Rules of Reply AI Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival
The rules of the Reply AI Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival differ on 6 of the eight items: AI-use rules, tool disclosure, running-time limits, entry costs, screenings and prizes. From 4 source pages, read 2026-09-25; no maker pays to be listed.
| Rule | Reply AI Film Festival | Sundance Film Festival |
|---|---|---|
| What the rules ask of AI | Any AI use counts | AI allowed without limits |
| Saying which tools were used | Explain how AI was used | Disclose any AI use |
| Running time allowed | A minimum and a maximum | None in the rules read |
| Cost of entry | Free to enter | Fees by deadline |
| Latest deadline | Closed on the reading day | Closed on the reading day |
| Where winners are shown | A premiere event | A festival run |
| What the entrant keeps or grants | None in the rules read | None in the rules read |
| Prizes | Cash prizes stated | None in the rules read |
Inclusion rule. The eight rules every festival on the register is read for. Order. The order rules take on every festival page.
1Where the rules part
Only the rules of the Reply AI Film Festival cover running-time limits and prizes. Their AI-use rules part: any AI use counts for the Reply AI Film Festival, AI allowed without limits for the Sundance Film Festival. Their tool disclosure part: explain how AI was used for the Reply AI Film Festival, disclose any AI use for the Sundance Film Festival. Their entry costs part: free to enter for the Reply AI Film Festival, fees by deadline for the Sundance Film Festival. Their deadlines agree: closed on the reading day. Their screenings part: a premiere event for the Reply AI Film Festival, a festival run for the Sundance Film Festival. Neither set of rules covers rights terms.
2In each festival's own words
What the rules ask of AI
No categories, no limits. We welcome every genre, every style, every vision – as long as AI is part of the creative process.
Reply AI Film Festival, home page
We do not currently have any restrictions surrounding the usage of Artificial Intelligence technology.
Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ
Saying which tools were used
you'll be asked to explain how AI was used to achieve your final result
Reply AI Film Festival, how it works
It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to disclose any usage or utilization of Artificial Intelligence (“A.I.”) in the making of any or all projects submitted to the Institute for Festival consideration.
Sundance Institute, 2027 rules and regulations
Running time allowed
Your AI short movie must be between 1 and 40 minutes long.
Reply AI Film Festival, how it works
The rules of the Sundance Film Festival say nothing on this.
- Film typesAI must be part of the creative process, not necessarily generative AI
- FAQ 12No restrictions on the use of AI
- FAQEntrants explain how AI was used
- Rule 24Any use of AI must be disclosed; failing to disclose can disqualify a project
- FAQ1 to 40 minutes, with longer films eligible only for a special mention
3The making side of an entry
For an entrant reading “Reply AI Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival”, this is what SceneMixer publishes about the film its pipeline hands over:
The longest an episode may run: 240 seconds for Short Drama, 300 for TV Series, none for Film.
SceneMixer, Short Drama, TV Series or Film — “What is the episode cap?” (read 2026-10-13)
16:9 landscape (SceneMixer's default) and 9:16 vertical (the usual short-drama frame), chosen per project.
SceneMixer, Seedance 2.0 in a Real Short-Drama Pipeline — “Which aspect ratios does the pipeline generate?” (read 2026-10-13)