Four Indian Filmmakers Premiere AI-Assisted Short Films Through IICT–YouTube Programme

The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and YouTube have unveiled four AI-enabled short films produced under their joint Create with AI programme, screened at IICT's Mumbai campus. The films — DEVI: The Nine Astras (Kalpanik Films LLP), Laika (Karthik Kult Kreations), Chekavar (Avium Studios/Garuda X Media), and CHANAKYA – The Mind of an Empire (Eleventh Door Studio) — span mythology, space, and ancient history, blending AI tooling with live performance, traditional cinematography, and post-production to reduce costs while expanding visual ambition.

IICT CEO Dr Vishwas Deoskar framed the showcase as part of a broader mission to build India's creative technology ecosystem, with particular focus on reaching talent in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The institute, which already collaborates with 74 companies including Nvidia, Google, Netflix, Adobe, and Microsoft, is working toward university status and a National Center of Excellence for AVGC-XR and AI, and has secured 10 acres in Mumbai's Film City for a future campus pending final state government approval.