WORLD A.I.
FILM FESTIVAL
CANNES
The World A.I. Film Festival explores the evolving landscape of the film industry.
In 2027, each Competition will focus on the key shifts in the film business, digging deeper into how they could reshape cinema over the next decade. We want to screen your films to professionals looking to stay ahead in a turbulent market. We're here to help you build strong connections with producers, broadcasters, and all of our international divisions.
Send your film and show us what it looks like when bold ideas, creative thinking and technology work together.
The best films from our Official Competitions will be screened at the Palais des Festivals, in Cannes, as part of World A.I. Film Festival (6–7 April) – in front of an international live audience.
For Winners / Competitions
+ World A.I. Film Festival Tickets
+ Travel & Accommodation to World A.I. Film Festival
+ Screening at the Palais des Festivals (Cannes), at World A.I. Film Festival
+ Full Access to the Market / Networking sessions
Join us in Cannes, at the Palais des Festivals, for a Global Celebration of A.I. Creativity !!
The World A.I. Film Festival welcomes a wide range of creative approaches. Both fully A.I.-assisted films and hybrid productions (combining live-action and A.I.-generated content) are eligible, provided that the use of A.I. is significant and meaningfully contributes to the work.
This will be carefully assessed by the Selection Committee. Applicants must strictly adhere to the specified formats and runtimes for each category.
Submissions that do not comply with these requirements may not be considered.
General Eligibility Requirements
WAIFF Cannes is exclusively open to creators of all countries except for the following: Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Chad, Togo, USA, Argentina, UK, China and Turkey.
In all of the countries listed, your films must be submitted to the local editions of the World A.I. Film Festival.
To be eligible, submitted works must:
- Be original works and respect intellectual property rights.
- Not rely on deepfake technologies designed to imitate identifiable individuals without authorization.
- Films may be submitted in any language. English subtitles must be included directly in the video.
FILM SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FROM 10AM (10H00) ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026, UNTIL 11:59PM (23H59) ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2027
THE
AWARDS
Some prizes may be subject to change before the call for entries closes.
COMPETITION
DETAILS
WAIFF Feature Film (fiction, documentaries, animation)
This Official Selection shows that the technology is no longer a novelty but an integral part of modern filmmaking. Several fully A.I.-assisted feature films have officially premiered and debuted in 2026, marking a historic milestone where artificial intelligence creates full-length feature cinema. This Competition includes: fiction films, documentaries, and animated films longer than 30 minutes.
This Competition is open to films created entirely with A.I. and hybrid films. It accepts animated films, documentaries, and fiction films longer than 30 minutes. Several awards will be presented in this Competition to recognize the best films in each category.
Runtime: 30 minutes or more.
WAIFF Horizon
WAIFF Horizons brings together the top finalists selected by each partner country of the World A.I. Film Festival. Each film showcases its country’s culture, imagination, and artistic sensibility through the new cinematic languages created with A.I. Presented during the Grand Finale in Cannes, this Competition celebrates unique voices and a vision of A.I. cinema deeply rooted in global cultural diversity.
This Competition is open only to our international editions.
WAIFF Short Film
There’s no set theme for this Short film Competition — just a worldwide challenge that bring creative edge into an increasingly A.I.-shaped world. This Competition is open to all film genres : Action, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller, Western, Musical…
Runtime: 5 to 15 minutes.
WAIFF Series Competition
This Competition embraces the new golden age of TV, highlighting long-form narratives, deep character arcs, and intricate world-building.Welcome to complex dramas, speculative fiction, slow-burn thrillers…. and all other genres. A minimum of 2 episodes is required to participate in this Competition.
Runtime: 5 to 30 minutes per episode.
WAIFF Advertising / Branded Content Competition
Studios are investing heavily in A.I. research, and talent agencies are actively seeking A.I.-generated material for their clients. The world of advertising is taking on a whole new dimension with A.I. This Official Selection showcases the best commercials and branded contents from around the world.
Advertising: This Competition is open only to existing campaigns. Broadcast authorizations requested.
WAIFF A.I. Music Video Competition
This Official Competition features music videos made with the help of A.I. tools. The Competition curates all formats: horizontal, vertical, immersive — from all over the world. Submissions must respect artist rights, copyright, fair-use, and creative integrity (compliant with A.I. Act).
Runtime: No time limit
WAIFF CapCut Competition
This Competition features 2 categories: a series of vertical mini-dramas (4 or 6 episodes, each 1 minute long) or the production of a short film (5 to 15 minutes), which requires significant use of Capcut tools (image generation and subtitling). To enter the Capcut Short Film Award or the Capcut Mini-Drama Award, applicants must therefore primarily use Capcut tools, although they may use other tools as well.
Runtime (short film): 5 to 15 minutes
Runtime (mini-drama vertical): 4 or 6 episodes (each 1 minute long)
submission
prices
During the first EARLY BIRD registration phase, the entry fee is set at 15.00 EUR including tax (VAT not applicable) per submitted work, from September 15, 2026 to November 15, 2026
During the second registration phase, the participation fee is set at 30.00 EUR including tax (VAT not applicable) per submitted work, from November 16, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
During the third registration phase, SLEEP LATE, the participation fee is set at 60.00 EUR including tax (VAT not applicable) per submitted work, from February 1, 2027 to February 15, 2027.
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION?