WAIFF Los Angeles 2026 — World AI Film Festival USA

World AI Film Festival (WAIFF) / Institut EuropIA

Hollywood's biggest AI cinema moment of 2026. The U.S. edition of the World AI Film Festival lands in Los Angeles in late March 2027, 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 at WAIFF Cannes 2027.

Prize

5 LA winners advance to WAIFF Cannes 2027 Grand Finale + LA screening + global press

Top 5 advance to WAIFF Cannes 2027 (Palais des Festivals)
Los Angeles screening, late March 2027
Crystal Brain trophy for main category winners
Press across Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Euronews
9 competition categories incl. Feature, Short, AR/VR/XR, Gaming

Who can enter

US-based creators aged 13+ (under 18 need parental or guardian consent). Works must incorporate AI. No premiere requirement. Non-English works need English subtitles; a Production Journal listing the AI tools used is mandatory. Best Student and Best Youth (13-18) are flag awards across all categories.

AI tools allowed

RunwaySoraKlingVeoLumaPikaMidJourneyElevenLabsAny AI tools

Tagged

los angeles, hollywood, cannes pipeline, tier 1, waiff

Don't miss this deadline

We'll email you three days before WAIFF Los Angeles 2026 — World AI Film Festival USA closes, and when contests like it open.

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