Information
”WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL 2026” Award Report
The AI short film “BACKUP,” directed by Jonah Kishiya, a director affiliated with our company, has been selected as a finalist in the Best AI Film category at the international AI film festival “WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL 2026 in KYOTO (WAIFF 2026 KYOTO).”
The WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL (WAIFF) is the world’s first international film festival dedicated to the fusion of AI and cinematic expression. The inaugural festival was held in Nice, France in 2025, attracting significant global attention with over 1,500 AI films submitted from 53 countries and regions.
The first-ever Japanese edition, “WAIFF 2026 in KYOTO,” was held on March 12–13, 2026, at ROHM Theatre Kyoto. From 431 submitted works from around the world, 39 films were selected as finalists.
Among them, the AI short film “BACKUP” was recognized for both its cinematic quality and its innovative use of AI, earning a place as a finalist in the Best AI Film category.
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【Award Details】
▍Category: Best AI Film (Finalist)
▍Title: BACKUP
▍Director: Jonah Kishiya
【Story】
Earth has been devastated by an invasion of extraterrestrial life.
A lone soldier, deployed to the battlefield as an armored combatant, repeatedly carries out missions to annihilate the enemy while holding onto memories of the family he lost.
But his battle does not end with a single life.
In a war where death and rebirth repeat endlessly, revenge gradually transcends personal emotion and evolves into a larger system.
An unending war.
Memories that never fade.
What will remain at the end of it all?
【Comment from Director Jonah Kishiya】
I was very surprised and honored that Backup was selected as a finalist.
This film is a science fiction work created with the idea of exploring what can only be made with AI.
Inspired by humanity’s long history of invention, I imagined a world where memories can be externally stored, and asked myself what it would be like for someone who fights on the battlefield every day in such a world.
I poured my love for science fiction into this project, and I am deeply grateful that pursuing what I love led to this nomination.
I hope many people will enjoy the film.
The WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL (WAIFF) is the world’s first international film festival dedicated to the fusion of AI and cinematic expression. The inaugural festival was held in Nice, France in 2025, attracting significant global attention with over 1,500 AI films submitted from 53 countries and regions.
The first-ever Japanese edition, “WAIFF 2026 in KYOTO,” was held on March 12–13, 2026, at ROHM Theatre Kyoto. From 431 submitted works from around the world, 39 films were selected as finalists.
Among them, the AI short film “BACKUP” was recognized for both its cinematic quality and its innovative use of AI, earning a place as a finalist in the Best AI Film category.
┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
【Award Details】
▍Category: Best AI Film (Finalist)
▍Title: BACKUP
▍Director: Jonah Kishiya
【Story】
Earth has been devastated by an invasion of extraterrestrial life.
A lone soldier, deployed to the battlefield as an armored combatant, repeatedly carries out missions to annihilate the enemy while holding onto memories of the family he lost.
But his battle does not end with a single life.
In a war where death and rebirth repeat endlessly, revenge gradually transcends personal emotion and evolves into a larger system.
An unending war.
Memories that never fade.
What will remain at the end of it all?
【Comment from Director Jonah Kishiya】
I was very surprised and honored that Backup was selected as a finalist.
This film is a science fiction work created with the idea of exploring what can only be made with AI.
Inspired by humanity’s long history of invention, I imagined a world where memories can be externally stored, and asked myself what it would be like for someone who fights on the battlefield every day in such a world.
I poured my love for science fiction into this project, and I am deeply grateful that pursuing what I love led to this nomination.
I hope many people will enjoy the film.
Information
”WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL 2026” Award Report
The AI short film “BACKUP,” directed by Jonah Kishiya, a director affiliated with our company, has been selected as a finalist in the Best AI Film category at the international AI film festival “WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL 2026 in KYOTO (WAIFF 2026 KYOTO).”
The WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL (WAIFF) is the world’s first international film festival dedicated to the fusion of AI and cinematic expression. The inaugural festival was held in Nice, France in 2025, attracting significant global attention with over 1,500 AI films submitted from 53 countries and regions.
The first-ever Japanese edition, “WAIFF 2026 in KYOTO,” was held on March 12–13, 2026, at ROHM Theatre Kyoto. From 431 submitted works from around the world, 39 films were selected as finalists.
Among them, the AI short film “BACKUP” was recognized for both its cinematic quality and its innovative use of AI, earning a place as a finalist in the Best AI Film category.
┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
【Award Details】
▍Category: Best AI Film (Finalist)
▍Title: BACKUP
▍Director: Jonah Kishiya
【Story】
Earth has been devastated by an invasion of extraterrestrial life.
A lone soldier, deployed to the battlefield as an armored combatant, repeatedly carries out missions to annihilate the enemy while holding onto memories of the family he lost.
But his battle does not end with a single life.
In a war where death and rebirth repeat endlessly, revenge gradually transcends personal emotion and evolves into a larger system.
An unending war.
Memories that never fade.
What will remain at the end of it all?
【Comment from Director Jonah Kishiya】
I was very surprised and honored that Backup was selected as a finalist.
This film is a science fiction work created with the idea of exploring what can only be made with AI.
Inspired by humanity’s long history of invention, I imagined a world where memories can be externally stored, and asked myself what it would be like for someone who fights on the battlefield every day in such a world.
I poured my love for science fiction into this project, and I am deeply grateful that pursuing what I love led to this nomination.
I hope many people will enjoy the film.
The WORLD AI FILM FESTIVAL (WAIFF) is the world’s first international film festival dedicated to the fusion of AI and cinematic expression. The inaugural festival was held in Nice, France in 2025, attracting significant global attention with over 1,500 AI films submitted from 53 countries and regions.
The first-ever Japanese edition, “WAIFF 2026 in KYOTO,” was held on March 12–13, 2026, at ROHM Theatre Kyoto. From 431 submitted works from around the world, 39 films were selected as finalists.
Among them, the AI short film “BACKUP” was recognized for both its cinematic quality and its innovative use of AI, earning a place as a finalist in the Best AI Film category.
┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
【Award Details】
▍Category: Best AI Film (Finalist)
▍Title: BACKUP
▍Director: Jonah Kishiya
【Story】
Earth has been devastated by an invasion of extraterrestrial life.
A lone soldier, deployed to the battlefield as an armored combatant, repeatedly carries out missions to annihilate the enemy while holding onto memories of the family he lost.
But his battle does not end with a single life.
In a war where death and rebirth repeat endlessly, revenge gradually transcends personal emotion and evolves into a larger system.
An unending war.
Memories that never fade.
What will remain at the end of it all?
【Comment from Director Jonah Kishiya】
I was very surprised and honored that Backup was selected as a finalist.
This film is a science fiction work created with the idea of exploring what can only be made with AI.
Inspired by humanity’s long history of invention, I imagined a world where memories can be externally stored, and asked myself what it would be like for someone who fights on the battlefield every day in such a world.
I poured my love for science fiction into this project, and I am deeply grateful that pursuing what I love led to this nomination.
I hope many people will enjoy the film.
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