Two Singapore-made films created using artificial intelligence, titled Bersama Majulah and Trace Project, are set to premiere on Sunday, August 9, 2026, coinciding with Singapore's National Day. Both films tell fictional stories inspired by Singapore and have sparked debate online, with some critics dismissing them as "AI slop" and raising questions about the expanding role of generative AI in the creative arts.

Bersama Majulah (Malay for "Together Onwards") is a short film produced by Singapore-based AI studio Edenstone. The story is set in the fictional country of Lionara and depicts a National Day Parade disrupted by a deadly spore outbreak that turns people into zombies. The film features iconic landmarks such as Marina Bay and the Merlion. It was created by local showrunner Joel Boh, with Golden Horse-winning producer Chan Gin Kai as executive producer, and includes a theme song by local musician Dharma Sadasivan. This short film is a spin-off of Edenstone's AI animation series Spore Fall and will be released on the series' website on August 9.

The hour-long Trace Project follows Lin Jia Jun, Singapore's first astronaut to set foot on Mars, as humanity launches the fictional Mars Footprints Programme to establish a new civilization after Earth's collapse.

In a press release, Edenstone stated it expected Bersama Majulah to generate "widespread public discourse," viewing the public debate as "a sign of cultural impact." On the film's social media pages, some commenters responded with encouraging messages.

Opposition to AI-generated creative works has also emerged from parts of the film industry. For example, The New York Times reported that the Writers Guild of America East ended its 12-year partnership with the Urbanworld Film Festival in July 2026 after the festival introduced a new program showcasing AI films.

These developments highlight ongoing tensions and discussions around the integration of AI technologies in filmmaking and creative industries.

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