The World Film Festival in Cannes is accepting AI films for its Best AI Film trophy at the Pullman Cannes Mandelieu gala

The World Film Festival in Cannes has a specific claim worth noting: it introduced the first dedicated Best Artificial Intelligence Film category of any festival, doing so back in 2020. The Remember the Future strand has been running that category ever since, and the 2027 cycle is now open for submissions. Films that arrive by 30 March 2027 qualify for consideration at the Annual Gala held at the Pullman Cannes Mandelieu, an in-person premiere and awards event on the French Riviera.

The competition accepts both short films and features, and entries do not need to be fully AI-generated. AI-assisted work is explicitly permitted alongside films created entirely with generative tools, and no particular software is specified, so any AI tool qualifies. The festival draws entries globally, with no stated geographic restriction on who may enter.

What you submit

Short films and features are both accepted. The festival does not publish a specific runtime threshold on the tracker page, so filmmakers working in either format should submit through the official site at world-film-festival.com. The key condition is that AI must play a meaningful role in production, whether as the primary creative engine or as a significant part of a hybrid workflow.

Prize structure

The prize is a physical trophy: the Best Artificial Intelligence Film award, presented at the Annual Gala in Cannes. Winners also receive visibility through the festival's monthly award circuit, which runs alongside the main annual competition. There is no cash component listed. The in-person Cannes premiere is presented as a prize in its own right, given the access and networking it provides at one of the world's most recognised film festival locations.

A separate monthly award circuit runs throughout the year, offering ongoing recognition before the annual gala cycle concludes. Filmmakers who do not make the annual shortlist may still receive monthly circuit mentions.

Entry fee and submission route

Entry fees are tiered and handled through FilmFreeway. The tracker page does not reproduce the exact fee schedule, so you will need to visit world-film-festival.com and check the current FilmFreeway listing for the cost that applies to your film's format and submission timing. Fees on FilmFreeway typically increase as a deadline approaches, so submitting early tends to cost less.

Terms worth reading

The tracker page does not reproduce the festival's full terms and conditions, so IP retention, screening rights, and any licence granted to the festival upon submission are not confirmed here. Filmmakers should review the official terms at world-film-festival.com before submitting. This is particularly relevant for AI-assisted work where underlying tool licences may interact with festival rights clauses. The festival has been running this category since 2020, which provides some track record to research.

The deadline of 30 March 2027 is confirmed by the tracker and matches the deadline hint. No cutoff time is published, so submitting at least a day before the date is advisable to avoid any last-minute platform issues on FilmFreeway.

The official contest page and entry route are both at world-film-festival.com.

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Source: https://aifilmcontests.com/contests/world-film-festival-cannes-rtf-2027