Sundance Film Festival entry rules

The rules of the Sundance Film Festival cover 5 of the eight items. What the rules ask of AI: no restrictions on the use of AI. Saying which tools were used: any use of AI must be disclosed; failing to disclose can disqualify a project. Not in the rules read: running-time limits, rights terms and prizes. From 2 source pages, 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

AI allowed without limits

Tool disclosure

Disclose any AI use

Running time

None in the rules read

Fee

Fees by deadline

Deadline

Closed on the reading day

Screening

A festival run

Rights

None in the rules read

Prizes

None in the rules read

1The rules in brief

Sundance puts no restriction on the use of AI in submitted films, but its 2027 rules make disclosure the applicant's responsibility and allow a project to be disqualified if AI use is not disclosed. Fees rise from the early to the late deadline; the late deadline for short films was August 31, 2026. The 2027 festival runs in Boulder, Colorado, from January 21 to 31.

2Dates in the rules

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: AI allowed without limits

We do not currently have any restrictions surrounding the usage of Artificial Intelligence technology.

Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ

• FAQ 12
  No restrictions on the use of AISundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ / recorded 2026-09-25

Sundance Film Festival on this rule · What the rules ask of AI at every festival

Saying which tools were used: Disclose any AI use

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

• Rule 24
  Any use of AI must be disclosed; failing to disclose can disqualify a projectSundance Institute, 2027 rules and regulations / recorded 2026-09-25

Sundance Film Festival on this rule · Saying which tools were used at every festival · What marks the tools leave in the file

Running time allowed: None in the rules read

• Rules read; not stated
  None in the rules read (2026-09-25)Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ / recorded 2026-09-25

Running time allowed at every festival · How long a clip the tools make

Cost of entry: Fees by deadline

We encourage you to submit your project as early as possible to take advantage of lower submission fees.

Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ

• FAQ 1
  Entry fees that rise from the early to the late deadlineSundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ / recorded 2026-09-25

Sundance Film Festival on this rule · Cost of entry at every festival

Latest deadline: Closed on the reading day

Late Submission Deadline: U.S. & International Short Films: Monday, August 31, 2026

Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ

• FAQ 1
  Late deadline for short films August 31, 2026Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ / recorded 2026-09-25

Sundance Film Festival on this rule · Latest deadline at every festival

Where winners are shown: A festival run

The 2027 Sundance Film Festival will take place in Boulder, Colorado from January 21 to January 31, 2027.

Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ

• FAQ 32
  Festival in Boulder, Colorado, January 21 to 31, 2027Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ / recorded 2026-09-25

Sundance Film Festival on this rule · Where winners are shown at every festival

What the entrant keeps or grants: None in the rules read

• Rules read; not stated
  None in the rules read (2026-09-25)Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ / recorded 2026-09-25

What the entrant keeps or grants at every festival · What the tools' terms say about owning the output

Prizes: None in the rules read

• Rules read; not stated
  None in the rules read (2026-09-25)Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ / recorded 2026-09-25

Prizes at every festival

3The making side of an entry

For an entrant reading “Sundance Film Festival”, this is what SceneMixer publishes about the film its pipeline hands over:

Length caps, dialogue grammar and the way a unit ends. Short drama forces explicit dialogue, a conflict in the first ten seconds and a hook at the close; film mode allows subtext and quiet endings and drops the per-unit cap.

SceneMixer, AI Movie Generator — “What is the difference between film mode and short drama mode?” (read 2026-10-13)

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)

4Related festivals

• Reply AI Film Festival next to Sundance Film Festival
• Sundance Film Festival next to World AI Film Festival
• Runway AI Festival
• Runway Gen:48
• Turkey International AI Film Festival
• World AI Film Festival

The organiser's current rules always govern; this is a dated reading, not advice. Method: how rules are read.

5Rules documents read

• Sundance Institute, 2027 submissions FAQ, read 2026-09-25
• Sundance Institute, 2027 rules and regulations, read 2026-09-25