Toronto's first dedicated AI film festival opens submissions for shorts, music videos, and commercials, with awards across eight categories and a December screening night
GenTO invites filmmakers worldwide to submit AI-assisted or hybrid short films, music videos, and commercials for curated screenings and awards in Toronto on 5 December 2026.
A new festival is staking its claim on Toronto's cultural calendar this December. GenTO: Toronto AI Film Festival is designed specifically around AI-enhanced storytelling, bringing together curated screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, and a structured awards programme for short films, music videos, and commercials. The festival takes place on 5 December 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, and is affiliated with the University of Toronto community.
The competition is open worldwide, which means filmmakers from outside Canada are fully eligible to submit. Films do not need to be entirely AI-generated: traditional, AI-assisted, and hybrid productions all qualify, provided the finished work runs to 30 minutes or under for in-person screening consideration. There is no restriction on which AI tools a filmmaker may use, leaving that choice entirely to the creator.
What you submit
GenTO accepts work across three broad categories: short film, music video, and advertising or commercial content. Each submission must be 30 minutes or shorter. The FilmFreeway submission platform handles all entries, and the page for the festival is at filmfreeway.com/GenTOAIFilmFestival.
Prize structure
The prize column is honest about what is on offer: festival laurels and select partner prizes, not a cash purse. The awards announced so far cover eight named categories.
- Best AI Short Film
- Best AI Showcase Film
- Technical Achievement Award
- Best Canadian Film
- Best Emerging Filmmaker
- Best AI Music Video
- Best AI Commercial or Advertisement
If cash or specific partner prizes matter to your decision, it is worth contacting the organisers directly before submitting, as the page does not itemise partner prize values.
Entry fees and deadlines
Submissions opened on 4 May 2026. The submission deadline is 20 October 2026; no cutoff time is published, so submit at least a day in advance to avoid any last-minute platform issues.
Entry fees are tiered:
- Early bird: $20
- Late deadline: $40
- Student and member discounts are available (confirm amounts on FilmFreeway)
This is a paid entry, which is standard for festival submissions of this type but worth factoring into your budget if you are submitting across multiple festivals.
Terms worth reading
The page does not detail a rights grab or broad licensing clause, which is a positive signal. Festival submission terms typically require a screening licence for the duration of the festival run, not a transfer of copyright, but you should review the full terms on FilmFreeway before submitting to confirm the scope of any screening rights granted. The Canadian-specific award category does not restrict international entrants from competing in other categories. Student and member discounts suggest the festival is actively trying to lower barriers for emerging creators, which is worth noting if you qualify.
The official contest listing is verified daily against the organiser's page, and the deadline was last confirmed on 11 September 2026.
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Source: https://aifilmcontests.com/contests/gento-toronto-ai-film-festival-2026