Australia's first AI film festival is offering cash prizes and pro tool subscriptions for short films made with AI-generated shots, with a live Sydney screening in March 2027

Australia has not had a dedicated festival for AI-generated film, and LundinStudio is stepping in to fill that gap. The LundinStudio AI Film Festival 2027 is accepting short films, animations, and music videos made with any AI tool stack, running rolling monthly submission deadlines from April 2026 through to 21 January 2027. Selected works will screen live in Sydney on 18 and 19 March 2027, giving creators a physical premiere alongside the digital recognition.

The festival is positioned for working filmmakers who want to move at their own pace. Because the submission window is structured around monthly deadlines rather than a single cutoff, you can enter when your project is ready and pay the fee that corresponds to your chosen round. The earlybird rate of AUD $25 closed in May 2026, so current and upcoming rounds fall in the mid-range tiers, rising to the final rate of AUD $55 by the 21 January 2027 deadline. Winners receive a full refund of their submission fee, which partially offsets the cost of entering.

What you submit

Films must run between one and ten minutes inclusive of credits, be based on an original script, and must use AI-generated shots in every scene. The festival does not restrict which AI tools you use, so any combination of generation and editing software is permitted. Categories are Short Film, Animation, and Music Video. Entrants must be 18 or older.

Prize structure

Winners in each category receive:

- AUD $300 cash (described on the official page as "cash back on your submission fee plus" additional cash, totalling $300)
- Full refund of the submission fee paid at entry
- One month of Saga Premium subscription
- Three months of Melies Pro subscription
- Official festival laurel and a place in the Sydney screening programme on 18 and 19 March 2027

The cash and subscriptions make the prize package practically useful for AI filmmakers who rely on paid generation tools. The subscriptions are to third-party platforms (Saga and Melies), not cash equivalents, so factor that into your assessment of the prize value.

Terms worth reading

The official rules are hosted at lundinstudio.com/aifilmfestival. Key points from the listing:

- Entry fee is non-refundable except for winners, who receive their fee back as part of the prize.
- The festival page does not publish detailed IP or licensing terms in the listing itself. Before submitting, check the full terms on the official site for any screening licence, promotional usage rights, or exclusivity clauses that may apply to selected films.
- The page does not specify a cutoff time for the 21 January 2027 deadline. Submit at least a day in advance to avoid any timezone uncertainty.
- The event is verified as of May 2026 by the tracking site, and the official organiser page is the authoritative source for any rule changes.

The official entry and information page is where you submit and can review full terms before committing your fee.

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