A Paris-screened film competition is offering €10,000 in prizes for short films exploring AI and human rights
We Are Human Foundation's Call for Films AI 2026 awards €5,000 Grand Prix, €3,000 Best Screenplay, and €2,000 Ethics Award for human/AI hybrid short films. Free entry, deadline 30 September 2026.
The We Are Human Foundation is running its 2026 international call for short films that examine the relationship between artificial intelligence and human rights. Selected works will be screened in Paris and in partner cities, contributing to what the foundation describes as a collective public conversation about the future of societies shaped by AI. The competition is free to enter, open to filmmakers worldwide, and explicitly welcomes AI tools as part of the creative process.
Films must incorporate human and AI hybrid creation, meaning the work needs to involve both a human creative hand and AI-generated or AI-assisted elements. The thematic brief is broad, asking makers to explore connections between AI and human rights through audiovisual means, which leaves considerable room for documentary, narrative, experimental, and hybrid approaches. With three separate prize categories totalling €10,000 and a physical festival screening as part of the offer, this is a substantive opportunity for independent creators working in the AI filmmaking space.
What to submit
The competition accepts short films. Works must address the intersection of AI and human rights in some form and must qualify as human/AI hybrid creations. The official page does not specify a maximum runtime, so prospective entrants should confirm that detail directly on the official entry page before submitting. Any AI tools are permitted.
Prize structure
- Grand Prix: €5,000
- Best Screenplay: €3,000
- Ethics Award: €2,000
All three prizes are cash awards in euros. Selected films will also be screened in Paris and at partner city venues, which provides a meaningful exhibition credit alongside the financial prize.
Eligibility
The competition is open internationally to filmmakers, visual artists, studios, and independent creators aged 18 and above. Entry is free.
Terms worth reading
The official page text does not detail the licensing or rights terms applied to submitted works. Before entering, check the full rules on the We Are Human Foundation site to confirm whether the foundation claims any broadcast, distribution, or promotional rights over selected films. The screening commitment in Paris and partner cities suggests the foundation will exhibit winning works publicly, so understanding the scope of that exhibition right is worth doing before you submit.
The submission deadline is 30 September 2026. No cutoff time is published, so submit with at least a day in hand to avoid any last-minute platform issues.
Apply via the official foundation page at wearehuman.foundation/en/call-for-films/.
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