AI Film Festivals, Events & Competitions
The most complete directory of AI film festivals, competitions, and events happening around the world in 2026. Browse 75+ events, explore the interactive map, or find festivals near you.
Whether you are looking for an AI film festival to submit your work or want to discover the latest in AI filmmaking, this directory covers every major event worldwide. From short film competitions to industry conferences, we track ongoing, upcoming, and past events so you never miss a deadline.
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Upcoming AI Film Festivals & Competitions
AI Movie Awards | Mallorca 2026
UpcomingMar 29, 2026
Cinesa Festival Park, Mallorca, Spain
An international festival dedicated to exploring cinema's future in the AI age. The AI Movie Awards celebrate innovative filmmakers using artificial intelligence to push the boundaries of storytelling and visual arts.
visit websiteAIFFI - International Festival for AI-Generated Short Films
UpcomingApr 17 - Apr 18, 2026
Roatan, Honduras
The inaugural edition of AIFFI, the first international film festival in Central America exclusively dedicated to cinema created with artificial intelligence. The curated program includes official competition selections, industry roundtables, immersive showcases, and dialogues between artists, developers, and cultural institutions. Over $10,000 USD in prizes.
visit websiteChicago AI Film Festival 2026
UpcomingApr 17, 2026
Logan Center for the Arts, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Hosted by Playground Pastime, the Chicago AI Film Festival celebrates diversity and innovation at the intersection of AI and filmmaking. Designed to amplify voices of underrepresented communities, the festival showcases the best in AI-generated and AI-assisted cinema.
visit websiteWorld AI Film Festival (WAiFF) 2026
UpcomingApr 21 - Apr 22, 2026
Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France
WAiFF returns to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes for its second edition, with an exceptional jury headed by Gong Li (President), Honorary President Claude Lelouch, and Jury President Agnes Jaoui. Preceded by international editions in Sao Paulo (Feb 27-28), Seoul (Mar 6-7), Kyoto (Mar 12-13), and Beijing (Apr 15). Over 20,000 EUR in prizes including the Festival Grand Prize worth 10,000 EUR.
visit websiteAI Film Festival Japan 2026
UpcomingApr 25, 2026
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
A dedicated festival for AI-driven short films, bringing together Japanese and international creators to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping cinema and storytelling in the Japanese film industry.
visit websiteBali International AI Film Festival (BIAIFF) 2026
UpcomingMay 1 - Dec 31, 2026
Paradiso Ubud Cinema, Bali, Indonesia
A seasonal, curated, theatrical AI film festival founded by PBS-distributed filmmaker Ben Makinen. BIAIFF serves as a launch platform for experimental programs supporting rapid-cycle AI cinema, with screenings at Paradiso Ubud Cinema in Bali. Voted 'Top 10 AI Film Fest in the World', the festival is guided by a filmmaker-first philosophy rooted in clarity, respect for authorship, and transparent communication.
visit websiteAI Film & Ads Awards Cannes 2026
UpcomingMay 21, 2026
Majestic Hotel Beach, Cannes, France
The third edition of the AI Film & Ads Awards at the Cannes Film Festival, celebrating excellence in 100% AI-generated films and advertisements. Winners in the six main categories receive the prestigious Crystal Brain Award. The event features film screenings, networking at Hotel Gray d'Albion, a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Majestic Hotel Beach, and a beach club after-party. Organized by KM Universe, active in 20+ countries.
visit websiteAI on the Lot 2026
UpcomingMay 27 - May 29, 2026
Culver City, Los Angeles, USA
The world's largest conference about generative AI's impact on the film and entertainment industry. Brings together filmmakers, innovators, media executives, and technology leaders for three days of presentations, workshops, screenings, and networking at the heart of the entertainment industry.
visit websiteMetaMorph AI Award 2026
UpcomingJun 1 - Jun 30, 2026
Online / United Kingdom
The UK's top AI film, AI animation, and AI music festival. Judged by John Rhys-Davies, David Nutter, and Timbaland's Stage Zero team, the MetaMorph AI Award celebrates outstanding creativity in AI-driven filmmaking and multimedia.
visit websiteAI ZONE International AI Film Festival 2026
UpcomingJun 1 - Dec 31, 2026
Online
A global online film festival dedicated exclusively to AI-generated cinema and moving image. The inaugural edition welcomes narrative shorts, experimental works, animations, music videos, abstract visuals, and cinematic explorations. Selected winners receive official laurels and financial support for Best AI Mini Movie. Open to international submissions in any language.
visit websiteChroma Awards — Season 2
UpcomingJun 1 - Dec 31, 2026
Online / Global
Season 2 of the global AI competition across Film, Music, and Games — presented by ElevenLabs, Google Cloud, Fal, Freepik, Dreamina, and CapCut. Season 1 attracted 6,500 entries with over $175,000 in cash prizes and $1M+ in tool credits, culminating in a London screening at Mayfair. Season 2 includes 'Beyond the Loop', a selective program featuring top AI film directors worldwide. Pre-registration now open.
visit websiteCinema Shift Festival 2026
UpcomingJun 5, 2026
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Toronto, Canada
Canada's first curated AI narrative film festival, dedicated to story-driven cinema created through AI-assisted and hybrid production processes. Unlike many AI-focused events centered on tools, Cinema Shift puts storytelling first with curated screenings of narrative films and focused talks examining authorship, narrative intent, and creative process in AI-assisted filmmaking.
visit websiteRunway AI Festival 2026
UpcomingJun 11 - Jun 18, 2026
Alice Tully Hall, NYC & The Broad Stage, Los Angeles, USA
Runway's annual AI Festival expands beyond film to include New Media, Gaming, Design, Advertising, and Fashion. Screenings in New York (June 11, Alice Tully Hall) and Los Angeles (June 18, The Broad Stage). Over $135,000 in prizes including Grand Prix ($20,000 + 1M Runway credits). Films must be 3-15 minutes and incorporate generative video.
visit websiteLifeArt AI Global Film Festival 2026
UpcomingJun 20, 2026
Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA
An IMDb-qualified international platform celebrating the intersection of AI, digital art, and professional filmmaking. Powered by the decade-long legacy of the LifeArt Festival, it provides creators with global media exposure and direct access to industry leaders from Netflix, National Geographic, and Apple TV. Events span Hollywood, Bollywood, Athens, Santorini, Miami, and New Delhi.
visit websiteAI for Good Film Festival 2026
UpcomingJul 7, 2026
Cinema du Grutli, Geneva, Switzerland
Part of the UN's AI for Good initiative, this festival celebrates films that use AI for social good. Finalist films premiere at Cinema du Grutli in Geneva during the AI for Good Global Summit. Films must be 1-10 minutes, completed between May 2025 and May 2026. Submission deadline: March 15, 2026.
visit websiteArtificial Intelligence Media Festival (AIMF) 2026
UpcomingSep 11 - Sep 13, 2026
Los Angeles, California, USA
A 501(c)(3) non-profit international festival showcasing films, music, and art created with AI. Located minutes from Universal Studios, Warner Bros., and Disney in Los Angeles, the three-day event highlights filmmakers who integrate AI throughout their creative process. Categories include Narrative Films, Animation, Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror, Music Videos, Student Projects, Digital Art, and Musical Scores. Winners receive the handcrafted Crystal Award trophy.
visit websiteRed Rocks AI Film Festival 2026
UpcomingSep 24, 2026
St. George, Utah, USA
A celebration of creativity at the intersection of technology and storytelling. Themed around uplifting and inspirational content, the festival features categories for AI Film, AI Short Film, AI Animation, AI Comedy, AI Inspirational Film, and more. Winners receive certificates, laurels, global exposure, and networking opportunities.
visit websiteAI Film 3 — AI Film and Art Festival Arizona 2026
UpcomingOct 1 - Nov 1, 2026
Arizona, USA
The third annual AI Film and Art Festival in Arizona by Prometheus Productions, showcasing AI-driven creativity across film, art, music, fashion, and gaming. Open call for submissions in categories including short films, feature-length films, experimental works, documentaries, music videos, and more. The festival brings together artists, filmmakers, technologists, and audiences to celebrate the evolving landscape of AI cinema.
visit websiteIlluminate Film Festival 2026
UpcomingOct 2, 2026
Santa Barbara, California, USA
A micro-short contest celebrating connection, creativity, and our shared human family. Illuminate Film Festival explores the intersection of consciousness and cinema, with an AI category highlighting how technology can serve meaningful storytelling.
visit websiteAI Film & Ads Awards Bali 2026
UpcomingNov 7, 2026
Bali, Indonesia
The AI Film & Ads Awards comes to Bali for a one-night celebration of 100% AI-generated films and advertisements. Features screenings, an awards ceremony, gala dinner, and exclusive after-party. Six competition categories including AI Short Film, AI Long Film, AI Animation, AI Ads, AI Video Clip, and AI Documentary. Part of the global AI Film Awards series active in 20+ countries.
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Past AI Film Festivals & Events
LundinStudio AI Film Festival 2026
EndedMar 21 - Mar 22, 2026
Online
LundinStudio's annual AI Film Festival celebrates artists embracing new and emerging AI tools for filmmaking. AI short films are judged on storytelling, character consistency, pacing, cinematography, and overall production value. Films must be based on original scripts, created using 2D/3D or AI animations, and under 10 minutes. Award winners chosen by an esteemed panel of jurors.
visit websiteHiggsfield AI Film Competition
EndedJan 1 - Mar 18, 2026
Online / Global
The largest AI filmmaking competition by an independent generation platform, with nearly 8,800 submissions from 139 countries and a $500,000 cash prize pool. Grand Prize ($150K) won by 'GRANDMA vs WASP' by Muhannad Nassar (Detroit) and Simon Meyer (Germany), who collaborated asynchronously across time zones. India led submissions (1,805 films), followed by the USA (1,041). Judged by industry veterans prioritizing storytelling over technical polish. 20 honorable mentions received $10K each.
visit websiteKorea-Japan AI Film Makers Meetup 2026
EndedMar 7, 2026
Seoul Film Center, Seoul, South Korea
An international AI filmmaking exchange between Korean and Japanese creators. Features cross-screenings in Seoul and Tokyo followed by an online discussion, fostering collaboration between the two countries' AI filmmaking communities.
The Bionic Awards 2026
EndedMar 5, 2026
London, England
A global showcase for bold visual storytellers, The Bionic Awards brings together the most innovative creators working at the intersection of AI and visual media. Live presentations celebrate groundbreaking work in AI-powered filmmaking and visual arts.
visit websiteAI International Film Festival 2026
EndedMar 1, 2026
Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA
The original independent AI film festival returns with a Hollywood screening event. IMDb qualified, the festival brings people together from around the world to share their visions about how AI is reshaping filmmaking. Features interactive filmmaker-audience discussions, panels, and awards across categories including AI-generated, hybrid, live-action, animated, and documentary works.
visit websiteFrame Forward Animated AI Film Festival
EndedFeb 1 - Feb 28, 2026
Online / USA (theatrical exhibition)
A groundbreaking global competition by Modern Uprising Studios and Screenvision Media, designed to spotlight the new generation of AI-empowered filmmakers. The winning film receives a two-week national theatrical run through Screenvision's network of 14,000 screens in 2,300 theaters across all 50 states. The inaugural winner, Igor Alferov's 'Thanksgiving Day', was announced in February 2026. Judged by leaders across film, gaming, VR, and AI innovation.
visit websiteArtefact AI Film Festival 2026 — (Dis)play
EndedFeb 12, 2026
mk2 Bibliothèque, Paris, France
The second edition of the Artefact AI Film Festival, organized by Artefact and mk2, France's leading arthouse cinema group. Themed '(Dis)play', the festival received 265 submissions from 52 countries. Jury chaired by director Cédric Klapisch alongside Paul Trillo (Emmy-winning director) and Bruno Patino (President of ARTE). Grand Prix worth €10,000, plus jury, audience, and 'Best Use of AI' prizes. Top 20 films broadcast on mk2 Curiosity, Grand Prix trailer screened in all mk2 theaters.
visit websiteGlobal AI Film Award — 1 Billion Followers Summit
EndedJan 9 - Jan 11, 2026
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The world's largest AI film award, presented by the 1 Billion Followers Summit and powered by Google Gemini. The competition attracted 3,500 entries from around the globe, with the winner receiving a prize valued at USD 1 million. Films must be 7–10 minutes long and at least 70% AI-generated using Google AI tools. The winning film, 'Lily' by Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir ElJlassi, was announced at the Summit in January 2026.
visit website