The We Are Human Festival is offering €10,000 in prizes for short films that put human creativity at the centre of AI-assisted filmmaking

Film Resource Africa has opened submissions for the We Are Human Festival's Film and AI International Open Call 2026, a competition that asks one pointed question: what does it mean to be human in an age of generative tools? The festival is not asking filmmakers to avoid AI, it is asking them to keep human creative direction at the heart of whatever they make. Selected works will be screened internationally at the festival event on 24 November 2026.

The prize structure is concrete and cash-denominated: a €10,000 total pool split across three awards. That split rewards not just the finished film but the writing underneath it and the ethical thinking behind it, which is an unusual acknowledgement that craft and conscience are both worth paying for. Entry is free, which removes the usual financial barrier for independent creators and collectives.

What you submit

The open call is for short films. AI tools are permitted and encouraged across image, sound, music, and text generation, provided the human creative hand remains the guiding force. The page does not publish a runtime limit, so prospective entrants should check the official entry page for format and length specifications before submitting.

Prize structure

- Grand Prix: €5,000
- Best Screenplay: €3,000
- Ethics Award: €2,000

All prizes are cash. Selected films screen at the festival in November 2026.

Eligibility

The competition is open internationally to filmmakers, visual artists, studios, independent creators, and collectives. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. There is no entry fee.

Terms worth reading

The aggregator page does not reproduce the full terms and conditions. Before submitting, visit the official Film Resource Africa entry page and read the submission agreement carefully. Pay particular attention to any clauses covering screening rights, whether the festival acquires a licence to exhibit your work beyond the November event, and any requirements around public attribution of AI tools used. The page as summarised here does not flag any broad rights grab, but that absence reflects the limits of what has been published on the aggregator, not a confirmed clean bill.

Key dates

The submission deadline is 30 September 2026. No cutoff time is published, so submit with at least a day in hand to avoid last-minute platform issues. The festival and screening event takes place on 24 November 2026.

Apply via the official entry page at Film Resource Africa. Confirm format requirements and full terms there before you commit.

---

Source: AI Film Contests, We Are Human Festival open call listing