Astana AI Film Festival entry rules
The rules of the Astana AI Film Festival cover 7 of the eight items. What the rules ask of AI: generative AI must be integral, not only effects or upscaling. Saying which tools were used: model or models and the pipeline disclosed on submission, with every contributor credited. Not in the rules read: rights terms. From 1 source page, read 2026-09-25; no maker pays to be listed.
Inclusion rule. All 25 festivals on the register, each with what its rules ask about naming AI tools. Order. Alphabetical by festival name.
- AI use
- A set minimum of AI use
- Tool disclosure
- List the tools used
- Running time
- A minimum only
- Fee
- Free to enter
- Deadline
- Closed on the reading day
- Screening
- A festival run
- Rights
- None in the rules read
- Prizes
- Cash prizes stated
1The rules in brief
The Astana AI Film Festival requires generative AI to be integral to a film, not just used for effects or upscaling, and asks entrants to disclose the models and pipeline and credit every contributor. Films run three minutes or more, and entry is free. It closed on September 7, 2026 after 8,067 entries and runs in Astana from October 1 to 3, with $1,000,000 in prizes and a second $1,000,000 production fund.
2Dates in the rules
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2026-09-07 | Submissions close |
| 2026-10-01 | Festival opens, Astana |
Inclusion rule. Dates the rules print in full; months without a day are left to the text above. Order. Earliest first.
What the rules ask of AI: A set minimum of AI use
Generative AI must be integral to creation — not only VFX or upscaling.
Astana AI Film Festival, home page
- Rules of admissionGenerative AI must be integral, not only effects or upscaling
Astana AI Film Festival on this rule · What the rules ask of AI at every festival
Saying which tools were used: List the tools used
All contributors credited; model(s) and pipeline disclosed on submission.
Astana AI Film Festival, home page
- Rules of admissionModel or models and the pipeline disclosed on submission, with every contributor credited
Saying which tools were used at every festival · What marks the tools leave in the file
Running time allowed: A minimum only
Both competitions accept films with a duration of 3 minutes or longer .
Astana AI Film Festival, home page
- Eligibility3 minutes or longer
Astana AI Film Festival on this rule · Running time allowed at every festival · How long a clip the tools make
Cost of entry: Free to enter
Submissions to AAIFF 2026 are free for everyone.
Astana AI Film Festival, home page
- FAQFree for everyone
Cost of entry at every festival
Latest deadline: Closed on the reading day
STAGE 02 — 07.09.2026 Submissions Close Final deadline.
Astana AI Film Festival, home page
- TimelineSubmissions closed September 7, 2026, with 8,067 films entered
Latest deadline at every festival
Where winners are shown: A festival run
The festival takes place in Astana on 1–3 October 2026.
Astana AI Film Festival, home page
- TimelineFestival in Astana from October 1 to 3, 2026
Where winners are shown at every festival
What the entrant keeps or grants: None in the rules read
- Rules read; not statedNone in the rules read (2026-09-25)
What the entrant keeps or grants at every festival · What the tools' terms say about owning the output
Prizes: Cash prizes stated
One million US dollars in competition prizes — and a second million invested directly into new AI productions.
Astana AI Film Festival, home page
- Total fund$1,000,000 in competition prizes and a second $1,000,000 production fund
Astana AI Film Festival on this rule · Prizes at every festival
3The making side of an entry
For an entrant reading “Astana AI Film Festival”, this is what SceneMixer publishes about the film its pipeline hands over:
Video is 16:9 landscape by default, with 9:16 vertical available; you set it once per project. Segments are typically 4 to 15 seconds, and some model tiers go to 30.
SceneMixer, AI Short Drama Generator — “What length and aspect ratio does it output?” (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)
4Related festivals
- AI Film Festival Japan next to Astana AI Film Festival
- Astana AI Film Festival next to K-Culture AI International Film Festival
- AI Shortest Film Competition
- Artefact AI Film Festival
- Bochnia International AI Film Festival
- Chroma Awards
The organiser's current rules always govern; this is a dated reading, not advice. Method: how rules are read.
5Rules documents read
- Astana AI Film Festival, home page, read 2026-09-25