The Moonmax DeepStation Film Festival in Miami is a celebration of AI filmmaking, uniting visionary creators, industry leaders, and technology pioneers to showcase work at the cutting edge of cinema. Our core partners include Miami Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, Moonmax®, and DeepStation.

Submissions are judged by a panel of world-class experts, ranging from AI specialists at leading technology companies like Google to filmmakers who have worked on titles such as The Tomorrow War and The LEGO Batman Movie.

If you are an AI filmmaker with a bold vision, this is your chance to present your work on a global stage, connect with industry leaders, and help shape the next evolution of creativity.

Learn more about Moonmax® initiatives at https://www.moonmax.ai and DeepStation at https://deepstation.ai/.

Awards & Prizes

The Moonmax DeepStation Film Festival honours excellence and innovation in AI filmmaking across multiple categories, including:

Best Picture:

The highest honour of the festival, awarded to the film that delivers excellence in every dimension: story, visuals, sound, innovation, and emotional resonance. This award recognises a project that not only demonstrates technical mastery but also leaves a lasting impact on audiences and the industry.

Best Commercial:

Celebrating the best use of technology in branded storytelling, this award honours commercials that blend creative cohesion and marketing effectiveness. The winner will have created a piece that both captivates audiences and elevates the product or service it represents, whether it's a spec ad or real-world brand work.

Best Story:

Awarded to the project with exceptional narrative craft, regardless of genre or format. This includes strong concepts, well-structured plots, compelling characters, and dialogue that brings the world to life. The Best Story award celebrates the art of storytelling as the foundation of unforgettable cinema.

Best Visuals:

Recognising outstanding achievement in visual artistry, from AI-generated cinematography and animation to cutting-edge VFX and design. This award is given to a project that sets new visual standards and immerses audiences in unforgettable worlds.

Cyborg Award:

For projects that represent the perfect marriage of human creativity and artificial intelligence. This award celebrates works that integrate AI tools with traditional artistry, such as hand-painted illustrations, live-action performances, human voice acting, or practical effects. The result must be a seamless and distinctive final piece.

Moonshot Award:

Reserved for the most daring and ambitious project in the festival, the Moonshot Award honours filmmakers who dream big and execute even bigger. These are works that push technical, creative, or thematic boundaries, taking risks that inspire and expand the possibilities of AI cinema.

Blue Moon Award

Given to the ultimate wildcard entry, the Blue Moon Award recognises a project that defies easy categorisation. Whether through unconventional storytelling, genre-bending execution, or sheer unpredictability, these are films that surprise, challenge, and delight in ways that only come along once in a blue moon.

With the exception of the Best Commercial Award, all awards at the festival are cross-category, with judging based on artistry, innovation, and execution rather than format or duration.

Winners will receive:

Grants for Raindance Film School courses from a total prize pool of $10,000; a crystal trophy to honour their excellence in tech-enabled filmmaking; and exclusive access to Moonmax®, DeepStation, and Raindance Film Festival industry events worldwide.

Rules & Terms

Submission Format:

All entries must be submitted as a high-resolution digital file or a secure online screener via the FilmFreeway platform.
Files should be formatted in MP4 or MOV with a minimum resolution of 1080p HD (higher resolutions preferred).
The festival does not accept links that require downloads or expiration-based links (e.g., WeTransfer).

Eligibility & Content Guidelines:

Submissions must be created using AI video generation tools such as Runway, Kling, Hailuo Minimax, Luma, and others.
Films that have been submitted to other festivals are eligible.
Films of all genres are welcome, including narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental works.
Entrants must ensure that their submission does not infringe on copyright, trademarks, or third-party rights.
Films containing excessive hate speech, explicit violence, or unlawful material may be disqualified at the festival’s discretion.

Submission Length:

AI-Generated Short Film Category: Under 30 minutes
AI-Generated Commercial Category: Under 10 minutes
AI-Enhanced Feature Film: Under 180 minutes
XR Short Film Category: Under 40 minutes

Ownership & Rights:

Filmmakers retain full ownership of their films.
Entrants grant the festival non-exclusive rights to screen the film during the event.
The festival reserves the right to use stills, trailers, excerpts, and the films themselves from selected films for promotional and marketing purposes, including online, social media, press, and festival materials.

Selection & Notification:

All submissions will be reviewed by the festival’s selection committee.
Filmmakers of selected entries will be notified via email within the announced notification period.
The festival reserves the right to place selected films in appropriate program categories at its discretion.

Disqualification:

If the festival discovers any misrepresentation, violation of submission rules, or fraudulent activity, the film may be disqualified.
Refunds are not available for withdrawn or disqualified entries.

Liability & Indemnification:

The festival is not responsible for any unauthorised third-party use of submitted content.
By submitting, entrants agree to indemnify and hold the festival harmless from any claims, damages, or legal disputes related to copyright, licensing, or intellectual property issues.

Agreement & Acceptance:

By submitting a film, the entrant acknowledges that they have read and agreed to all festival rules and terms.
The festival reserves the right to amend or update these terms at any time as needed.