The second Annual International AI Film Festival, hosted by Runway, has officially opened its doors for submissions. This year’s celebration promises to be even bigger after a successful event last year that saw various talent, from first-time filmmakers to seasoned professionals.
The festival is a unique platform that embraces the innovative use of AI in filmmaking. The top 10 selected finalists will showcase their work at exclusive New York City and Los Angeles gala screenings. A grand prize of $15,000 is up for grabs, with several other cash prizes and Runway credits available for winners.
Submissions are open through February 29th, with filmmakers at all levels encouraged to present their work. The films must be between 1-10 minutes long and incorporate some form of generative AI. The submission process is simple and can be done using a Runway link.
Last year’s festival saw a diverse panel of jurors from various sectors, including feature films, documentaries, journalism, and art. This year’s festival panel will be unveiled in October, promising an exciting roster of celebrated creative professionals.
The prizes are categorized as follows:
- Grand Prix (1st Place): $15,000 cash prize & 1,000,000 Runway credits
- Gold (2nd Place): $10,000 cash prize & 500,000 Runway credits
- Silver (3rd Place): $5,000 cash prize & 500,000 Runway credits
- Honoree (4th – 5th Places): $1,000 cash prize & 100,000 Runway credits
- Merit (6th – 10th Places): $500 cash prize & 100,000 Runway credits
Entrants are reminded that only one film submission is allowed per applicant. The AI incorporation can be achieved either through AI-generated content using tools similar to Runway’s Gen-1 or Gen-2 or through AI-powered editing techniques including but not limited to Runway’s Green Screen or Inpainting.