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The AI Film Festival is open to anyone worldwide who is 18 or older by the submission deadline (June 1, 2026).
Yes! Reply employees (Replyers) can team up with students and professionals to submit a short film for the Reply AIFF.
No. To submit your short film, you must join or create a team (1-8 members). Signing up on the platform only gives you access to updates on upcoming online challenges.
No, this initiative is completely free.
You can register and submit your short movie until June 1st 23:59 CEST.
Log in to your profile and click “Edit Profile” to update your information anytime.
To cancel your registration, email your request to challenges@reply.com. If you want to leave your team, simply click “Leave team” on your challenge page.
Log in to the platform, click the “Team up” button, and select “Create new team.” Once your team is set up, you’ll see it when you log in. You can also choose a team name and invite other members by entering their email addresses and sending an invitation.
A team can have between 1 and 8 members.
Yes, you can apply to as many teams as you like. This means you can submit different short films with each team. You can participate solo or form a team of up to 8 members.
Yes, you can ask your teammates to leave the team, or you can leave the team yourself. Keep in mind that your teammates won’t receive any notifications, so make sure to inform them.
Yes, you can also register through FilmFreeway. Please review the T&C here and the Privacy Notice here.
According to the rules, your AI short film should incorporate AI-powered tools in the creation process, but it’s not limited to generative AI. You’re free to use any AI tools during different phases of production, and you'll be asked to explain how AI was used to achieve your final result. It’s not required for your short film to be 100% AI-generated.
You should upload your short film in .mp4, .mov, or .h264 format on your challenge page.
Additionally, you’ll need to complete a text form with questions about your work and the production process. Please make sure to fill it out thoroughly, providing all the information the jury may need to evaluate your short film effectively. The answers must be written in English.
No categories, no limits. We welcome every genre, every style, every vision – as long as AI is part of the creative process.
Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Compelling Stories: AI-enhanced storytelling with a powerful narrative at its core.
Visual innovation: Bold artistic choices, unconventional formats, pushing the boundaries of conventional cinema.
Hybrid Creations: AI combined with live action or mixed media.
Animation & VFX: AI-enhanced 2D/3D animation, motion graphics, and visual effects.
Advanced Technical Approach: Advanced AI tools and techniques, from custom-trained models to sophisticated compositing workflows.
AI-Powered Music Videos: Visuals and sound coming together in new ways.
Documentary & Mockumentary: AI exploring reality… or reshaping it.
Each team (1-8 members) can submit only one short movie. However, you can update your uploaded file as many times as you want until the deadline on June 1st at 23:59 CEST—only the latest version will be evaluated by the jury.
If you want to submit more than one short movie, you’ll need to create a new team for each additional submission.
Your AI short movie must be between 1 and 40 minutes long.
But you can submit a longer film for the "Long-Form Spotlight" special mention. No prize in money or goods will be awarded to the Team selected by Reply for the “Long-Form Spotlight”.
There are no specific language requirements for your short film. However, since the jury is international, English is preferred to ensure broader understanding.
Please ensure that the answers on the form are written in English.
Yes, your short film can be submitted also to other competitions, but in case you will be selected as a finalist invited to the Reply AI Film Festival Premiere Event in Venice your short movie must not be entirely available online.
Yes, each finalist TEAM can bring one MEMBER. The organization will cover travel expenses from the international departure airport or train station to Venice and back, as well as two nights' accommodation. Our team will reach out to you for the necessary details to arrange your stay.
During the Venice premiere, the Jury Panel will award prizes to the best three teams among the ten finalists. The winning short films will receive the following prizes:
8,000.00 € for the short film in 1st place.
5,000.00 € for the short film in 2nd place
2,000.00 € for the short film in 3rd place.
Each prize will be divided among the members of the winning team and will be delivered within 60 days. Registered users will be contacted to provide the bank details necessary for the prize transfer.
Reply AI Studios pioneers the future of AI-driven creative production, combining cutting-edge generative AI, advanced audio engineering, and immersive visual content creation.
This award recognises artists who demonstrate exceptional technical mastery and innovative implementation of AI throughout their creative workflow - from sophisticated model integration to professional-grade production quality.
The “Reply AI Studios Grand Prix” will celebrate one short film among the ten selected as finalists of the Reply AI Film Festival.
Bridging the power of technology, storytelling, and social impact, this prize will be awarded to the short movies that highlight the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while celebrating human creativity in AI-enhanced filmmaking.
To be a candidate in this category:
The Short Film must highlight one or more of humanity’s biggest challenges.
The team needs to flag the checkbox at the end of the submission forms, also including the brief description of how the Short Film spotlights and addresses global challenges.
Four short films will be selected by ITU from the candidates and screened during the AI for Good Summit 2026 in Geneva, from July 7th to 10th, 2026.
While no monetary prize will be awarded, the opportunity to have your film screened at this prestigious event is a celebratory recognition offered by ITU.
One member from each of the four selected teams will receive the Leader Pass, granting access to the AI for Good Summit 2026, where their short film will be showcased.
A sincere thank you to ITU for this opportunity.
The first 400 participants who submit a short film to the Reply AI Film Festival 2026 through challenges.reply.com will receive a special gift.
1st–200th submitter: 100,000 FLORA credits
201st–400th submitter: 50,000 FLORA credits
Plus, you'll receive a special code via email to get 50% off on their Starter, Studio, and Scale plans.
Bring your ideas to life faster than ever before. Access the power of 50+ models to enhance your film. You can update your submission as many times as needed until the final deadline: June 1st at 23:59 CEST.
A huge thank you to FLORA for making this possible!
After the deadline on June 1st at 23:59 CEST, the Jury Panel will review all submissions and select ten finalists. These finalists will be invited to attend a premiere event hosted by Reply and Mastercard in Venice, taking place between September 2nd and September 12th, 2026.
Each short film and the answers on the form describing the use of generative AI will be qualitatively evaluated by the Jury Panel, at their incontestable discretion, based on the following criteria:
AI impact: How significantly AI contributes to the short film’s production.
Creativity: The innovative approach to the film’s communication.
Craftsmanship: The overall quality of the film’s production.
Gabriele Salvatores
Gabriele Salvatores was born in Naples in 1950. He later moved to Milan, where he graduated from the Drama Academy of the Piccolo Teatro. In 1972, he was among the founders of Teatro dell’Elfo, which within a few years became a point of reference for an entire generation of young audiences.
Between the 1970s and 1980s, Salvatores staged 21 theatrical productions for Elfo, some of which proved to be great successes. In 1981, he created a rock musical based on Shakespeare’s *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, which reached a record 200,000 attendees. In 1982, this show became Salvatores’ first feature film, marking his gradual shift from theatre direction to the creation of other projects, including music videos and commercials. In 1986, Gabriele Salvatores, Maurizio Totti, and Diego Abatantuono founded Colorado Film Production, a Milan-based production company that immediately achieved great success with the release of Salvatores’ second film, *Kamikazen – Last Night in Milan*. In 1989, his films *Marrakech Express* and *Turné* were released, followed in 1991 by *Mediterraneo*, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (1992).
In 1992, Salvatores directed *Puerto Escondido*, the biggest box office success of the 1992/1993 film season. The following year saw the release of *Sud*. These were followed by two bold and experimental films, *Nirvana*, a box office hit in 1996, and *Denti*, presented at the Venice Film Festival in 2000. In 2001, he directed *Amnesia*, and the following year *I’m Not Scared*, which was presented in competition at the Berlin Film Festival and later selected as Italy’s submission for the Academy Awards in 2004. *I’m Not Scared* achieved great critical and commercial success and was sold in 32 countries.
In 2004, he directed *Quo Vadis, Baby?*, based on the first novel of the Colorado Noir series. This was followed by *As God Commands*, based on the novel by Niccolò Ammaniti, winner of the Strega Prize in 2007.
In 2009, Gabriele Salvatores shot the comedy *Happy Family* in Milan, based on the play by Alessandro Genovesi, released in cinemas in March 2010.
In 2010, Gabriele Salvatores was a member of the jury at the 67th Venice International Film Festival, chaired by Quentin Tarantino. At the same festival, he presented the documentary *1960*, created using archival material from Rai Teche, which was broadcast in October 2010 on Rai Tre.
In 2013, Gabriele Salvatores directed *Siberian Education*, based on the novel by Nicolai Lilin and starring John Malkovich. In 2014, he directed the collective film *Italy in a Day*, presented out of competition at the 71st Venice Film Festival, as well as *The Invisible Boy*, the first chapter of the saga directed by Salvatores.
In 2017, he directed *La gazza ladra* at La Scala in Milan, with musical direction by maestro Riccardo Chailly.
In 2018, *The Invisible Boy – Second Generation*, the second chapter of the saga that began in 2014, was released.
In 2019, *Volare (All My Crazy Love)*, starring Claudio Santamaria and Valeria Golino, was presented out of competition at the 76th Venice Film Festival. In 2021, he directed *Comedians*, a feature film he had already staged at Teatro dell’Elfo in 1985.
In 2023, *The Return of Casanova*, starring Toni Servillo and Fabrizio Bentivoglio, was released, followed in 2024 by *Naples – New York*, based on a subject by Federico Fellini and Tullio Pinelli, starring Pierfrancesco Favino.
Rob Minkoff
Rob Minkoff is a renowned American animator, producer, and director. He is best known for co-directing the acclaimed Disney animated feature "The Lion King" (1994). Minkoff’s career in animation and directing spans several notable films, including "Stuart Little" (1999), "The Haunted Mansion" (2003), and "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" (2014). Minkoff developed a passion for animation at an early age and later studied at the California Institute of the Arts in the early 1980s. His early work includes contributions as an animator to Disney films like "The Great Mouse Detective" (1986) and “The Little Mermaid” (1989). Throughout his career, he has explored a wide range of subjects from lions on the Savannah, to mice in Manhattan, and martial arts in ancient China, making him a significant figure in the animation and film industries, known for his ability to craft engaging and memorable stories across different genres and formats.
Catherine Hardwicke
Hardwicke has since then become best known as the director of Twilight, which turbo-charged the careers of Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson (they met in a casting session at her house). Twilight launched the blockbuster $3.3 billion franchise and landed her in the Guinness Book of World Records for the female director with the biggest box office opening weekend. Twilight had a best-selling soundtrack album and her book, "The Twilight Director’s Notebook," was an international best seller, translated into 20 languages.
Hardwicke’s other credits include: Lords of Dogtown (Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch), Miss You Already (Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette), Red Riding Hood (Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman), Miss Bala (Gina Rodriguez), and The Nativity Story (Oscar Isaac’s first film). More recently she filmed in Rome for Mafia Mamma (Toni Collette, Monica Bellucci), and in Las Vegas - the gritty family drama Prisoner’s Daughter (Kate Beckinsale, Brian Cox), which premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival. She recently wrapped an indie film Street Smart, about a lively group of young creatives struggling to survive on the streets in Venice Beach. It’s been described as a “Homeless Breakfast Club.”
For television, she has directed episodes of This Is Us, Eye Witness, Low Winter Sun, Hell on Wheels, Reckless and the 14-part Quibi series Don’t Look Deeper (Don Cheadle, Emily Mortimer). She directed on the acclaimed Hulu series, Under the Bridge, starring Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone. Hardwicke directed the stand-alone episode of Dreams in the Witchhouse (Rupert Grint) for Guillermo del Toro’s “Cabinet of Curiosities” on Netflix.
Hardwicke previously worked as the Production Designer on films including Vanilla Sky (Tom Cruise) , Three Kings (George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg) , Tank Girl (Lori Petty, Malcolm McDowell) and the classic western Tombstone (Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer). She holds an Architecture degree from UT Austin and did graduate work in animation at UCLA Film School.
Christina Lee Storm
Christina Lee Storm is an award-winning producer and executive recognized for her pioneering work at the intersection of storytelling and technology spanning film, television, animation, documentaries, virtual reality, augmented reality, and XR.
As Co-Founder/Partner of Playbook PLBK and Head of Studio, Narrative at Secret Level, Christina leads her companies to strategically, creatively and responsibly integrate emerging technologies into traditional, narrative, digital, and multi-platform storytelling. She has been instrumental in implementing creative and strategic production technologies for franchises, IP, and world-building with studios such as Netflix, Universal, and DreamWorks Animation. Notable title she has been involved with include Avatar: The Last Airbender, One Piece, Back in Action, Rez Ball, Troll, The Boss Baby, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Trolls Holiday, Abominab, Trolls World Tour, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
While at Netflix, Christina spearheaded virtual production across Netflix's series, films, unscripted, and ancillary content. As Vice President of Business Operations, Strategy & Emerging Technology at DreamWorks Animation, Christina championed the future of real-time animation and production innovation for the studio's numerous franchises creating award-winning immersive, interactive, and theme park experiences.
Beyond her groundbreaking work in emerging media, Christina is passionate about thought-provoking storytelling. She has produced numerous independent feature films, and recently Newborn starring David Oyelowo in partnership with BRON Studios, as well as the award-winning documentaries Life After Pi and Jurassic Punk. Her collaborations span the globe, contributing to Academy Award winning productions like The Arti, Life of Pi, The Chronicle of Narnia, and Hong Kong film classics The Mission and Running Out of Time.
She is Governor of the Television Academy's Emerging Media Programming peer group, Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee, Lead for the Academy’s Responsible AI & Production Standards Working Group, and an active member of the Innovation Advisory Committee. Christina sits on the Producers Guild of America’s Production Innovation Task Force, and Los Angele Mayor's Entertainment Industry Council and Workforce Development Sub-Committee. Christina is Co-Founder of The Creative + Tech Orbit substack and partnered with veteran entertainment and technology senior editor & reporter Carolyn Giardina and Co-Founder Annie Hanlon.
Globally known as a thought leader in the emerging media landscape, Christina is recognized for her leadership and dedication to the industry and a sought after speaker and panelist. She was inducted into AWE’s inaugural XR Hall of Fame, received the Lumiere Distinguished Leadership Award in Technology, and she is a proud Founding Member of DreamWorks Animation's TECHWomen. She is a newly inducted member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, Class of 2025.
Nils Hartmann
As Executive Vice President Sky Studios Italy, Nils Hartmann leads the development, commissioning and production of Sky Original series for Sky Italia. He previously leaded Sky Original dramas and scripted comedies for Sky Deutschland too, with some successful titles such as Das Boot, Der Pass and Babylon Berlin.
In his previous capacity as Director of Original Productions at Sky Italia, Nils Hartmann oversaw the development and production of several acclaimed international TV series, including the Gomorrah franchise, the political trilogy 1992, 1993, and 1994, The Young Pope by Academy Award winner Paolo Sorrentino, as well as its follow-up The New Pope (starring Jude Law and John Malkovich). He also produced ZeroZeroZero by Gomorrah showrunner Stefano Sollima, Devils starring Patrick Dempsey and Alessandro Borghi, and Domina starring Kasia Smutniak alongside an international cast.
More recent works include Unwanted, inspired by the award-winning book Bilal by Fabrizio Gatti, and Dostoevskij, directed by the D’Innocenzo Brothers, winners of the Best Screenplay award at the Berlin Film Festival for Favolacce. Among the latest acclaimed productions are The Art of Joy (L’arte della gioia), directed by Valeria Golino—presented at the Cannes Film Festival and winner of three David di Donatello awards—and M – Son of the Century, directed by Joe Wright and starring Luca Marinelli as Benito Mussolini, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has since received widespread critical and audience acclaim. Numerous other original projects are currently in development under his leadership.
With 25 years’ experience in tv production under his belt, Nils Hartmann (who has been also exec producer of the Italian editions of X Factor, Masterchef and Italia’s Got Talent), joined Sky Italia back in 2003 for its launch in the role of Creative Director, after helping set up the Studio Universal movie channel as Creative Manager in Rome, where he had previously started out as Promo Producer at Orbit Network upon successfully completing a Master at the London International Film School. Born in Hannover, Germany in 1967, Nils grew up in Milan, Italy, and is now mainly based there again, working in the Italian and German Sky headquarters, actively contributing to its success, notably by spotting, nurturing and developing ideas, as well as Talent.
Jed Weintrob
30 Ninjas CEO and award-winning producer Jed Weintrob partners with Doug Liman and Julina Tatlock at their 30 Ninjas studio to lead the evolution of AI-driven immersive narrative. The Ninjas are always pushing the boundaries of technology and the imagination to create dynamic interactive, multi-platform, AR, VR, MR and linear content for every major mobile, glasses and headset platform in the world, have had their work screened at international festivals including Sundance, and Cannes, Venice, and have been honored to receive multiple Emmy nominations.
Filippo Rizzante is the CTO and a member of the Board of Directors at Reply.
Filippo began his career at Reply in 1999. In the early years, he primarily focused on consulting and projects for the web division within the Group, specifically on developing B2B and B2C portals.
In 2006, Filippo became an Executive Partner of the Reply Group, responsible for the companies within the Group that handle Oracle technologies, Security, Information Lifecycle Management, Web 2.0, and Open Source.
Over the years, he has held increasingly senior roles within the Group, taking direct responsibility for various business lines, including Architectures and Technologies, Digital Media, and Mobile.
Since 2012, as CTO of Reply, he has led the development of new offerings related to technological innovation and has been responsible for all Group-level partnerships.
Filippo holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the Politecnico di Torino.
Guillem Martínez Roura
Guillem Martínez Roura is the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Programme Officer at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for digital technologies. He works at the intersection of AI, technology, and global cooperation and development, driving initiatives that shape the future role of AI, robotics, and other emerging technologies in addressing humanity’s greatest challenges.
Giacomo Mineo
Giacomo Mineo is a VFX Supervisor with more than twenty years of experience in film and television, recognized for combining technical expertise with a strong artistic sensibility. He most recently served as VFX Supervisor on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, following his work on the acclaimed Oppenheimer, where his attention to detail helped bring the director’s vision to the screen.
His VFX Supervisor credits also include Mercy, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Riviera Season 3, and Alex Garland’s Devs, for which he received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role. Earlier in his career, he contributed to major international productions including Avengers: Infinity War, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Terminator Genisys.
Brian Welk
Brian is a Senior Reporter on IndieWire’s business team, covering the film industry, festivals and annual mix of awards. Before joining IndieWire, he spent six years at TheWrap, where he became Senior Film Reporter. He has covered major events including the Oscars, Sundance, TIFF, SXSW and the Golden Globes, and has also moderated industry panels and appeared across outlets such as Good Morning America and BBC News.
Denise Negri
Denise Negri, a renowned journalist at Sky TG24, covers prestigious cinema events like the Academy Awards, Cannes, and Venice film festivals. A respected media figure, she is also a presenter at Sky Arte.
The Premiere event will be held between September 2nd, 2026, and September 12th, 2026. Each finalist team will be notified at least 25 days before the event to coordinate travel arrangements with our staff.
The organization will cover:
Two-nights accommodation
Travel expenses from the international departure airport (or train station) to Venice and back
Transfers to the Première event location and back
Our team will reach out to arrange all the details for your stay.
No, the Reply AI Film Festival is not part of the official program of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The Reply AI Film Festival is an independent event hosted at the exclusive Lido di Venezia, offering a unique setting for the occasion.
This award will honor long-form works that push the boundaries of storytelling through generative AI. This special mention award recognizes vision, craft, and innovation in AI-enabled filmmaking. The “Long-Form Spotlight” will celebrate one Motion Picture among the candidates.
No prize in money or goods will be awarded to the Team selected by Reply for the “Long-Form Spotlight”.
You'll receive updates via email, so be sure to check your inbox regularly.
If you have any questions during the submission phase, you can also reach out to us on Discord or via email at aiff@reply.com.
Which language(s) do I need to speak?
All official communications will be in English. However, you and your teammates are free to speak any language you prefer! 😊
Read the full Terms & Conditions of the competition.