I’Mpossible Film Festival is an international online festival dedicated to human-led AI-generated and AI-assisted cinema.

The festival responds to a major shift in filmmaking: AI is becoming a new production tool for serious cinematic storytelling. Our focus is not AI as a gimmick, but films in which technology serves human authorship, creative direction, emotional purpose and editorial control.

The first edition, The Unfilmable Edition, is dedicated to stories, memories and visions that could not easily exist on screen through traditional production because they were too difficult, unsafe, expensive, censored, personal, historical or imagined to film.

The festival welcomes two forms of creative work:

Predominantly AI-made films, in which the visual world is largely generated or substantially transformed using AI.

Hybrid films that combine real footage, interviews or archive material with meaningful AI-generated reconstruction, particularly where conventional filming was unsafe, censored, inaccessible, historically impossible or otherwise impractical.

In every category, AI must play an important creative role in making the film or story possible. Minor uses such as subtitles, transcription, routine cleanup, promotional artwork or isolated decorative shots are not sufficient for eligibility.

I’Mpossible Film Festival is shaped by experience across cinema, media, technology and digital culture, and welcomes independent filmmakers and storytellers from around the world who are using AI to expand what cinema can show.

Filmmakers currently residing in Iran are eligible for a full submission-fee waiver in all categories. Please request a private waiver code before submitting by emailing hello [at] impossiblefilmfest [dot] com with your name, film title and intended category.

Awards & Prizes

Selected films and award winners will receive official I’Mpossible Film Festival laurels and digital certificates.

Award winners will be announced through the festival website, social media channels and digital programme, with dedicated online recognition for the main winners.

Core awards may include:

AI Microfilm Award
AI Short Film Award
AI Documentary Award
AI Experimental Film Award
AI Persian Carpet Award
AI Music Video Award
AI Unfilmable Story Award
I’Mpossible Special Mention

Additional awards may be introduced before the festival in collaboration with future sponsors and partners, provided they remain consistent with the festival’s values and editorial independence.

A limited number of main award winners may receive a physical festival trophy. Details will be confirmed before the awards announcement.

Selected films may also be considered for curated online showcases, audience events, editorial features, interviews and future screening opportunities organised or supported by I’Mpossible Film Festival or its partners, subject to programme fit, quality and final curatorial approval.

Rules & Terms

By submitting a film to I’Mpossible Film Festival, entrants confirm that they have read and accepted these rules and the full Submission Terms:

https://impossiblefilmfest.com/submission-terms/

Category-specific runtimes, formats and additional requirements are listed in the relevant FilmFreeway category descriptions and form part of these rules.

1. Human authorship and AI use

Submitted films must demonstrate clear human authorship, creative direction and editorial control.

AI must play a meaningful creative role in making the film or its story possible. Minor uses such as subtitles, transcription, routine cleanup, promotional artwork or isolated decorative shots are not sufficient.

For AI Microfilm, AI Short Film, AI Experimental Film and AI Music Video, the visual work should be predominantly AI-generated or substantially transformed using AI.

AI Doc Reconstruction and Persian Carpet may combine real footage, interviews, performances, photographs or archive material with meaningful AI-generated elements.

2. AI declaration

Entrants must briefly explain:

• How AI was used
• Which main elements were generated or substantially altered
• Why AI was important to the work

The festival may request further information or move, reject or disqualify a submission that does not meet the relevant requirements.

3. Category suitability

AI Microfilm, AI Short Film, AI Doc Reconstruction and Persian Carpet are intended mainly for realistic or live-action-style cinematic work.

Animation, abstract, surreal, poetic, music-led and strongly non-realistic work should be entered in AI Experimental Film or AI Music Video.

Prompt demonstrations, fake trailers, mood reels, showreels, random AI montages and unfinished tests are not eligible.

The festival may move a film to a more suitable category without an additional fee.

4. Documentary reconstruction

AI Doc Reconstruction may combine interviews, documentary footage, photographs, archive material and AI-generated reconstruction.

AI must be an important tool for reconstructing real memories, events, places, scenes or experiences that could not otherwise have been filmed.

AI-generated or reconstructed documentary material must be presented transparently and must not be deliberately presented as authentic footage in a misleading way.

5. Rights and representations of real people

Entrants must own or have obtained all necessary rights, licences, consents and permissions for the film and its content, including footage, archive material, music, voices, performances and third-party material.

Films may lawfully depict, criticise, satirise or artistically represent political leaders, public figures and historical figures.

AI-generated representations of real people must not be deliberately presented as authentic evidence or genuine footage. False endorsement, deceptive impersonation, fabricated evidence, defamatory manipulation and unlawful use of protected material are not accepted.

6. Subtitles

Films not primarily in English must include accurate English subtitles.

7. Fees, fee waivers, selection and awards

Submission fees cover the review and consideration of the film. Payment does not guarantee selection, screening, an award or feedback.

Filmmakers currently residing in Iran may request a full submission-fee waiver for any festival category. The waiver must be requested before submitting by emailing hello [at] impossiblefilmfest [dot] com with the filmmaker’s name, film title and intended category.

By requesting a waiver code, applicants confirm that they currently reside in Iran. The festival may request reasonable confirmation where necessary. False or misleading eligibility information may result in withdrawal of the waiver or disqualification of the submission.

Fees are normally non-refundable after a valid submission has been received.

Selection and award decisions are final. The festival may reject, move, suspend or disqualify a film where information is inaccurate, eligibility requirements are not met or serious legal, ethical, rights or safety concerns remain unresolved.

8. Screening and promotion

If selected, entrants permit the festival to:

• Review the film and share it privately with authorised judges and programmers
• Screen it online as part of the relevant festival edition
• Use the title, synopsis, poster, trailer, stills and short excerpts for festival promotion, press, social media and the digital programme

Copyright remains with the filmmaker or rights holder.

Any separate public screening by a partner organisation will require the filmmaker’s confirmation unless already expressly authorised.

Full Submission Terms:

https://impossiblefilmfest.com/submission-terms/

Questions:

hello [at] impossiblefilmfest [dot] com