Italian non-profit festival gives AI filmmakers four award categories and a November screening for a €5–€10 entry fee
AI Film Fest Italy's second edition accepts shorts, docs, animation and promos made with any AI tools, with an extended deadline of 30 September 2026 and a festival date of 27 November.
Italy's dedicated AI film festival is back for a second year, and the extended deadline of 30 September 2026 means there are only days left to get a submission in. The festival is run as a non-profit and has deliberately kept entry fees low, at €5 to €10 depending on category, making it one of the more accessible European showcase opportunities for AI-assisted filmmakers right now.
The festival screens in Italy on 27 November 2026, giving selected films a live audience and jury recognition across four distinct sections: AI Short, AI Doc, AI Promo and AI Animate. Any AI tools are accepted, whether you used a generative video model, an AI-assisted editing pipeline, or a hybrid approach that blends traditional footage with AI-generated elements. There is no restriction on nationality, which opens the call to international entrants prepared to submit through FilmFreeway.
What you submit
Films must be generated or meaningfully supported by AI. The festival runs four competitive sections:
- AI Short for narrative or experimental short films
- AI Doc for documentary work
- AI Promo for promotional or branded AI content
- AI Animate for animated films produced with AI tools
Submissions go through FilmFreeway. The official festival site is aifilmfest.it, where you will find category-specific length and technical requirements.
Prize structure
The jury awards four prizes:
- Best AI Short Film, the headline award
- Best AI Concept, recognising creative ambition in any section
- AI Critics Award, chosen by a critics panel
- Special Mention, at the jury's discretion
The prizes are festival awards and screening recognition, not cash. No monetary value is listed on the official page, so entrants should enter for the curatorial credential and the November screening slot rather than financial return.
Terms worth reading
The page does not detail a formal IP or licence clause. Given the non-profit, low-fee framing, there is no indication of a broad rights grab, but you should review the full submission agreement on FilmFreeway before uploading, as platform terms and festival-specific addenda can vary. Entry costs €5 to €10, which is stated upfront and is the full fee. Submissions have been open since 7 December 2025, and the extended deadline replaces the original 31 March 2026 cutoff.
The deadline is 30 September 2026. No cutoff time is published, so submit at least a day in hand to avoid any last-minute FilmFreeway delays. The festival date is 27 November 2026 in Italy.
Full details and submission are at the official festival site.
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