Every AI film
contest. One place.

A 21-year-old European festival opens its brand-new AI & Digital section — bring your work to industry decision makers, form co-production deals with film, advertising, and media. Screened Sept 30–Oct 5 on the Costa del Sol. Extended shorts deadline: Aug 1, 2026 (£60). Real market access, not just laurels.

A national US challenge on the theme 'Engineering Changes the World' — use generative AI to tell a video story that shows engineering shaping the future. Deadline is August 3, 2026 (Early Bird July 20). Finalists announced Aug 17, public online exhibition Aug 22–Sept 19, and the awards ceremony lands at the AAEOY National Celebration on September 19, 2026. Open to youth (middle/high school), college students, and adults — solo or teams up to 3.

London's rolling-deadline festival for AI, new media, experimental, and digital arts shorts. Next windows close July 6 and Aug 6, 2026 — perfect if you missed the spring rush. Has a dedicated A.I. Films category and a real London screening at the Hen & Chickens Theatre.

Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) non-profit AI film, music, and art festival. Showcases narrative, animation, sci-fi/fantasy/horror, music videos, student projects, trailers, digital art, songs/scores. AI must be incorporated in the creative process. Event September 11-13, 2026.

Two-day conference and film competition in Austin, Texas — 2nd annual edition. Submissions 1-90 min with majority of visual shots created using AI software. Live event October 17-18, 2026.

$2,500 cash prize pool with a $1,200 Grand Prix — Poland's flagship AI film festival, screening winners at the historic Regis Cinema in Bochnia. Final deadline August 15, ceremony September 17.

AAIFF 2026 is an international festival dedicated to films created with AI, held in Astana. The festival features a combined prize pool of $1,000,000 across thematic and open competitions, encouraging innovative storytelling through AI.

$3.5M+ global sci-fi film competition. Submit a 3-minute short film/trailer + 12-page treatment depicting a hopeful, technology-enabled future. Any production tools allowed including live action, animation, and AI. Grand prize includes $2.5M production funding to develop into a feature film. Finalists present live at the Moonshot Gathering in LA Sept 25, 2026.

Inaugural Seoul festival at the intersection of K-Culture and AI. Up to 10 selected works screen at enTravel in Gangnam on Sept 6 — judged by Seoul National University directors, leading film critics, and AI specialists. Submit via FilmFreeway.

Cairo — birthplace of image-making — is opening its arms to AI cinema. Screen at Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi Sept 18–20 alongside the Grand Prix Cairo, Best Human + AI Direction, Best AI Cinematography, and the Responsible AI Cinema Award. Judged on story, performance, craft control, and emotional truth — not tech demos. Deadline: Aug 23, 2026.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

A $2,000 custom AI Statuette and a global stage where cinema meets generative AI. Extended deadline September 1, event September 6. The New Technologies AI Film Festival is a celebration of creativity and innovation showcasing short films, experimental works and artistic visions that explore how algorithms and imagination shape the future of storytelling. Winners take home a one-of-a-kind statuette and a limited-edition winner's set featuring their name and work title.

AI for the Future Festival edition tied to UN General Assembly and Climate Week NYC, September 2026. Films screened during UN week alongside climate and AI policy events.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

$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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Utah's AI film festival with a live event plus global streaming.

Third annual AI film and art festival in Arizona from a veteran-owned production company. Accepts AI-generated or AI-assisted music videos, documentaries, shorts, and experimental works. Family-friendly with AR poster activation.