Dubai's government-backed AI film festival opens its Best AI Short Film category to global filmmakers ahead of a live Expo City screening in March 2027

The Expo City Dubai venue, already a symbol of the UAE's ambition to position itself at the centre of global innovation, will host a live screening and awards event in March 2027 dedicated entirely to AI-made cinema. The festival is backed by the Dubai Film and TV Commission, giving it an official government imprimatur that sets it apart from the growing field of independent AI film competitions. For filmmakers who want their work seen in a landmark physical venue with formal industry infrastructure behind it, this is a meaningful opportunity.

The Best AI Short Film category accepts work from anywhere in the world, and the rules are deliberately broad about which tools qualify. Whether a film uses AI at the script stage, in image generation, video synthesis, or sound design, it counts, provided the finished piece runs under ten minutes. That flexibility makes the category accessible to solo creators working with consumer tools as well as teams using professional pipelines.

What you submit

Films must be under ten minutes in length and must incorporate AI tools in at least one production stage, covering text, audio, or video. The festival lists two active categories: Short Film and Experimental. Submissions are routed through FilmFreeway, which is standard practice for festival submissions and allows you to upload files, attach credits, and manage your entry in one place. The official entry point is aifilmfest.ae.

Prize structure

The headline prize is the Best AI Short Film award, which carries an official Expo City Dubai screening and government-backed recognition. There is no cash prize listed on the page. The value here is the live screening at a high-profile UAE venue, exposure to the UAE creative economy, and the credential of a government-affiliated festival win. Filmmakers should weigh those non-monetary returns honestly against the entry cost before submitting.

Entry fee

Entry fees are tiered through FilmFreeway, with an earlybird rate available through 14 May 2026 and higher rates thereafter up to the final deadline on 21 January 2027. Because the earlybird window has already closed as of the current date, entrants should check the current fee tier on FilmFreeway at the point of submission. The page does not publish exact fee amounts, so visit aifilmfest.ae to confirm what you will pay.

Terms worth reading

The page does not reproduce the full terms and conditions directly. Standard FilmFreeway-hosted festivals typically ask for a non-exclusive licence to screen submitted work during the festival and in promotional materials; you should review the specific terms on the official site before submitting to confirm the scope of any licence granted. The page does not indicate any rights transfer or claim of ownership over submitted films, but verify this yourself. Eligibility is global, with no residency restriction stated.

Deadline and festival date

The submission deadline is 21 January 2027. No specific cutoff time is published, so submit at least a day in advance to avoid any last-minute FilmFreeway processing issues. The festival event itself is scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Dubai. The tracker page was last verified against the organiser's site on 24 May 2026, so check aifilmfest.ae directly for any updates to fees or rules closer to the deadline.

The entry page on FilmFreeway is reached via the official festival site at aifilmfest.ae, where you can also find full submission guidelines.

Source: https://aifilmcontests.com/contests/expo-ai-film-festival-dubai-2027