AI filmmakers can submit narrative, animation, music video, or experimental work to an East Harlem screening night closing 29 September 2026
AI Talents New York, hosted by Midtowner Productions, screens AI-made films across 13 craft categories on 18 October 2026 in New York City. Submissions close 29 September.
East Harlem is getting a dedicated screening night for AI filmmakers this October. Midtowner Productions, led by Piotr Kondela, is hosting AI Talents New York on 18 October 2026, bringing together short films, animations, music videos, and experimental works built with any AI tool stack. The event sits within New York's broader independent film ecosystem and is pitched specifically at emerging creators.
The submission window opened on 23 July 2026 and closes on 29 September 2026. If you are working toward this deadline, note that no closing time is published, so submitting at least a day before the date is wise.
What to submit
Films must be between 30 seconds and 25 minutes in runtime. AI must form part of the production pipeline, but no single tool or platform is mandated. The four recognised categories are narrative short film, animation, music video, and experimental work. Each creator or team may submit one film only.
Prize structure
The competition awards laurels across 13 craft categories. No cash prize is listed on the official page. Winners receive recognition and festival laurels, along with a screening at the New York event on 18 October 2026. Creators who enter primarily for monetary reward should weigh that against the promotional and community value of a live New York screening.
Entry fee and submission route
The entry fee is listed as "See FilmFreeway" on the contest tracker, meaning the specific fee tier is set on the FilmFreeway platform and may vary by submission date. Fees on FilmFreeway typically increase closer to a deadline, so submitting earlier is likely to cost less. You submit via FilmFreeway at filmfreeway.com/aitalentsny.
Terms worth reading
No detailed rights terms are reproduced on the contest tracker page, so creators should review the full submission agreement on FilmFreeway before uploading. Standard festival agreements often request a non-exclusive licence to screen and promote the work during the festival period. Check whether the FilmFreeway listing specifies any such provisions, particularly around trailer clips or promotional use of footage. The tracker notes the page is verified against the organiser's official page each morning, which provides reasonable confidence the deadline and category information is current.
This is a free-to-enter question mark until FilmFreeway fees are confirmed, so visit the entry page early to lock in the lowest available tier before 29 September 2026. The official contest page and the FilmFreeway entry page are both useful starting points.
Source: https://aifilmcontests.com/contests/ai-talents-new-york-2026