The AI International Film Festival started as the world’s first AI film festival back in 2021 — before the hype. Independent of Ads or big-name Sponsors, the festival focuses on storytelling that matters, original ideas, and powerful voices.

"Like the Academy Awards for AI Films" -Gerardo Escudero Samara

These are Tomorrow's Filmmakers.

This is the home of the incredible creative community of cutting-edge AI Filmmakers as well as Filmmakers concerned about our collective Future with AI.

The original independent AI Film Festival is now held in Hollywood, California — and explores AI's revolutionary effects, promises, and dangers, in respect to both Cinema and Society. See aifilmfest.org.

Now celebrated monthly due to the rapid pace of AI advancement, this truly independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) festival now receives about 100 submissions each month.

The festival uniquely showcases AI Films, Hybrid AI Films, Live-Action, Documentary, and Animated Films which either:
A. Use AI Tools to Point the Way to the Future of Storytelling and Filmmaking
OR
B. Explore the Impact AI will have on Society - positive or negative

Your film will be evaluated according to all the typical criteria of normal cinema - similarly to the academy awards. Most submitters choose between 2 and 4 categories, see Awards & Prizes as well as Categories & Fees sections below.

The festival also stands out for its interactive format, where the winning filmmakers watch and discuss each-others films together with the audience as each film screens.

Get tickets for the next festival in Hollywood June 22 2025 at bit.ly/aifilmfestshorts. The festival includes screenings, award show, filmmaker discussions, audience choice awards, AI Expert Panel, and After-Party

Winning filmmakers form lasting network relationships through membership in the Winners Circle program, which includes access to free software, chat forums, networking events, and free festival tickets in addition to supporting our mission.

See the most recent selections at aifilmfest.org/selected-films.
See all the winners listed at aifilmfest.org/winners.

Also go to aifilmfest.org/ai-expert-panels for key takeaways from the AI Expert Panel discussions, which include cutting-edge international filmmakers, AI experts, professors, actors, screenwriters, and industry insiders . Topics include tips on AI video software, as well as in-depth discussions about AI, the film industry, and AI's influence on society.

"The format is super engaging, it allows for discussions between the filmmakers and the audience after each film is screened,” remarks Arthur Machado, Brazilian director of the Italian-language film Modello Linguistico Divino from New Zealand, "I got huge value out of it by connecting with extremely talented and creative filmmakers from all around the world, and getting real-time feedback from the artists and the audience."

“We had cutting-edge AI filmmakers from all over the world on Zoom discussing the tools they used and their motivations,” says attendee Ron Maggi, “The interaction between these filmmakers alone was worth the price of admission, but even the films themselves are really amazing."

Our festival strongly supports the rights and fair treatment of content creators and talent regarding compensation and intellectual property, everywhere in the process of acting, screenwriting, animation, directing, production, and all other activities involved in film making.

We encourage open discussion regarding the utilization of AI tools and how that affects people in the industry. We honor independent and student filmmakers from very diverse communities worldwide.

The festival seeks narrative, animated, or documentary films which focus on both risks and benefits of AI as well as films making extensive use of AI tools. How will AI affect our lives now and in the future? How will AI affect filmmaking, industry employment, and talent? Are there unintended consequences? What are the benefits of AI? Might AI become super-intelligent and take over? We welcome films treating AI robots/humanoids, AI surveillance, biotechnology, AI warfare, deep fakes, privacy concerns, job market shifts, social media issues, AI singularity, etc.

In association with The AI Project, AI International Film Festival seeks to educate the public and increase awareness about how AI might change the world - both benefits and drawbacks.

Our team, consisting of experts and educators in film, behavioral sciences and AI, strongly supports education and participation of creatives and students in defining and exploring our AI future.

We look forward to viewing your submissions. Good Luck!!

MONTHLY COMPETITION (50 Categories)
BI-ANNUAL LIVE SCREENING EVENTS selected from previous months of submissions

Best Picture (feature film or short film, any genre)
Best AI Film (feature film or short film, any genre)
Best AI Feature Film
Best AI Short Film
Best Music Video
Best Web/TV Series (also pilot)
Best Live-Action/Hybrid AI Short Film (Live Action, Hybrid AI - Academy Award recognized Category)
Best Documentary Short Film (Live Action, Hybrid AI, or AI - Academy Award recognized Category)
Best Animated Short Film (Academy Award recognized Category)
Best Film showing AI Universal Surveillance (feature film or short film, any genre)
Best Film showing AI Warfare (feature film or short film, any genre)
Best Film showing AI Singularity or AI Superintelligence (feature film or short film, any genre)
Best Hybrid AI Film (feature film or short film, any genre)
Best Hybrid AI Feature
Best Hybrid AI Short
Best Narrative Feature (Live Action, Hybrid AI, or AI)
Best Documentary Feature (Live Action, Hybrid AI, or AI)
Best Narrative Short (Live Action, Hybrid AI, or AI)
Best Student Narrative Film (Live Action, Hybrid AI, or AI)
Best Student Documentary Film (Live Action, Hybrid AI, or AI)
Best Short Director
Best Feature Director
Best Student Director
Best Animated Feature
Best Student Animated Film
Best Game Video
Best Horror
Best Comedy
Best Art Direction
Best Experimental
Best Production
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best International Feature
Best International Short
Best Original Song
Best Sound
Best Costume Design
Best Story
Best Student Story
Best Thriller
Best Original Musical
Best Comical Short
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Original Score
Honorable Mentions

TROPHY and CERTIFICATE
All winners receive a free certificate (pdf/jpg files) and Laurels (png).

Winners may order the official AI International FIlm Festival trophy for themselves and their team at a cost of $100 plus shipping.

1. We accept works (submissions) which either:
1a. illuminate possible consequences of the AI revolution, now or in the future, direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional, positive or negative. (see event description).
or
1b. were made with extensive use of AI Tools in the production process.
2. We accept works in the following forms:
a. Short and feature films, in the form of narrative (fiction), documentary (non fiction), experimental, AI, Hybrid AI or animated film.
b. Music Videos
c. Web/TV Series (also pilot)
3. By submitting your work, you agree that:
a. You authorize the festival to use, distribute and share the work's poster, trailer, synopsis, images and movie stills in our social media, our website, FilmFreeway, educational institutions, with the press and other communication channels.
b. Entry fees are non-refundable.
c. Multiple submissions are allowed for each work and each work may be entered in multiple categories.
d. You can submit your work again for the following months.
e. The works must include English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English)
f. The scripts must be in English, or an accurate translation into English must be provided along with any foreign language script
g. You accept all the AI International Film Festival Rules and Terms
h. The festival reserves the right to judge which works are selected, awarded or screened. Our judges are free to make their own choices. Judge’s decisions are final and non-negotiable; no answers will be provided about not selected films.
i. The AI International Film Fest reserves the right to award films in different categories than those which submitters choose.
j. The festival will not offer you or pay screening fees.
4. We do not accept:
a. Extremist or propaganda content, which is determined based on the Film Festival’s sole discretion. The Film Festival does not accept content from religious or political organizations
b. Works involving politics / films promoting political agenda
c. Works with a poor production standard (bad sound, lack of subtitles/captions for non-English films, video resolution less than 720p HD, etc.).
5. Selected submissions, Awards, Honorable Mentions and Screening selections will be notified according to the schedules listed on FilmFreeway. The festival is not responsible for schedule delays.
6. If you win in an award category:
a. you will be provided with an Award Certificate
b. you may order a trophy for your specific category, please see price list
c. in addition, some Award categories may have co-sponsors providing prizes. One award or prize will be given to the winner designated on the official entry form.
7. The judges choose which works will be shown in the festival screening event. Preference will be given to works which have not been shown to the public prior to the festival screening (world premiers).
8. If your work has been accepted for a live screening event, you will receive the following:
Two(2) festival passes per submitted work to see all the festival films FREE
Admittance for one person to the “Opening Night Event" for each category for which your work has been selected
9. All submissions in personal categories require the name of the person and the category. You can easily send us this information in the cover letter at the FilmFreeway website.
10. All photos provided must be clearly identified with file names which include the name of talent, name of submitter, date and the name of the work.
11. Students must present a valid Middle School, High School or College Student ID in order to receive our student discount.
12. The Festival, in its sole discretion, can consider any work to be disqualified if the festival considers the content inappropriate.
13. If selected to be showcased during a live screening event, all screening copies must be received a minimum of 14 days prior to screening.
14. If your work has been accepted and you attend the festival screening event, you are responsible for travel, lodging, and all other expenses.
15. You also agree that by submitting the work and any related images or information related to the work that you are the owner of that intellectual property, or have received permission to use any intellectual property that has been submitted to the Festival. The festival only accepts submissions if the applicant is the owner of all rights of use. The festival reserves the right to request a corresponding proof of rights and to refuse the submission in case of absence. The festival relationship will exclusively be related to you as the submitter of the work and not with other persons or organizations.
16. By submitting your work, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the festival from any and all copyright or any other intellectual property infringement claims regarding your submission. You must obtain full rights to use any and all music, images, video clips or other intellectual property included in your work, unless your use qualifies as “Fair Use”. We recommend you follow the guidelines contained in "Documentary Filmmakers' Best Practices in Fair Use", available at https://cmsimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Documentary-Filmmakers.pdf.
17. All stated information, eligibility and submission guidelines, terms and rules of submission, and submission information is subject to change by the AI International Film Festival, without notice.
18. In addition, the festival reserves the right to utilize images and video clips from the work for publications, public relations, advertisements and the posting of images or video clips on the Internet (for websites, social media portals, FilmFreeway listings, etc. of the AI International Film Festival).
19. Participation in the Festival implies the unconditional acceptance of all provisions in these Rules and Terms. Producers, distributors or other persons or organizations submitting a work must attest that third parties involved in the production are in agreement with their participation in the festival.
20. The festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and agrees to these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and or loss of or damage to the works submitted
21. Submitters hereby consent to the Festival processing the personal data that is transmitted as part of the application for all purposes concerning the festival operation. Submitters confirm that they have the right to make the contact details of third parties available for this purpose. Submitters can revoke this consent at any time but will therefore be disqualified from the festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Christian Luoma

    I find myself in same situation as Mira Kin unfortunately after four emails never receiving a reply nor the laurel for the winning film, very unusual and unfortunate.

    June 2025
  • Cool and wonder festival, great organization.

    March 2025
  • Request for Official Honorable Mention Laurel

    Dear AI International Film Festival Team,

    I submitted my film to your festival and was honored to receive an Honorable Mention award. I was very happy, but for some reason, I have not heard any further updates, and I have yet to receive the laurel.

    I have sent emails twice requesting the laurel from your festival.

    <Mirakim, please accept my apology!
    We have been very, very busy.

    We will send you the laurel wreath within a few days. If you do not receive it, please contact us.

    Thank you so much for submitting your wonderful film.

    Bert Holland,
    Executive Director
    AI International Film Festival>

    However, I have only received this reply, and I still have not received any laurel.

    I am happy to have submitted my film to your festival and to have received an award, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me the official laurel.

    Mirakim

    February 2025
  • Andres Aloi

    The festival was great. The curation of the films was a stand-out. It was a diverse mix of beautiful films. The organizers did an outstanding job at accommodating the filmmakers and I was very grateful that our film "The Abyss" received so much love. The panel was great too. I wish the festival the best in the future and I hope to be a part of it once again.

    January 2025
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    Response from festival:

    We were so privileged to show your amazing film. We continue to expand due to the brilliance and hard work of filmmakers like you. It is crucially important that the public see such visions of how AI is changing society and filmmaking, and cutting-edge films such as yours are the key.

  • The AI International Film Festival was an incredible experience, and seeing my film on a Hollywood screen was truly special. The festival had such a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made me feel genuinely appreciated as a filmmaker.

    I loved the thoughtful discussions after each screening and found the panels to be especially inspiring and insightful.

    Thank you for organizing such a meaningful event and for creating a space that celebrates innovation in storytelling. It was an honor to be part of it!

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Our success is a reflection of the brilliance and vision of our filmmakers. It is our mission to bring great films to the screen which deserve to be seen by the public because they inspire and entertain, and provide visions of how AI is changing society and filmmaking. Both positive and negative. Your documentary, which perfectly combines AI generated footage with live action documentary footage certainly fulfills that need!