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Berlin AI Film Festival 2027 · Guide

How to win the Berlin AI Film Festival.Two lanes, one deadline: 31 December 2026.

The rules, the two award lanes (a fully AI film or a mixed one with live action), the dates that disagree across the web and a plan to 31 December 2026. Then build the film in 熙熙: screenplay, storyboard and Seedance footage.
Start writing for freeSee the scene
  • Deadline 31 December 2026
  • Full AI or mixed lane
  • Screenings 16 and 17 February 2027
Lost Garden · Episode 2

Independent guide. 熙熙 does not organise the Berlin AI Film Festival and is not affiliated with its organisers. Rules read on 1 October 2026. Festival page on FilmFreeway

Available today in 熙熙: free screenwriting tools, and a complete storyboard automatically generated from your screenplay when you subscribe to the 年度会员, priced at ¥168 一年.

Also available now: video generation of each shot, powered by Seedance, on the same 年度会员, with 3,000 张额度 一年.

The rules on one card

What the Berlin AI Film Festival asks for.

A small festival in Berlin, organized through FilmFreeway by festival director Dimitris Argyriou, and characterized by its own reviewers as intimate in scale and atmosphere. Its submission rules fit on one page. The sharpest choice you make as a filmmaker is selecting the lane: submitting a fully AI film, or a mixed one that combines AI with traditional techniques.
Festival
16 to 17 February 2027, Berlin
Final deadline
31 December 2026 (extended)
Notification
31 January 2027
Who can enter
AI in any part of the process, or a film about AI
Completed
After 1 January 2024
Length and genre
Any
Awards
Best AI Film, Best Mixed AI Film, a Special Mention for each
Prizes
Services and subscriptions, no cash listed

Source: the festival's FilmFreeway listing containing dates, submission rules, and prizes, read in a browser on 1 October 2026. We found no standalone festival site during our research. Two secondary listings disagree with it regarding the key dates. The entry fee is not shown on the page we read; a secondary listing gives 10 to 40 USD by tier based on submission timing.

Key dates

Three months, and a date to double-check.

FilmFreeway lists an extended deadline on 31 December 2026. <b>Two other sites give different dates</b>, shown on the last card. Submit before 31 December and the question never matters.

  1. 31 Mar to 31 Jul 2026

    Three earlier deadlines, passed

    Earlybird on 31 March, regular on 31 May and late on 31 July. The fee rose at each tier, and only the extended deadline is open now.

  2. 31 Dec 2026

    Extended deadline

    The last day to enter on FilmFreeway, with a screening link, a synopsis, credits and at least one promotional still.

  3. 31 Jan 2027

    Notification

    Selected films are told by email and announced on the festival’s site and social media.

  4. 16 to 17 Feb 2027

    Screenings in Berlin

    At Z-Cinema, Bergstr. 2, and one more venue. The festival also lists workshops and discussions beside the screenings.

  5. Conflicting

    Two dates that disagree

    One listing gives 31 January 2027 as the deadline, which FilmFreeway gives as the notification date. A guide on the same site gives 9 to 11 February for the event. We follow FilmFreeway.

How films are judged

Three criteria, no weights.

The rules name three criteria for the selection committee and publish no weights. Do not trust a site that gives you percentages: the festival does not.

  • Artistic quality

    Direction, image, sound, edit, performance. A finished and consistent film reads as intentional. One look from the first frame to the last.

  • Innovation

    A reason the film needs these tools. The festival says it wants to show how machine learning reshapes storytelling and perception, so use AI where a camera cannot go and show your method.

  • Relevance to the festival’s theme

    The theme is the meeting of AI and cinema, from narrative experiments to documentaries and immersive work. A film that is about, or visibly shaped by, that meeting is on theme. A generic short is not.

The rules make you responsible for rights: you must hold every right in the film’s content, music, visuals and AI-generated material included.

Who decides

A director, a programmer and three past jurors.

The listing names the people behind the festival. It does not say who judges the 2027 edition. It does name three jurors of the first.

  • Director and programmer

    Dimitris Argyriou is listed as festival director and Maria P. as programmer. A selection committee evaluates every submission on the three criteria and notifies selected films by email.

  • First-edition jury

    Gari Marcos, Liber Esquer and Vasilis Boukis appear as jury members of the first edition. Do not assume they return: the page says nothing about 2027.

  • A final word

    The jury’s rulings are final and cannot be negotiated. The festival may modify, merge or cancel any award category if the number, quality or suitability of films falls short. A thin category can disappear.

Categories and lanes

Pick your lane before your first prompt.

The rules name three categories, and the awards split into two lanes: Best AI Film and Best Mixed AI Film, each with its own Special Mention. Each card closes with the move we would make.

  • 01

    AI-generated films

    Works created fully or partially with AI tools.

    The entry form offers Full AI Film and Mixed AI Film. Choose by the honest share of live action, because the two lanes are awarded separately.

  • 02

    Films about AI

    Documentaries or narratives exploring artificial intelligence as a theme.

    A film may qualify by subject alone. How it sits between the two award lanes is not explained, so ask before you pay the fee.

  • 03

    Experimental and hybrid works

    Cross-media, interactive or installation-based projects involving AI.

    Room for a film that mixes a shoot, generated shots and found material. This is the lane for a storyboard that plans both kinds of shot.

The first edition

What the reviews tell you.

FilmFreeway counts two years of running, and its reviews from May 2026 describe the first edition. We found no list of winners or titles, so the lessons come from the filmmakers’ own words.

  1. 01

    It is small and personal. One reviewer calls it intimate, and another travelled to Berlin and describes a lively Q&A with a small, interested audience. Expect to be seen by people, not by a market.

  2. 02

    Both lanes get prizes. A filmmaker thanks the festival for Best Mixed AI Film, another for a Special Mention. The mixed lane is a real award, not a side table.

  3. 03

    You get an answer. A reviewer says it was good to receive actual feedback, along with a poster noting the project’s merits. Organisers reply to reviews in person.

  4. 04

    The prizes are services. Best films receive festival strategy counselling by NewBorn Short Film Agency, valued at 1,500 USD, and a 12 month iPitch.tv subscription. Special Mentions get three months of iPitch.tv.

From script to screen

Lost Garden: the cave, shot by shot.

Berlin gives a mixed film its own award, so the first question is how much of your film is generated. This sequence opens Lost Garden, episode 2, an animated series by the 熙熙 team made with Seedance. It shows what one held look does across six shots: the screenplay page, each shot as a storyboard frame, then as the final image.

Logline. A newborn knight whose inner light is leaking away crosses a world that has stopped hoping, to find the one blacksmith who can seal his armor.

Screenplay · episode 2 · page 1

INT. UNDERGROUND CAVERN - LOWER PATH - CONTINUOUS

Blue mushrooms the size of houses. LANTERN, a small knight with a lantern for a helm, walks alone.

He presses a hand to his chest. Sparks of light slip between his fingers.

SERRURE

Hold on. You're losing something.

Serrure lifts the edge of the cloak. A gash in the armor. Blue light leaks out like smoke.

SERRURE

That's your energy. What keeps you standing.

He grips Lantern's shoulder—two knights standing alone among the crystals, neither speaking.

SERRURE

A suit that leaks goes out. Eventually.

Under the giant mushrooms, the road climbs into the dark.

SERRURE

So. We follow the road.

Serrure points the way. Lantern follows.

CUT TO:

  1. A small knight with a lantern helm stands by a giant glowing blue mushroom in a crystal cavern
    Storyboard frame of the same wide shot, in grey
    01

    Wide · the world

    Wide shot, Lantern alone by a giant glowing blue mushroom, crystal cavern, roots, drifting spores, cold blue light

  2. Close-up of an armored chest under a cream cloak, a gloved hand, a spark of light
    Storyboard frame of the chest close-up, in grey
    02

    Close-up · the chest

    Close-up on Lantern's chest, his gloved hand pressed to the cloak, a spark of light escaping between the fingers

  3. A torn gash in an armor plate leaking bright blue light, a finger pointing at it
    Storyboard frame of the wound insert, in grey
    03

    Insert · the wound

    Extreme close-up, Serrure's finger near a torn gash in the back plate, blue light leaking out like luminous smoke

  4. Two armored knights side by side, one with a hand on the other's shoulder, in a crystal cavern
    Storyboard frame of the two-shot, in grey
    04

    Two-shot · the bond

    Medium two-shot among crystals and roots, Serrure's hand on Lantern's shoulder, faceless armors, emotion through posture only

  5. Two small knights walk beneath two giant glowing blue mushrooms
    Storyboard frame of the wide shot, in grey
    05

    Wide · the scale

    Wide low angle, the two knights tiny beneath two giant glowing mushrooms, blue crystals in the foreground, mist

  6. Seen from behind, a tall dark knight points ahead while the small lantern knight looks on
    Storyboard frame of the over-the-shoulder shot, in grey
    06

    Over the shoulder · the road

    Over-the-shoulder from behind, Serrure points ahead into the cavern, Lantern beside him, roots framing the path

Lost Garden, episode 2 runs 21 minutes in total. The festival accepts films of any length without restriction, so a complete episode could be entered exactly as it stands. Episode 1 of the series reached the AI London Festival finals. Playback begins inside the cave.

The script

Seven minutes, five movements.

There is no length rule at all, and a small festival programmes small by nature. Seven minutes is long enough to deliver a satisfying ending and short enough to maintain one consistent look with the same faces throughout: roughly 7 pages of screenplay and 70 to 100 shots running 4 to 6 seconds each.

  1. 0:00 to 0:30

    The hook

    One strong image and one question. Give a screener a reason to keep watching.

  2. 0:30 to 1:30

    The world

    Who we follow and what they lack. Show the rule of the world in a single gesture.

  3. 1:30 to 4:00

    The turn

    Something breaks the routine, and each scene costs the character more.

  4. 4:00 to 6:00

    The choice

    The character decides. Keep this scene for your best shots.

  5. 6:00 to 7:00

    The echo

    A closing frame that echoes the opening one. Then the credits.

If your film mixes live action and generated shots together, write that join directly into the screenplay itself: specify which scenes are filmed, which scenes are generated, and identify what visual element carries the look across the cut between them.

Week by week

From a lane to the submit button.

About thirteen weeks in total from 1 October to 31 December. The film is made somewhere in the middle of those weeks. Decide the lane first before anything else: it fixes what you may film and what you must generate.
  1. 01

    October 2026

    Choose the lane

    Full AI Film or Mixed AI Film. Write the choice on the first page of the project and keep to it.

  2. 02

    First half of November

    Logline and screenplay

    Seven pages, few lines. Draft them in 熙熙 at no cost and read them aloud. If a scene needs a face you cannot generate, it is a mixed scene.

  3. 03

    Second half of November

    Characters, locations, references

    Approve a single reference for each character and place. They carry into every shot, which is what keeps a face the same for seven minutes.

  4. 04

    Late November

    Storyboard every shot

    Generate the shot breakdown from the screenplay, then set framing, angle, movement and duration. Mark each shot as filmed or generated.

  5. 05

    1 to 20 December

    Generate and shoot

    Scene by scene with Seedance, from the storyboard and references, plus any live-action days. Keep every prompt and version: the rules ask you to hold the rights.

  6. 06

    21 to 28 December

    Edit, sound, subtitles

    Cut, mix and add English subtitles if the dialogue is not in English. Clear every music source.

  7. 07

    By 31 December

    Submit on FilmFreeway

    Screening link, synopsis, credits and a promotional still. Do not wait for 31 January: the notification date is not a deadline.

Why films get rejected

Eight ways to miss the programme.

Competition rules tend to be concise, so every clause matters. Always review the official guidelines on FilmFreeway on the day you plan to submit—festivals reserve the right to update their requirements at any time, and last-minute changes do happen.

  • The wrong lane

    A film with live-action shots belongs in Mixed AI Film, and a fully generated one in Full AI Film. Choose by the honest share, not by the prize you prefer.

  • A film from before 2024

    Only works completed after 1 January 2024 are eligible. A re-edit of an older film does not change its completion date.

  • No English subtitles

    Non-English films must include English subtitles. A generated voice in another language still needs them on screen.

  • Rights you cannot prove

    You must hold all necessary rights, including music, visuals and AI-generated material. Check the terms of every tool you used and keep the licences.

  • An incomplete entry

    Each entry needs a screening link, synopsis, credits and at least one promotional still. A link that stops working is a missing screener.

  • Trusting the wrong date

    A secondary listing shows 31 January 2027 as the deadline. FilmFreeway shows 31 December 2026 and calls 31 January the notification date. Submit by 31 December.

  • Counting on a cash prize

    The prizes listed are services and subscriptions. A secondary site says the cash amount is to be announced. Budget as if it will be none.

  • A category that vanishes

    The festival can merge or cancel an award if too few films qualify. A niche entry may end up judged in another category or not at all.

Why 熙熙

Berlin takes any tool. 熙熙 connects them.

This festival does not restrict which tools you use, does not cap runtime, and does not limit the percentage of AI-generated content. What it does require is a strong film that fits the designated category. 熙熙 unifies your entire workflow—from screenplay and storyboard through to final footage—inside one cohesive project environment.

  • A lane planned on the board

    Each shot in the storyboard can be marked as filmed or generated, so the mixed lane is a decision you make before production and not an accident of the edit.

  • Footage powered by Seedance

    The generated shots run on Seedance 2.0 and 2.5, directly from your script and storyboard, on the 年度会员.

  • Rights you can document

    Each shot links back to its scene, its board frame and its prompt, since the pipelines are tied to the script. That is your record when the rules ask who holds what.

  • Start for free today

    Screenwriting costs nothing and never expires on the 免费档. The 年度会员 costs ¥168 年度. Finish the screenplay and the board, then generate the shots in the same project.

Real productions

International festival-recognized films have been written and produced with 熙熙.

熙熙 is already serving as the creative hub for real-world AI film productions: teams are using it to develop cinematic short films and animated series pilots that have been selected, nominated, and awarded at international festivals around the globe.

  • Video thumbnail for VOIDBORN

    VOIDBORN

    AI animated / cinematic short

    Festival recognition

    • 1st Place Silver

      Mondial Chroma Awards

    • 2nd Place 熙熙

      Mondial Chroma Awards

    • Award Winner

      Seoul International AI Film Festival

  • Video thumbnail for Les Fils du Vinnana

    Les Fils du Vinnana

    AI short film

    Festival recognition

    • Honorable Mention

      Top Quark Film Festival

    • People's Choice Nominee

      Illuminate Oneness of Humanity

    • Nominee

      ALTFF Supershort

  • Video thumbnail for Lost Garden

    Lost Garden

    AI animated series pilot

    Festival recognition

    • Finalist

      AI London Festival

See what creators are building

The pipeline

Write. Board. Produce.

  1. 熙熙 screenplay editor: acts, sequences and beats above the formatted script of The Yellow Umbrella

    01The screenplay, enriched

    An industry-standard screenplay editor, and more: a visual outline and beat editor, your writing inspirations (notes, photos, audio) kept next to the page, and an AI researcher to support your writing, not replace it.

  2. 熙熙 storyboard: shot S3 of The Yellow Umbrella with characters, shot settings and the script beside it

    02The storyboard, made easy

    Shot breakdown generated from your screenplay, manual control over every shot (frame, angle, movement, duration), and generative AI previsualization in one click.

  3. 熙熙 production canvas: shots S3 and S4 as connected nodes carrying their storyboard panels and prompts

    03AI production, with finesse

    Footage generation pipelines connected to your screenplay and storyboard. Optimized out of the box, fully editable workflow.

More AI film festivals

Guides for other festivals

Go further

Guides for festival films

FAQ

The Berlin AI Film Festival, your questions

How do you win the Berlin AI Film Festival?
The rules name three criteria without weights: artistic quality, innovation and relevance to the festival’s theme. There are two awards, Best AI Film and Best Mixed AI Film, each with a Special Mention. Enter the lane that fits, hold one look, and submit before 31 December 2026.
What is the deadline?
FilmFreeway lists an extended deadline of 31 December 2026 and a notification date of 31 January 2027. One secondary listing gives 31 January as the deadline, which looks like the notification date. Submit by 31 December to be safe.
When and where is the festival?
FilmFreeway gives 16 and 17 February 2027, at Z-Cinema, Bergstr. 2, Berlin, and one more venue. A secondary guide gives 9 to 11 February. We follow the festival’s own listing, and the programme will confirm it.
What does entering Berlin cost?
The page we read does not show the fee. A secondary listing gives 10 to 40 USD by tier, with the extended tier at 40 USD and a small discount for FilmFreeway Gold members. Fees are non-refundable, so confirm the amount at checkout.
Are there cash prizes?
None is listed. Best films receive festival strategy counselling valued at 1,500 USD and a 12 month iPitch.tv subscription. Special Mentions receive a three month subscription. A secondary site says the cash amount is to be announced.
Does my film have to be fully AI?
No. The festival accepts films that use AI in any part of the creative process (scriptwriting, image generation, sound design, editing) or address AI as a subject. A film mixing live action and AI competes for Best Mixed AI Film.
What length and genre are allowed?
Any length and genre, provided it was completed after 1 January 2024. Films in other languages need English subtitles. There is no stated rule on aspect ratio or resolution.
Who keeps the rights after I submit?
Yes. You keep full ownership and copyright. By submitting, you let the festival screen the film at the event and use excerpts, images and text for promotion.

Pick the lane. Then write the first page.

Your screenplay costs nothing to start. Storyboard it, mark each shot as filmed or generated, then make it with Seedance.
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