Every AI film
contest. One place.

Global AIGC (AI-Generated Content) challenge with $10,000 total prize pool. Open to filmmakers and content creators using AI generation tools.

$1,000,000 prize pool — the largest single-platform AI film contest of 2026. 14 winners split $1M, with the top film taking $500,000. Jury includes 5x Oscar winner Ed Catmull (ex-President Walt Disney Animation, exec producer Toy Story) and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. Just 24 days to create a film — submissions open Aug 7 and slam shut Aug 31. Every prompt goes public. Any genre, any story.

Awards ceremony for the worlds first film festival dedicated to AI, cinema, and creative technology, held at the Dolby Theatre in LA (same venue as the Academy Awards). Title-sponsored by Pollo AI. Inaugural January 2026 event drew 2,000+ submissions globally.

Kazakhstan's first international AI film festival. $1M total prize fund — one of the largest in the category. AI-generated short films up to 10 minutes. Festival held autumn 2026 with screenings, AI content conference, and pitch sessions.

Chicago's Token Institute asks filmmakers to actually SHOW their AI seams — how much, which tools, what the model got wrong. Free entry, $250 in each of four unconventional categories (best world building, previsualization, ethicist, storyboarding) plus audience choice. Deadline August 31, 2026; screenings Sept 12–Oct 10.

Germanys first dedicated AI film festival lands in Biberach October 28–November 1 — and the FINAL DEADLINE IS AUGUST 31. Two categories, real European jury, 30% AI minimum. If you want your AI film screened in Baden-Württemberg with festival billing, this is a rare Euro slot.

AAIFF 2026 is an international festival dedicated to films created with AI, held in Astana. The festival features both Thematic and Open competitions, encouraging innovative storytelling through AI tools. Winners will have their films screened at the festival.

Italy's biggest AI cinema festival lands at IULM University Milan Oct 9–10. Zero entry fee, real Italian broadcaster eyeballs — the festival hands out the coveted RAI Cinema Channel Prize alongside Best Short, Best Commercial, Best Music Video and the PROMPT Magazine Prize.

Germany finally has its own AI film festival — €2,000 prize pool, curated by Europe's pioneering AI filmmaker/composer Marcel Barsotti, hosted at Schrannenstrasse Biberach Oct 28–Nov 1. Two categories: Shorty (≤15 min) and Sixty (up to 60 min). AI must be a substantial part of production. Final deadline: Aug 31, 2026.

Switzerland's flagship AI media prize lands at the KONGRESSHAUS Zürich on October 27. Six categories — Advertising, Animation, Art, Fashion, Music Clip, Narration — five-minute max, jury from Europe's creative agencies. Deadline August 31.

Global short film competition bringing traditional filmmakers and AI creators together. Films explore one of seven core human emotions.

India's first government-backed AI Film Festival, embedded inside the 57th International Film Festival of India in Goa. Backed by IFFI, WAVES Film Bazaar and LTIMindtree — submission deadline August 31, festival November 20-28. A landmark for AI cinema in South Asia.

This challenge invites filmmakers to develop short-form vertical series with a focus on storytelling. Five finalists will receive $5,000 each, along with professional development support and a chance to pitch to TikTok. Applications must be submitted by September 9, 2026.

Enter the 2026 AI storytelling contest to showcase your amazing short films! Create cinematic stories with Pippit's advanced video generator and win up to $10,000. The contest focuses on narrative cohesion and requires at least 70% of the footage to be generated natively on the platform.

Hollywood's biggest AI cinema moment of 2026. The U.S. edition of the World AI Film Festival lands in LA October 10–11, and the top five films advance to the WAIFF Cannes 2027 Grand Finale at the Palais des Festivals. Nine categories — Live Action Short, Feature, Animated, Doc, Vertical/Mobile, Music Video, Ad, AR/VR/XR, Gaming. Submit before the LA cut-off and your film could be on a Cannes red carpet next May.

Nigeria's first AI-only film festival lands in Lagos this October — and submissions are FREE. NAIFF is Africa's home for filmmakers who built their stories with Runway, Sora, Pika, ElevenLabs, MidJourney and Claude. Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and French all welcome (with English subtitles). If you've ever wanted your AI film to screen across the continent that invented modern storytelling, this is the door.

The AKOOL Creator Clash invites creators to showcase their talent using AI video generation powered by Seedance 2. Participants can submit original videos published on social media platforms. Winners will be announced on September 30, 2026.

The original international AI music competition returns for its 2026 edition — Eurovision-style, but every song is co-created with AI. Winners fly to Bangkok on Nov 29 for the live Award Show and take home $1,000 cash plus global recognition. Submissions close Sept 27, 2026 — the deadline that put AI songwriting on the world map.

The US edition of the World AI Film Festival hits LA October 10-11 — and the top 5 films advance straight to the WAIFF Cannes 2027 Grand Finale at the Palais des Festivals. Nine categories (Live Action Short, Feature, Animated, Doc, Vertical, Music Video, Ad, AR/VR/XR, Gaming) means almost any AI film fits. This is your Cannes pipeline.

International call for original 1–10 minute audiovisual works that explore the links between artificial intelligence, audiovisual creation and human rights, illustrating or questioning Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with AI as a creative partner.[1][3][4] Selected films screen at the We Are Human Festival in Paris at Forum des Images and then in an international tour to cities including New York, São Paulo, Johannesburg and Geneva.[3][4] An Ethics Notebook documenting AI tools used, the human role and ethical approach is mandatory and presented with the film during the festival.[3][5]

The We Are Human Festival invites filmmakers to submit works that explore the intersection of humanity and AI. The festival emphasizes human creative direction in AI-generated works and offers a range of prizes for outstanding submissions. Selected films will be screened internationally.

Global online film festival dedicated exclusively to AI-generated cinema. Inaugural 2026 edition. Selected winners receive official laurels, promotion, and limited financial support for Best AI Mini Movie.

Poland's flagship AI film showcase in Warsaw. New sub-section spotlights films made by AI or created with AI tools — 40 short films and 10 medium/feature entries screen at the November finale in Warsaw. Deadline is closer than you think, submissions close September 30.

The Runway AI Film Festival showcases innovative films that utilize AI tools in their creation. This annual festival features a screening in New York City, providing filmmakers with significant industry exposure. Submissions are open to all genres, emphasizing creativity and the use of AI technology.

This international call invites filmmakers to explore the connections between AI and human rights through audiovisual creation. Works must incorporate human/AI hybrid creation and will be screened in Paris and other partner cities. Selected films will contribute to a collective reflection on the future of our societies.

The legendary indie festival Tarantino and Russo Brothers came up through is actively encouraging AI-made films in its DIG category. Winner package includes the $25,000 AGBO Fellowship from the Russo Brothers plus a Utopia theatrical distribution deal — one of the most career-defining wins in indie cinema. Deadline October 6.

PixLight 2026 is an annual AI film contest seeking genre pilots and feature screenplays. The contest aims to greenlight innovative projects, with a total prize pool of $300,000. Winning projects will receive development and production support.

Bali in November — the world's most prestigious AI film awards circuit lands in Indonesia. After Cannes, Venice, Dubai, and Marrakech, the AI Film & Ads Awards bring 100%-AI films and ads to Bali on November 7, 2026. Open globally. All entries must be 100% AI-generated. Winners receive official AI Film & Ads Awards laurels and join the global circuit that has positioned itself as the largest platform showcasing AI-driven storytelling and creative excellence.

Three AI categories at Dubai's newest red-carpet festival. Best AI Short, Best AI Commercial, Best AI Music Video — winners screen at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. Red-carpet Opening Ceremony on November 29.

The London AI festival’s November edition is back — final cutoff October 16 to land on the big screen at Close-Up Cinema, November 6–8, 2026. Best AI Film, Best AI Drama, Best AI Director and seven more category laurels are up for grabs in central London’s most active AI cinema room.

Australia's biggest GenAI film festival is BACK — and submissions are open right now. TBWA's DAIFF returns for its 2nd edition, closing October 16, 2026, with a Melbourne Gala screening on November 18 (Sydney encore to follow). Backed by Google, Leonardo.AI, BMW and RMIT/Swinburne/AFTRS. Theme: 'Humans and Their Tools' — human-in-the-loop storytelling where AI is co-creator, not competitor. Free to enter.

AIMA jumps from Mallorca to the prestigious IET London for its first-ever UK edition — November 7–8, 2026. This edition expands AIMA beyond film into Art Image, Art Motion, Ads, and Music. Deadline October 17, 2026 — 3 months out.

An AI-focused festival for films, music videos, music, art, and ads created primarily with AI tools. Winners are screened at IET London in London, United Kingdom.

The AI Horror Film Competition returns for its 4th year — the biggest cash pool yet, and the deadline is closer than you think. Halloween-week screening, community judged, and past winners have used it as a launchpad into Curious Refuge features. Fully AI, hybrid, whatever haunts you — bring it.

This global competition invites developers to create applications using image or video analysis to solve real-world problems. Prizes total $12,000, with $5,000 for first place. The competition runs from August 26 to October 26, 2026.

The HKBU Future Film Fest 2026 invites filmmakers aged 30 and under to submit AI-driven shorts. The competition emphasizes the use of generative AI as the core mechanism, with a total prize pool of $66,000. Winning films will be showcased at the festival in Hong Kong.

$66,000 total prize pool at Hong Kong's newest AI-native film festival. Built on the legacy of the Global University Film Awards — the 'University Oscars' — 3F 2026 now includes an AI Shorts category worth USD 5,000 for Best AI Short plus USD 3,000 Jury Recommendation. Open to filmmakers 30 and under from any recognized post-secondary institution worldwide. Works must use generative AI as the core mechanism; live-action not substantially transformed by AI is prohibited.

The launch edition of a major new international AI awards programme — 8 categories including Motion & Film. £25 early entry through September 1, £35 standard through November 1. Judged on creative ambition, originality, execution, and quality of AI disclosure. Results announced December 1, 2026 — get in on the inaugural class.

Türkiye's flagship AI film festival returns to Istanbul's Atatürk Cultural Center for a 3rd edition — 2,000+ submissions from 100+ countries so far. Grand Prize for Best AI Film plus new craft awards for AI Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Composer, VFX and more. Free FilmFreeway submission. Deadline Nov 1, 2026; screening at Yeşilçam Cinema Dec 7–9, 2026.

The largest prize pool ever for a fully AI-generated holiday short — Epidemic Sound and Curious Refuge return with $7,500+ in cash for winners. Warm, weird, or wildly cinematic — make something people rewatch every December. Deadline December 6.

Free entry, rolling monthly submissions — and every winner gets flown to Beverly Hills for the year-end ceremony. Submit by the 20th of any month, nominees announced the 28th, winners on the last day. Culminates in an exclusive in-person gala in Beverly Hills at the end of 2026. One of the only major AI film awards with a monthly winners cycle.

India's biggest film festival adds a dedicated AI cinema competition — ₹1,00,000 prize pool and a global Jaipur showcase Jan 8–12, 2027. Final deadline December 21, 2026. Open to filmmakers, students and creators from every continent working in AI-driven or AI-assisted storytelling.

Rolling grant fund offering $5K–$1M+ per project plus up to $2M in Runway credits. Decisions within ~14 days.

India's international AI film + ads awards from KM Universe — five competitive categories all eligible for the Crystal Brain Award. Currently offering a 50% discount with code AIFILMAWARDSMUMBAI. One of the few AI awards specifically welcoming both narrative shorts AND commercial ad work in the same competition.

Global AI film festival requiring AI-generated content for short films. Screens at festival in Monaco.

The AI Film Awards franchise expands to Las Vegas — designed to elevate and celebrate cinematic work created with AI in one of the world's most iconic entertainment destinations. Submissions via FilmFreeway. Positions your AI film in a Vegas-branded awards circuit that already runs in Bali and Cannes.

Winners get a Times Square billboard showcase and a New York physical exhibition — one of the only AI programs with high-visibility public exhibition prizes. Four fields open: Film & Video, Image & Visual Art, Spatial & Architecture, and Interactive Media. Cash prizes and monetization opportunities on the Artiver platform.

Higgsfield's follow-up to its record-breaking $500K AI film contest (8,800 entries, 139 countries). Build a world, pick your hero, raise the stakes — create an action scene that makes people wish your film was real. Free entry, cash prizes, and featured spots for winners across Higgsfield's global creator channels.

A new statuette enters the AI film circuit. NeoCinema awards a custom-fabricated trophy plus dedicated winner profiles across festival channels — three categories cover AI music videos, microshorts under 3 min, and hybrid live-action/AI films. Built for filmmakers who want their algorithmic work taken seriously.

Second edition of the Berlin AI film festival accepting both 100% AI-generated films and hybrid works with meaningful AI integration. Low entry fees ($10–$25). Event in February 2027.

Season 2 of the global AI competition across Film, Music, and Games. This competition celebrates creativity in AI-driven projects and includes a selective program featuring top AI film directors worldwide.

The first international awards festival dedicated exclusively to AI-generated and AI-assisted music videos. Deadline January 1, 2027. Welcomes fully AI-generated, hybrid, experimental, narrative, performance-based, animated, vertical, student-made, and human+AI collaboration works — the widest AI music video category set anywhere.

Australia's first AI film festival — rolling monthly deadlines through January 2027 mean you can submit on your timeline. Win cash back on your submission fee plus pro subscriptions to Saga and Melies. Live screening in Sydney, March 18-19, 2027.

Dubai's official government-backed AI film festival, hosted at the Expo City venue. Best AI Short Film category accepting films under 10 minutes built with AI tools across script, image, video, or sound. Earlybird May 14, final deadline January 21, 2027, event March 2027.

Québec City opens submissions for the first-ever regional AI cinema festival — a three-day event Feb 19–21, 2027, judged on point of view, image, sound, editing, story, consent, responsibility and emotional impact. Hybrid human + AI or fully AI-generated works both welcome. Deadline: Jan 24, 2027.

Montréal joins the AI cinema circuit — one intense day of screenings and awards March 5, 2027. Six award groups celebrate work made with AI as a meaningful creative force: generation, direction, animation, sound, or post. Pure live-action need not apply. Decisions by Feb 15, 2027. Submissions open on FilmFreeway now — deadline Feb 5, 2027.

The first festival in the world to establish a "Best Artificial Intelligence Film" category — back in 2020. Submissions are accepted year-round; entries received by March 30, 2027 qualify for the prestigious Annual Gala in Cannes at the Pullman Cannes Mandelieu.

Cannes Film Awards just opened dedicated categories for AI films, VR, games, and 360° video for the very first time. Event date: June 26, 2027 on the Riviera. $1K+ cash and $25K+ in promotional/partner awards on the line. If you want a Cannes credit on an AI short, this is the cleanest entry point on the calendar.

New York City gets its own AI cinema festival — three days of screenings, conversations and awards July 16–18, 2027. Grand Prix NYC, Best Human + AI Direction, Best AI Cinematography, Responsible AI Cinema Award and Audience Signal Award on the table. Not a prompt contest — a film culture event for directors, editors, actors, writers and technologists who care about story and consent. Deadline: June 20, 2027.

Cannes is opening its doors to human-led AI cinema — and this is your shot at a Grand Prix Cannes trophy. The AI Cinema Festival Cannes runs November 12–14, 2027 in the city that defines global film prestige, with awards for Best Human + AI Direction, Best AI Cinematography, and the Responsible AI Cinema Award. Long runway, real stakes.

A brand-new festival built for the ad world at the exact moment AI is rewriting it — the inaugural Atlanta AI Ad Fest launches November 21 with a live vote for Best of Festival. Entry is FREE, $2,500 cash on the table, and every finalist gets screened in front of Atlanta agency talent. If you make AI-driven ad, brand, or commissioned work, this is your ground-floor moment.