High Prize AI Film Contests ($10K+)

AI Film Award 2027 — 1 Billion Followers Summit

1 Billion Followers Summit

Make an original 5-7 minute film, at least 70% generated with Seedance, on one of five humanity-focused themes. The Top 5 premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, where one creator wins $1,000,000.

Gossip Goblin x Showrunner Competition

Showrunner (Fable)

Make a 2 to 20 minute short film in Showrunner Studio set in the Gossip Goblin universe. Every story starts with a client sitting down in a Ripper Doc's chair.

AKOOL AI Film Challenge

AKOOL

AKOOL's AI Film Challenge has three categories: Coming Never (an original 30 to 90 second trailer for a film that does not exist), AI Short Film, and Impossible (ideas that could not have been made before AI). Other tools are allowed, but AKOOL must be meaningfully used in the final film. Apply via AKOOL's form, publish the film tagging @AKOOL with #AKOOLFilmChallenge, then submit and explain how you used AKOOL.

Runway Hundred Film Fund

Runway

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

Cannes Film Awards 2027 — New AI Category

Cannes Film Awards

Cannes Film Awards just opened dedicated categories for AI films, VR, games, and 360° video for the very first time. Event date: June 25–27, 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.

Kerala International AI Film Festival (KIAFF) 2027 — Kochi

School of Storytelling (KIAFF)

A premier AI film festival in Kochi, India uniting filmmakers, technologists and artists to showcase audiovisual short-format works that demonstrate innovative use of AI. Six award categories including Best AI Film and Best Experimental Film.

MetaMorph x TapNow — Spring Activation

MetaMorph × TapNow

Third of four free seasonal AI filmmaking competitions leading to the MetaMorph AI Award 2027; at least 50% of each film must be generated with TapNow on a public canvas.

Bengaluru International Short Film Festival — AI Film Category (17th Edition)

Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF)

India's only Oscar-qualifying short film festival runs a dedicated "Machine Made Movies" AI Film competition section alongside its International and Indian programs.

AI for Good Film Festival 2027

ITU / UN AI for Good

The UN's AI for Good Film Festival returns for 2027: 1-10 minute films where AI is a core part of the filmmaking, completed between September 1, 2026 and May 1, 2027. Finalists are invited to the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva (June 21-25, 2027) with a speaker pass and a public premiere screening.