- The awards ceremony will take place in Dubai on May 21, 2026. “From out There” is the first short film produced in Ecuador using Artificial Intelligence, written and produced by Maura Abad and directed by Alberto Pablo Rivera. This recognition from Cannes confirms the quality of this work, as well as the impact of its humanistic and universal message.
On May 21, 2026, in Dubai, the Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony will take place, where the short film “From Out There” will receive the AI Film Awards Cannes 2026. This award recognizes the exquisite cinematic work achieved by Ecuadorian filmmaker Alberto Pablo Rivera, with the screenplay and executive production by Maura Abad, who is the driving force and architect of this project.
“From Out There” is the first film produced in Ecuador using Artificial Intelligence, marking a milestone in the country’s cinematic history and garnering widespread attention in the specialized press and media.
The award announcement was made on April 1, just as humanity returns to space on NASA’s Artemis II mission, which launches today from Florida—marking the first crewed trip around the Moon in 50 years.
This beautiful synchronicity confirms the wisdom of the project and Maura Abad’s vision: this second film project was born (literally) from a dream, in which the screenwriter and producer had a dreamlike vision of herself sending a spacecraft to the moon, long before news of the Artemis II mission appeared in the media. “This is an extraordinary opportunity, and it shows just how far your own dreams can take you,” said Maura upon hearing the news of the award.
With music by Charles Taylor @taylor.voice, the meticulous direction of Alberto Pablo @albertopablo, and artistic production by @newrockcinema, “From Out There” has become a benchmark for the region and a showcase of AI-driven filmmaking quality, earning it the coveted 2026 Cannes award.
This work is available at https://mauraabad.me/ and on social media. This is Maura’s second film project. Her other short films, Memento Vivere and Pure Love, The Doggy Booklet, the latter in animated format, were also directed by Alberto Pablo Rivera. This production and the accolades it has received are shaping Maura’s budding career, as she demonstrates an increasing commitment to making a difference in the arts, business leadership, and literary production. We will soon be sharing more information about other projects by the author and producer.
