Mohali Filmmakers Earn Jury Honour at AI Film Awards India 2026 for Horror Short Cradle
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way films are conceived and produced, and two filmmakers from Mohali are among the creators helping shape this emerging space. Sunny Rai and Sanjay Rai, the filmmaking duo behind Starforge Films, received a Special Mention by the Jury at the AI Film Awards India 2026 for their AI-powered horror short film Cradle.
The award was presented during the AI Film Awards India event held at Antisocial, Lower Parel, Mumbai, on May 31, 2026. The event was organised by Phenomenal AI in collaboration with Bombay Hub for AI and brought together filmmakers, artists, AI creators, technologists and industry professionals to explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in cinema.
Cradle was written and directed by Sunny Rai and Sanjay Rai and produced under their Mohali-based AI-focused production house, Starforge Films. The film stood out for its restrained storytelling, atmospheric horror and emotionally driven narrative, earning recognition from the festival jury in a highly competitive field of AI-generated and AI-assisted films.
The jury presenting the Special Mention award included Hridaye Nagpal, Content Strategy Lead at InVideo; Priyarth Mukherjee, founder of The AI Theatre; Prateek Arora, known for his work in Indofuturism and Hauntology; and acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Shakun Batra, whose presence added further significance to the event.
Cradle tells the unsettling story of a mother who notices a mysterious figure outside her window—something that should not exist. As the boundaries between reality and nightmare begin to dissolve, she is forced to confront an unseen presence that may already have taken everything from her. Rather than relying on jump scares, the short film builds fear through silence, tension and psychological unease, creating a haunting viewing experience.
Beyond its recognition in India, Cradle has also attracted international attention. The film was selected as an Official Selection at Stick N Festival in Uruguay and the AI Film Festival Serbia, reflecting the growing global interest in AI-assisted storytelling and demonstrating that independent Indian creators can compete on an international stage.
For Sunny Rai and Sanjay Rai, the award represents an important milestone in their filmmaking journey. The brothers have been actively exploring how artificial intelligence can expand creative possibilities without replacing the essential role of storytelling. Their work combines traditional filmmaking principles—including screenplay writing, cinematic composition, editing and sound design—with the latest AI tools to create visually distinctive narratives.
Based in Mohali, Punjab, Starforge Films was established as an AI-focused film studio dedicated to producing original films, advertisements, branded content and experimental storytelling. The studio aims to bridge conventional filmmaking with emerging AI technologies while maintaining a strong emphasis on narrative quality and emotional engagement.
As AI filmmaking continues to evolve worldwide, Indian creators are increasingly finding opportunities to showcase their work at specialised festivals and international events. Recognition such as the Specia
Mention received by Cradle reflects not only the quality of the film itself but also the growing acceptance of AI as a legitimate creative medium when guided by human imagination and artistic intent.
Beyond original filmmaking, Starforge Films brings over a decade of experience in producing high-quality digital advertising and creative content for global brands. Over the past ten years, the studio has collaborated on campaigns and promotional content for some of the world's most recognised entertainment companies and streaming platforms, including Universal, Sony Pictures, Paramount, SYFY, USA Network and Disney+. This extensive experience in visual storytelling, post-production and creative execution has provided the foundation for the studio's transition into AI-powered filmmaking, combining established cinematic techniques with emerging technologies to create original films that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Speaking about the recognition, the filmmakers said the award serves as encouragement to continue experimenting with new storytelling techniques while remaining committed to compelling narratives that resonate with audiences. They believe AI should be viewed as a creative collaborator that empowers filmmakers to realise ambitious ideas that may otherwise be difficult to produce with limited resources.
Looking ahead, Starforge Films plans to develop additional AI-driven short films, branded campaigns and original cinematic projects, with the goal of taking Indian AI filmmaking to a wider global audience. The studio hopes to collaborate with brands, agencies, production companies and filmmakers interested in exploring innovative forms of visual storytelling.
With Cradle receiving festival selections across multiple countries and earning recognition from the jury at the AI Film Awards India 2026, Sunny Rai, Sanjay Rai and Starforge Films have marked an important achievement in India's rapidly growing AI cinema movement—one that signals an exciting future for independent filmmakers embracing the possibilities of artificial intelligence while keeping storytelling firmly at the heart of their work.
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