A Paris short film festival backed by mk2 cinemas is offering €10,000 for AI-made films up to 314 seconds long
Artefact's third edition, themed '(Dis)Connection', invites filmmakers worldwide to submit short AI-generated films for a €10,000 grand prize and a week-long mk2 cinema screening.
The Artefact AI Film Festival returns to Paris for its third edition under the theme "(Dis)Connection", co-produced with mk2, one of France's most prominent arthouse cinema groups. The competition accepts short films from anywhere in the world, provided they run no longer than 314 seconds and use at least one generative AI tool at each stage of the filmmaking process: pre-production, production, and post-production. The entry window opened on 2 September 2026, with submissions closing on 2 December 2026.
The partnership with mk2 gives the grand prize a particularly concrete dimension. The winning film is not only awarded €10,000 in cash but also receives a 30-second cut screened across all mk2 theatres for one week, placing the work in front of paying cinema audiences rather than solely online viewers. That combination of prize money and physical distribution makes this one of the more substantive opportunities in the current AI film contest calendar.
What to submit
Entrants must submit one short film per candidate, running a maximum of 314 seconds. The film must incorporate generative AI tools across all three phases of production: pre-production (scripting, storyboarding, concept development), production (image, video, audio generation), and post-production (editing, compositing, sound design, or similar). Any AI toolset is permitted; the festival does not restrict entries to particular platforms or models. The theme "(Dis)Connection" is not described as mandatory on the tracker page, but filmmakers should consult the official site for any thematic requirement before submitting.
Prize structure
- Grand Prize: €10,000 plus a 30-second version of the winning film screened across all mk2 theatres for one week
- Jury Award: €1,000
- Audience Award: €1,000
- AI Innovation Award: €1,000
Four separate prizes are on the table, so a film with a strong technical approach could compete for the Innovation Award even if it does not win the jury's top vote. The Audience Award introduces a public voting element alongside the professional jury.
Terms worth reading
The tracker page notes "See official site" for the entry fee, which means a submission fee may apply. Check the official entry page before budgeting your time. No specific rights or licensing terms are published on the tracker, so visit the official site to confirm what rights Artefact and mk2 claim over submitted or winning films, particularly given the theatrical screening component attached to the grand prize. IP terms, territorial broadcast rights, and any sponsorship obligations connected to the mk2 partnership are all worth confirming before you submit. The contest is open worldwide with no nationality restrictions stated.
Submissions close on 2 December 2026. No cutoff time is published, so submit at least a day ahead to be safe. Full entry details and submission forms are available at the official Artefact AI Film Festival site.
Source: AI Film Contests — Artefact AI Film Festival 3rd Edition