Entry rules: saying which tools were used
The rules of 13 of the 25 festivals cover whether entrants must say which tools they used. The reading met most often is “List the tools used”, for 7. The table sets every festival's reading beside the words of its rules. As of 2026-09-25.
| Festival | Reading | In the rules |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Billion AI Film Award | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| Academy Awards | Details on request | The Academy may ask for more information about generative AI use and human authorship |
| African AI Film Festival | List the tools used | Every entry lists the main AI tools and models and how AI was used |
| AI Cinema Festival NYC | List the tools used | Major AI tools and human roles disclosed |
| AI Film Festival Japan | List the tools used | Entrants disclose which generative tools were used, in which processes and how far |
| AI for Good Film Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| AI International Film Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| AI Shortest Film Competition | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| Artefact AI Film Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| Astana AI Film Festival | List the tools used | Model or models and the pipeline disclosed on submission, with every contributor credited |
| Bochnia International AI Film Festival | List the tools used | A complete list of AI tools and a making-of diary with the entry |
| Chroma Awards | List the tools used | The tools used are listed in the video description |
| Cinema Shift Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| Higgsfield Global Film Festival | Generations kept for checking | All AI video and image generations kept in one Cinema Studio festival project |
| Human vs. AI Film Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| K-Culture AI International Film Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| LifeArt AI Film Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| Project Odyssey | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| Reply AI Film Festival | Explain how AI was used | Entrants explain how AI was used |
| Runway AI Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| Runway Gen:48 | Explain how AI was used | A short written description of the AI techniques used |
| Sundance Film Festival | Disclose any AI use | Any use of AI must be disclosed; failing to disclose can disqualify a project |
| Turkey International AI Film Festival | None in the rules read | None in the rules read (2026-09-25) |
| World AI Film Festival | A production file | A production file explaining the AI tools used, for every submission |
| World AI Film Festival USA | List the tools used | Every submission discloses the AI tools used, across image, video, voice and audio |
Inclusion rule. All 25 festivals on the register. Order. Alphabetical by festival name.
1About this rule
This rule records whether entrants must say which AI tools they used. 7 festivals ask for a list of tools, 1 for a production file, 2 for an explanation of how AI was used, 1 for disclosure of any AI use, 1 keep the generations themselves for checking, 1 ask for details on request, and 12 ask nothing.
Keeping a record while working saves trouble at the end: which tool made which shot, which voice came from where, and which images were used as references. Several festivals can disqualify a film when the disclosure turns out to be incomplete.
2Readings and their festivals
- Explain how AI was used: Reply AI Film Festival and Runway Gen:48
- A production file: World AI Film Festival
- List the tools used: African AI Film Festival, AI Cinema Festival NYC, AI Film Festival Japan, Astana AI Film Festival, Bochnia International AI Film Festival, Chroma Awards and World AI Film Festival USA
- Generations kept for checking: Higgsfield Global Film Festival
- Disclose any AI use: Sundance Film Festival
- Details on request: Academy Awards
- None in the rules read: 1 Billion AI Film Award, AI for Good Film Festival, AI International Film Festival, AI Shortest Film Competition, Artefact AI Film Festival, Cinema Shift Festival, Human vs. AI Film Festival, K-Culture AI International Film Festival, LifeArt AI Film Festival, Project Odyssey, Runway AI Festival and Turkey International AI Film Festival
3Festivals with a detailed reading
- Academy Awards — The Academy may ask for more information about generative AI use and human authorship
- African AI Film Festival — Every entry lists the main AI tools and models and how AI was used
- AI Film Festival Japan — Entrants disclose which generative tools were used, in which processes and how far
- Bochnia International AI Film Festival — A complete list of AI tools and a making-of diary with the entry
- Higgsfield Global Film Festival — All AI video and image generations kept in one Cinema Studio festival project
- Reply AI Film Festival — Entrants explain how AI was used
- Runway Gen:48 — A short written description of the AI techniques used
- Sundance Film Festival — Any use of AI must be disclosed; failing to disclose can disqualify a project
- World AI Film Festival — A production file explaining the AI tools used, for every submission
- World AI Film Festival USA — Every submission discloses the AI tools used, across image, video, voice and audio
4The other rules
What the rules ask of AI · Running time allowed · Cost of entry · Latest deadline · Where winners are shown · What the entrant keeps or grants · Prizes
5What a generator hands an entrant
For an entrant reading “Tool disclosure”, this is what SceneMixer publishes about the film its pipeline hands over:
An AI short drama is a serialized show of 60–120 second vertical episodes whose cast, sets and footage are generated by AI. Making one takes six steps: analyze the script into episodes, lock a consistent cast with reference art, localize for your market, write and edit storyboards, generate each 4–15 second shot, then composite and publish.
SceneMixer, How to Make an AI Short Drama, Step by Step (read 2026-10-13)
The music runs across the end card and comes to an end with the film.
SceneMixer, Where the Music in an Ad Video Comes From — “Does the end card have music?” (read 2026-10-13)