Ash Koosha Creates 75-Minute AI Docudrama on Iran Crackdown
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13
Ash Koosha Creates 75-Minute AI Docudrama on Iran Crackdown
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13
Summary
“Dreams of Violets” uses generative AI for every image in a 75-minute docudrama depicting Iran’s deadly January crackdown on protesters.
London-based Ash Koosha said he and his brother Pooya made the film because internet blackouts and restricted access meant the full scale of the violence might never be documented.
The production used no actors, sets or cameras, instead generating scenes of gunfire, street fires and civilians under attack from a London apartment.
Koosha, who left Iran in 2009, described the film as a memorial created in a moment when journalists, aid groups and artists were all struggling to tell the story.
If AI can create a film to expose truth, how do we stop it from fabricating truth itself?
With AI slashing film budgets, are we witnessing the democratization of cinema or the devaluation of human artistry?
"Dreams of Violets" at Tribeca 2026: The First Fully AI-Generated Feature Film and Its Impact on Cinema, Ethics, and Iranian Resistance
Overview
At the 2026 Tribeca Festival, the AI-generated docudrama 'Dreams of Violets' premiered and immediately sparked widespread discussion in the film industry. The film challenged traditional ideas about filmmaking, leading critics and viewers to question the meaning of authenticity in docudramas. Its synthetic nature caused some to feel detached from the story, while also prompting deeper reflection on whether it matters if events in fact-based films actually happened. This premiere marked a turning point, highlighting the philosophical and artistic debates surrounding AI’s role in cinema and the evolving definition of what makes a film authentic.