African and diaspora filmmakers using AI tools can screen in Hollywood and Kampala by entering this free festival before 20 October 2026
The African AI Film Festival opens submissions for short films, animation, docs, and experimental work made with AI, with screenings in Hollywood and Kampala for winners.
The African AI Film Festival 2026 is the first festival built specifically for African and diaspora filmmakers working with generative AI tools. Winners earn a place on two real-world screens: a Hollywood premiere on 21 November 2026 and a Kampala premiere on 12 December 2026. Trophies, laurels, sponsor credits from Runway and Adobe, and access to industry mentors and pitch sessions round out the prize package, alongside a separate public-vote prize decided independently of the jury.
Entry is free for filmmakers based anywhere in Africa, and also free for students and emerging filmmakers regardless of location. Filmmakers outside Africa who do not qualify under the student or emerging category should check the official site for paid tier details. The late deadline falls on 20 October 2026, leaving a short window to finish and submit work.
What to submit
The festival accepts work across four categories: Short Film, Animation, Documentary, and Experimental. Any AI tool may be used in production, and the organisers list Runway, Adobe Firefly, Sora, Kling, Veo, Midjourney, Pika, and ElevenLabs as examples. There is no restriction on which AI tools are involved, provided the filmmaker identifies as African or from the African diaspora. Work does not appear to need to be 100 per cent AI-generated; the festival is framed around filmmakers working with AI rather than requiring full automation.
Prize structure
Prizes are a mix of physical recognition and industry-access benefits rather than direct cash payments.
- Trophies and laurels for winners and finalists
- Sponsor credits from Runway and Adobe (software credits, not cash)
- Screening at the Hollywood premiere, 21 November 2026
- Screening at the Kampala premiere, 12 December 2026
- A separate public-vote prize, scored independently of the jury
- Access to industry mentors and pitch sessions
The Runway and Adobe prizes are platform credits. If your priority is cash, this festival does not offer that, but the Hollywood and Kampala screening opportunities and the mentor access are concrete industry benefits.
Terms worth reading
The official rules are published on the festival's own site at africanaifilmfestival.org. Key points to verify before submitting include what rights the festival claims over submitted work for promotional purposes, and whether the public-vote prize has a separate entry or opt-in step. Entry is confirmed as free for Africa-based filmmakers and for students and emerging filmmakers at any deadline tier; the page notes "paid tiers otherwise" for filmmakers who fall outside those categories without specifying the amounts, so check the official site for current fee levels if you are diaspora-based and not a student or emerging filmmaker.
No broad rights-grab language is visible in the page text reviewed, but the full terms on the official site should be read before submitting, particularly regarding use of your film in festival promotional materials and any streaming arrangements connected to the screenings.
Deadline and how to enter
The submission deadline is 20 October 2026. No specific cutoff time is published here, so submit with at least a day in hand to avoid last-minute technical issues. Submit directly through the official festival site. The tracker entry was verified against the organiser's page on 8 September 2026.
Apply at the official festival site: africanaifilmfestival.org