T-AIFF's third edition redistributes all submission-fee revenue as prize money to filmmakers screened in Istanbul this December

The Türkiye International AI Film Festival is heading into its third year with a track record that organisers are happy to cite directly: more than 2,000 submissions from over 100 countries across the festival's first two editions. The 2026 instalment accepts work across the full production stack, meaning a film can be recognised not just as a whole but for its direction, cinematography, editing, sound design, music, visual effects, animation or documentary craft. Screenings take place at Istanbul's Yeşilçam Cinema across three days, 7 to 9 December 2026.

What makes the prize structure unusual is its redistribution model. All revenue collected from submission fees is returned to filmmakers as award money, specifically directed at winning directors in the international category. That is a meaningful structural commitment rather than a vague promise, and it places the incentive clearly on the side of entries rather than the organiser's operating budget. Award statuettes mark winners across every named category.

What you submit

Films must have been completed after 1 January 2025 and must incorporate AI tools in their production. The festival explicitly lists permitted tools, including Runway, Sora, Kling, Veo, Midjourney, Luma and Pika, though any AI tool is acceptable. Categories open for submission are Short Film, Animation, Documentary, Music Video and Experimental. Submissions are accepted online via FilmFreeway only; there is no other entry route.

Prize structure

Award statuettes are given in the following named categories: Best AI Film, Best AI Director, Best AI Actor, Best AI Cinematographer, Best AI Editing, Best AI Sound Design, Best AI Music, Best AI Visual Effects, Best AI Animation and Best AI Documentary. Beyond the statuettes, submission-fee revenue is redistributed as cash awards to directors in the international category. The festival page does not publish a specific total prize pool figure, as that sum depends on the volume of entries received before the deadline.

Winning and selected films will screen at Yeşilçam Cinema in Istanbul from 7 to 9 December 2026.

Terms worth reading

Entry is paid. The specific fee tiers are set on FilmFreeway and will vary by submission window and category; check the FilmFreeway listing at filmfreeway.com/T-AIFF before submitting to confirm the current rate. The page does not detail rights or licensing terms, so creators should review the full FilmFreeway submission agreement carefully before uploading, paying attention to any screening rights the festival may request for in-person and promotional use. No broad IP transfer is disclosed on the contest page, but verifying this in the FilmFreeway terms is advisable. Entry is open internationally with no stated nationality restriction.

How to enter

Submit via FilmFreeway at filmfreeway.com/T-AIFF. The deadline is 1 November 2026. No cutoff time is stated, so submit at least a day in advance to avoid any timezone uncertainty.

Source: https://aifilmcontests.com/contests/turkiye-intl-ai-film-festival-2026