Bangladesh's first AI film Gaap premieres in Dhaka
The psychological thriller-horror was cleared uncut as a short film and used AI for its screenplay, character design, animation, score and visual effects.
Key takeaways
- Gaap, billed as Bangladesh's first AI-powered film, premiered at Star Cineplex's SKS Tower branch in Dhaka on October 31, 2026, with screenings at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- The Bangladesh Film Certification Board cleared the film uncut under the short film category before the premiere, the Bangladeshi daily The Daily Times reported.
- The team used AI for screenplay development, character creation, animation, background music and visual effects, and director Mabrur Rashid Bannah called the film an experiment in AI-driven filmmaking under limited budgets and manpower.
Bangladesh's first AI-powered film premiered in Dhaka on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with two screenings at Star Cineplex's SKS Tower branch.
"Gaap," a psychological thriller-horror directed by Mabrur Rashid Bannah, played at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to the Bangladeshi daily The Daily Times. Bannah and the production team attended, along with veteran actors Abul Hayat, Dilara Zaman and Khairul Alam Sabuj.
Artificial intelligence carried most of the production. The team used generative tools for screenplay development, character creation, animation, background music and visual effects, the Times reported. The cast includes Arch Sheehab, Rizvi Riju, Sinthia Yasmin Nupur, Misti Ghosh, Momena Chowdhury, Saiful Islam Rafi and Jahangir Alam. The producer is Akbor Haider Munna.
Before the premiere, the Bangladesh Film Certification Board granted the film uncut clearance under the short film category, the Times and the outlet The Business Daily both reported. The Business Daily said Gaap was set to premiere on October 31 on the YouTube channel of Club Eleven Entertainment.
Bannah described the project as an experiment in AI-driven filmmaking. He said the team wanted to explore what the tools could do despite limited budgets and manpower, and called the censor clearance a major achievement for the team.
Bangladesh joins a widening group of countries where a first AI-made film has reached a paying audience this year. Most of those releases have drawn small theatrical crowds, and their makers have argued that the point is proof of production rather than box office.
Gaap premiered in Dhaka on October 31, and its YouTube release was set for the same day.
Sources
- tob.news - premiere date and venue, screenings, cast, producer, AI use, censor clearance, director comment
- thebusinessdaily.net - censor clearance without cuts, AI used for screenplay, characters, animation, score and visual effects, YouTube premiere on Club Eleven Entertainment