Rome's Cinema Adriano will screen AI short films from around the world in September, with awards across seven categories and a global distribution slot on Escape.ai.
The Rome AI Festival (RAIF) 2026 invites AI filmmakers worldwide to compete for awards in seven categories, screening at Cinema Adriano on 19 September. Late deadline is 10 September 2026.
The third edition of the Rome AI Festival lands at Cinema Adriano on 19 September 2026, putting generative-AI filmmaking on a proper cinema screen in the Italian capital. Organised by VIA under festival director Riccardo Vincenzi, RAIF has grown into one of Europe's more credible AI film showcases, and this year it spans seven competitive categories including a dedicated slot for Italian creators alongside international narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, music video and branded content films.
Entry is open to filmmakers aged 18 and over from anywhere in the world, which means a short completed in São Paulo, Seoul or Sheffield can screen in Rome if it makes the cut. The late submission deadline is 10 September 2026, so with the tracker showing roughly 18 hours remaining, anyone with a finished cut should submit today rather than waiting for the final hour.
What you submit
Films must be no longer than 20 minutes including credits, completed after 1 January 2024, and generative AI must serve as a significant creative component rather than a passing gimmick. Non-English dialogue requires English subtitles. Every submission must include a 100 to 300 word AI statement explaining how generative tools were used in the making of the film. Submissions are handled via FilmFreeway.
Prize structure
RAIF awards trophies across seven categories:
- Best AI Narrative Short Film
- Best AI Documentary (presented by JamesDrake Media)
- Best AI Experimental Short Film
- Best AI Animation
- Best AI Music Video
- Best AI Branded / Commercial Content
- Best Italian AI
Winners may be featured on the Rome AI Festival channel on Escape.ai for 12 months, described by the organisers as Best of Fest distribution. No cash prize is listed; the core value here is a festival screening credit and the Escape.ai distribution window.
Entry fee
This is a paid entry. Fees start from $9 via a Creator Pass at raif.it.com, with current tier pricing shown on FilmFreeway. Budget for the late-entry tier, which is typically higher than the early rate.
Terms worth reading
The organisers have not published a detailed rights agreement in the page text reviewed here, but the Escape.ai distribution slot implies winners consent to their film being hosted and promoted on that platform for up to 12 months. Creators should check the full FilmFreeway submission agreement before paying, particularly around whether RAIF or Escape.ai receives any sub-licensing rights during that distribution window. Entry fees are non-refundable as is standard across FilmFreeway festivals. IP in the underlying work is not described as transferring to the festival, which is the common position for screening festivals, but confirm in the FilmFreeway agreement.
How to enter
Visit the official contest page for links and context, then submit directly through FilmFreeway. Given the deadline of 10 September 2026 with no published cutoff time listed on the tracker, submit with several hours in hand.