nominated Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose 2025 Palme d’Or-winning film It Was Just an Accident also explored political activism and repression in Iran. For many critics, Panahi’s film offered a more consistent, human depiction of events because he made the film without performances or artificial intelligence-generated images.

He is currently facing Panahi Legal procedures in Iran On charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

A representative for Fountain 0 Studios did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Before making films, Ash and Pooya Koosha used artificial intelligence to compose music. Ash released an album in 2018 titled Return O. The album included performances by Leona, an artificial intelligence-powered pop star created by Pooya in Oxmana company that develops music, games, and virtual worlds all created using artificial intelligence.