Seattle AI Film Festival – 2026 Terms & Conditions
1. Eligibility
• Films must be original works created no earlier than June 1, 2024.
• Films must incorporate AI tools in a meaningful way, generally representing at least 70% of the creative pipeline (visual, audio, or narrative). This is a guideline, not a strict formula.
• Filmmakers must provide a brief, non‑proprietary description of the AI tools, models, and workflow used. Trade secrets, prompts, datasets, or proprietary production techniques are NOT required.
• All third-party materials (music, fonts, datasets, stock images, stock video, photography, etc.) must be licensed or cleared by the creator for festival exhibition.
• Entrants must be 18+.
• Content that promotes hate, targeted harassment, misogyny, racism, or dehumanization of an ethnic group will not be accepted.
2. Film Length & Format Requirements
• Films must meet the festival’s official duration categories (shorts, features, experimental lengths).
• Accepted file formats: .mp4 or .mov in high resolution.
• Non-English films must include English subtitles burned in or provided as .srt.
3. Submission Process
• All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.
• Submission fees are non-refundable except in cases where a festival processing error prevents evaluation.
• Filmmakers may submit multiple entries. Each entry must have its own submission form and fee.
4. AI Documentation Requirements
• Filmmakers must submit a simple description of how AI contributed to the project.
• Required disclosure items:
– Tools or platforms used (e.g., Midjourney, Runway, ElevenLabs, Luma, KREA, etc.).
– A high-level description of AI’s role in the creative process.
– Any licensing associated with AI outputs (if applicable).
• NOT required:
– Prompts
– Proprietary techniques
– Internal pipeline documentation
– Training data knowledge
– Developer-level detail
• The goal is transparency, not intrusion.
5. Judging & Jury Process
• Films are evaluated on:
– Story and narrative cohesion
– Visual craft and cinematic effectiveness
– Audio design and pacing
– Innovation and meaningful use of AI
– Audience experience
• Judges follow a conflict-of-interest policy to ensure fairness.
• Jury decisions are final.
• If a category has fewer than 3 entries:
– All entrants receive Official Selection status.
– Submission fees for that category are refunded.
6. Rights & Permissions
• Filmmakers retain 100% ownership and copyright of their films.
• By submitting, filmmakers grant SAIFF a LIMITED, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:
1. Screen the full film during the festival’s official event dates.
2. Host the film trailer on the festival website post event.
3. Host the full film on the SAIFF website post event with creator permission. Unless otherwise notified in writing by Filmmaker, SAIFF may host the full film on its official website for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the conclusion of the festival event. Filmmaker retains the right to request removal at any time, with removal to occur within ten (10) business days of such request.
4. Use up to 60 seconds of footage, still images, the title, and/or the synopsis for marketing the festival. With the explicit written consent of Filmmaker, SAIFF may use up to five (5) minutes of the submitted film for promotional purposes, including but not limited to festival trailers, highlight reels, and press materials. Consent may be granted or withheld at Filmmaker’s discretion.
5. Any use beyond these limited rights requires explicit written permission from the filmmaker.
6. Filmmaker may elect to participate in SAIFF-curated online showcases or streaming partnerships. Participation is voluntary and subject to separate written agreement, which will specify any applicable revenue sharing, duration, and scope of distribution.
7. Filmmaker represents and warrants that the submitted film does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party. Filmmaker’s liability to SAIFF for any breach of this warranty shall be limited to actual damages directly arising from festival-related uses of the film.
7. Exhibition & Promotional Use
• The festival may use:
– The film title
– A trailer
– Still images
– The filmmaker’s name and bio
– The film description
• These materials may appear:
– On the festival website
– In press releases
– In festival recap videos
– On social channels for this year’s event only
• SAIFF may use submitted films in educational workshops, panel discussions, or archival collections, provided that such use is non-commercial and credit is given to Filmmaker. Any use beyond these contexts requires Filmmaker’s prior written consent.
8. Notification & Withdrawal
• Selected films are notified at least two weeks before the festival.
• After acceptance, withdrawal is discouraged but may occur under:
– Rights conflicts
– Unexpected distribution deals
– Safety/privacy concerns
• Withdrawals require written notice.
9. Awards
• Awards will be given in categories announced on the festival website.
• Awards may include:
– Monetary prizes
– Sponsored products or services
– Software credits
– Industry opportunities
• Awards are granted solely based on jury scoring.
10. Disqualification Rules
• Films may be disqualified for:
– Unlicensed or stolen materials
– Fraudulent information
– Violation of festival conduct guidelines
• When possible, SAIFF will contact filmmakers to correct issues before disqualification.
11. Privacy & Data Use
• Personal data collected through FilmFreeway is used exclusively for:
– Programming
– Filmmaker communication
– Event logistics
• No personal data is sold or shared with third parties.
12. Amendments
• These Terms & Conditions apply to the 2026 submission cycle only.
• Any changes to future cycles will be published before submissions open for the next edition.
