‘Life in a Day: Redux’: An AI ode to the unseen beauty of life in Dubai

Posted on 2025 Feb,20 | By ArabAd's staff

The Film Craft, the first hybrid production house in the MENA region, has unveiled a groundbreaking an AI-generated film that captures the everyday beauty of life in Dubai with striking realism.

Titled 'Life in a Day: Redux', the 90-second short film draws inspiration from one of YouTube’s earliest viral documentaries, which was built from crowd-sourced footage. However, this time, AI takes the lead, reconstructing the city’s essence through the memories of its longtime residents.

Dubai is often celebrated for its record-breaking landmarks, but ‘Life in a Day: Redux’ shifts the focus to the quieter, more intimate moments that define daily life.

By capturing the experiences of those who call the city home, the UAE's first AI film offers a heartfelt look at the authentic, everyday stories that unfold beyond the skyline.

Though created with artificial intelligence, the film is a testament to real human experiences, preserving the treasured memories of its creators and their loved ones.

“We wanted to experiment and show that AI can truly exemplify realism and emotional depth. It’s why more than 10,000 images and hours of footage were generated until we found the best ones to craft the film. It’s truly a labor of love, and our love letter to the city of Dubai,” said Pablo ‘Daf’ Dachefsky, Chief AI Artist at Daf.

“Having lived in this city for over 30 years, I’ve seen it evolve into a global metropolis. As a filmmaker, I embrace AI not as a replacement, but as a tool to amplify storytelling.”

“That’s what led to Life in a Day: Redux, a 90-second film capturing the city’s rhythm. Its fleeting moments, silent poetry and unspoken connections. AI helped shape the visuals, but it didn’t wake up before dawn. It didn’t feel the weight of the morning rush or the quiet sighs of dusk. It framed the shots. But the heartbeat of the film? That’s forever human craft.”

“As AI dominates the conversation, one truth remains: emotion leads, AI follows. The soul of storytelling, the raw, unpredictable, deeply human experience can’t be automated. In the end, it’s we who tell the story,” explained Anwar Al Amin, Producer and Director at The Film Craft.

“AI is here to change the status quo, but that doesn’t mean we leave emotions behind. It’s why, as believers in its possibilities, we saw an opportunity to showcase the fact that creativity will only be amplified and sped up by this tech. Then, to bring reality, we had to get real about Dubai. So, we took inspiration from our memories… these are faces we’ve seen on midnight strolls, while wandering the streets of Deira with a karak in hand, just watching and witnessing life as it happened in minute detail,” added Akheel Hassan Bilgrami, Co-founder at CIQ.

In the coming months, Life in a Day: Redux will be featured at various short film festivals, bringing a narrative of shared humanity from Dubai to audiences worldwide.

The creators, however, have a greater aspiration: to see the film recognized as part of the ‘Erth Dubai initiative’. Launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the initiative seeks to engage the community in preserving the emirate’s rich history.

In its own way, it reflects Dubai’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural essence, not only honoring its past but also capturing the stories of those shaping its future. More than just a cinematic experiment, it stands as a tribute to the everyday lives that give the city its true character.

While AI itself lacks human thought and emotion, this project proves its ability to replicate the depth of human experience through the power of cinematic storytelling.