CLOWD AI FILM FESTIVAL

Official Rules Note: Only submit to CLOWD if your film was created through a true collaboration between human creativity and artificial intelligence—this is the foundation, not the fine print. Before entering, review the rules and criteria below to ensure your work aligns with how we define AI-powered storytelling. The CLOWD AI Film Festival is a two-day cinematic gathering and competition October 2026, dedicated to a new kind of storytelling—where human vision meets machine intelligence. We spotlight narrative films crafted by creators who use AI not as a shortcut, but as a creative partner. Our mission is simple: empower the storytellers shaping what’s next. We champion emerging voices, bold techniques, and the artists redefining how stories are imagined, built, and experienced in this rapidly evolving medium. Across screenings, panels, and curated networking moments, CLOWD becomes a live exchange between filmmakers, technologists, and the minds building the tools themselves. It’s not just a festival—it’s a working ecosystem. A place where creators and developers collide, collaborate, and push the boundaries of narrative forward. And there’s no better stage than Hollywood—the original intersection of technology and entertainment. Here, the future of AI-driven storytelling plays out in real time: on screen, in conversation, and in the rooms where the next wave of innovation is already being written. CLOWD lives at the center of that gravity—bringing together filmmakers, artists, and technologists who aren’t just adapting to change, but actively directing it. Rules & Terms To enter you must: Create a 2-11 minute video in which 75% of submitted films were created using AI software (“Video Submission”). This does not preclude entries from using photographs, video or other images not generated with AI as references and models for shots created using AI software. Compliance with the entry requirements will be determined by Organization in its sole discretion. The Video Submission and Registration Form cannot be edited once submitted. Submission Guidelines: By submitting the Video Submission to the Organization via https://hiike.com and participating in the Film Festival, you represent and warrant that: -Submission Format All submissions must be provided via FilmFreeway with a secure online screener. We do not accept physical submissions. Works must be final versions — rough cuts are not accepted. If accepted, a DCP version of the project may be requested for screening purposes. -You (or your Team) have all rights necessary to submit the Video Submission, including without limitation, the title or rights in any content, artwork, text, and/or music featured in the Video Submission, and you (or your Team) have the right to grant the Organization the rights to use the Video Submission as set forth in these Official Rules; Use of the Video Submission in accordance with these Official Rules will not require the Organization or any third party to pay any monies or royalties to an Individual Entrant (as defined below), a Team (as defined below) or any third party; Your (or your Team’s) Video Submission must adhere to these guidelines (collectively, the “Festival Guidelines”): -Is original to the Individual Entrant or the Team submitting the Video Submission and was not created by another individual (or Team). -A majority of the screenplay, script, adapted book or other source material on which the Video Submission is based (collectively, the “Source Material”) was created using traditional elements of Human Authorship (as defined below). “Human Authorship” means that traditional elements of expression (i.e., literary, artistic, musical) shall be primarily conceived and executed by a human author; however, AI Assistance Tools may be used by a human author to augment the conception and execution of such traditional elements of expression. A majority of the Source Material on which the Video Submission is based must not be written by ChatGPT or any other AI or AI-related software or application (each, an “AI Assistance Tool”). Unpermitted uses of AI Assistance Tools include, but are not strictly limited to, wholesale script generation and wholesale story creation. -A majority of the visual shots must be created using AI Assistance Tools. This does not preclude entries from using photographs, video or other images not generated with AI (collectively, “Live-Action Shots”) as references and models for shots created using AI Assistance Tools. Video Submissions may be a combination of AI visual shots generated entirely by AI Assistance Tools, Live-Action Shots, and AI visual shots based on live-action reference photography and/or video; however, the majority of visual shots must be created using AI Assistance Tools. In no case shall a Video Submission be mostly Live-Action Shots or mostly Live-Action Shots that include AI generated elements within the shot. -Does not contain content that violates or infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to, privacy, publicity, copyright, trademark, trade secret, trade dress, patent, or any other intellectual property rights. No public figure’s likeness may be used without their prior written permission or the prior written permission of their authorized representative. -Does not disparage (i) the Organization, (ii) any Film Festival employee, volunteer, judge or any other person assisting with the operations of the Film Festival or the Organization (collectively, “Festival Workers”), (iii) any individual, corporation, partnership, organization, or other entity that provides financial, material, or in-kind support to the Film Festival in exchange for agreed-upon benefits, acknowledgments, or promotional opportunities, including any employees, representatives, agents, directors, and officers of such individual or entity (each a “Sponsor”) or (iv) any other person or party affiliated with the promotion and administration of the Film Festival, including any employees, or such parties’ products or services (each a “Festival Affiliate”, and together with the Organization, the Festival Workers and the Sponsors, the “Festival Parties”). -Does not contain material that is pornographic, defamatory, slanderous or libelous, or that depicts animal cruelty of any kind. -Does not promote discrimination against or contempt for other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, serious disease, or any other protected class; -Subtitles All non-English language entries must include English subtitles. Submissions that violate the Festival Guidelines, as determined by the Organization in its sole discretion, including without limitation the above representations and warranties, or do not meet the entry deadlines, will be disqualified from the Film Festival. By posting the Video Submission and participating in the Film Festival, you (and your Team) agree to indemnify and hold the Festival Parties harmless from any and all claims, demands, causes of action and judgments (including attorney’s fees, court costs and expert’s fees) arising out of or relating to any breach by you (or your Team) of any of the foregoing representations and warranties. Entry Fees All entry fees are non-refundable. Discounted rates may apply during specific submission windows. Award Categories The following six categories will each award one winner: UTOPIA (2-11 minutes) FANTASY (2-11 minutes) LONG FORM COMMERCIALS (2-4 minutes) SHORT NARRATIVES (2-11 minutes) MUSIC VIDEOS (2-11 minutes) STUDENT COMPETITION (1 minute) Eligibility The 2026 CLOWD AI FILM FESTIVAL (the “Film Festival”) is open to residents of any location where the Film Festival is not prohibited or restricted by law, and who are eighteen years of age or older (or the local age of majority in the jurisdiction where the participant resides, if higher than 18) at the time of entry. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. The Film Festival is not open to residents of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, the Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic, and Luhansk People’s Republic regions of the Ukraine, or any other jurisdiction where the Film Festival would be restricted or prohibited by law. The following individuals may be selected to screen at the Film Festival but are not eligible to win an award or prize: Sponsors, Festival Workers and Festival Affiliates. Clowd judges may submit to any theme except the theme they are judging. The Film Festival is open to teams of eligible individuals (each a “Team”). If a Team is entering the Film Festival, one individual must be appointed as a representative to represent, act, and enter the Film Festival on such Team’s behalf (“Leader”). The individual submitting an entry in the Film Festival on behalf of a Team represents and warrants that they are the duly authorized representative for such Team and have obtained all rights necessary to act on the Team’s behalf. If an entry by a Team is awarded a prize, such prize will be awarded to the Leader. It is up to the Leader to decide how to allocate the prize among the Team members. Multiple Entries Filmmakers may submit multiple entries. Each submission must be accompanied by a separate entry fee. Each individual participant may submit up to (10) entries into the Film Festival. Three entries in the case of the Student Theme. By participating in this Film Festival, you (and your Team) agree to be bound by all of the Film Festival’s rules and terms set forth herein (the “Official Rules”) and by the decisions of the Organization, which shall be final in all matters relating to the Film Festival. Winner Selection and Notification Organization shall announce six (6) winning Individual Entrants (“Winning Individuals”) and/or Teams (“Winning Team” and together with Winning Individuals, the “Winners”), one per category, as defined below on or about August 19, 2026 as determined by the judges’ scoring based on the following criteria and process (collectively, the “Criteria”): Selection of Semi-Finalists: After submissions close, 3 CLOWD judges per theme, will review entries based on creativity, innovation, storytelling, and technical execution Each entry will receive a 1-10 grade for each of the above categories, from each judge, for a maximum of 40 points per judge. The highest average score across all judges will determine the Winners. The judges’ ratings and decisions are final and binding on all participants. The judges’ scores will not be shared with the participants or general public. Each judge is qualified to employ the Criteria and the Organization shall ensure each judge evaluates each entry according to the Criteria. In the event of any tie, the Winners shall be determined looking at the individual scores of the judging panel in a predetermined hierarchy. The decisions of the judges shall be final in all respects. Crowd Judging: Finalists will be showcased on the CLOWD YouTube channel, where the public will vote for their favorite entry. The finalists (4 in each category) will move on. The Finalists (and all members of Finalist Teams) shall be required to complete, sign, notarize and return an affidavit of eligibility/liability release, a publicity release, release for theatrical distribution and other documentation in connection with the Video Submission that may be required by the Organization. Entry with the most votes on YouTube will earn the title of “Attention Winner” and receive a cash prize. Winner Selection: 7 CLOWD judges will internally select the Theme Winners, Grand Prize Winner and the Judges Winner. Popular vote on YouTube determines the “Attention Winner” The Organization will attempt to notify finalists and winners to the Film Festival (and any award ceremony in connection with it) any Winning Team(s), or the individual entrant if such entry is submitted by a single individual (“Individual Entrant”) at the email provided in the Registration Form. The Winners (and all members of such Winning Teams) are subject to verification, including verification of age and residency. The Winners (and all members of such Winning Teams) shall be required to complete, sign, notarize and return an affidavit of eligibility/liability release, a publicity release, release for theatrical distribution and other documentation in connection with the Video Submission that may be required by the Organization. All winners will need to redeliver their nominated films as a DCP format. Playback speed set to 24 FPS and posted on a server or delivered on a drive that is formatted NTFS, ext2, or ext3. The Flat (square ratio) uses 1998 x1080 pixels for 2K or 3996 x 2160 for 4K. If a Winner (i) is determined to be ineligible or otherwise disqualified by the Organization, (ii) fails to respond to Organizations first winner notification message within 96 hours of notification or after three (3) attempts (whichever occurs first), or (iii) fails to timely provide any information requested by Organization (e.g., information needed by Organization to determine eligibility or deliver prize) or timely execute and return any documents required by Organization, the Winner will be disqualified and forfeit all interest in any prize. If the Winner is disqualified, Organization reserves the right to select a substitute Winner or not award the unclaimed prize(s). Prizes and Prize Claims Each theme winner (one winner per theme) will receive a cash prize. Additional Sponsor prizes may be given to winners within each category. All amounts are in United States dollars. All winners will receive a year’s subscription to ElevenLabs Creator. CLOWD GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Selected video will receive $5,000 Plus inaugural trophy CLOWD ATTENTION WINNER: Selected video will receive $1,000 CLOWD JUDGES WINNER: Selected video will win $1,000 THEME WINNERS: Selected videos will receive $500 STUDENT AWARD WINNER: Winner will receive $500 The right to receive a prize cannot be transferred or assigned. No cash or other prize substitution is permitted, except at the sole discretion of the Organization. The prize is subject to availability and if the prize cannot be awarded for any reason, the Organization reserves the right in its sole discretion to substitute the prize with one of comparable or greater retail value. Each Winning Individual or Captain of a Winning Team is solely responsible for all federal, state, local, provincial/territorial, or other applicable taxes associated with the acceptance and use of the prizes. Each Winner (and all Team participants of the Winners) agrees and acknowledges that the Organization may be required to withhold and remit a portion of prize value to comply with applicable tax laws. Each Winning Individual or Captain of a Winning Team also agrees to provide Organization with a valid social security number or any other information Organization may require in connection with applicable tax reporting or withholding requirements or other laws or regulations. All costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance, including travel, and use not specifically provided herein are the responsibility of the Winners and Finalists. Publicity Except where prohibited by law, by accepting a prize, the Winners (including any individual members of Winning Teams) hereby grant the Organization and its representatives an eighteen month irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive and sub-licensable right and license to use, distribute, and publicly display the Winner’s name (and any Winning Team members’ names) and information about the prize award, in any way, at any time, in any and all media, including without limitation, for use in advertising and marketing, without any additional approval or consideration. By accepting a prize, Winners (including any individual members of such Winning Teams) represent and warrant that they have the right to grant the foregoing license. In addition, except where prohibited, Organization shall require Winners (including any individual members of such Winning Teams) to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, and a liability/ publicity release (“Affidavit and Release”). The Affidavit and Release will be provided separately. All documents requested by Organization, including the Affidavit and Release must be signed, notarized, and returned to Organization within fourteen (14) days of receiving notice. If not timely received, the prize may be forfeited and Organization may, in its sole discretion, award a prize to the next runner up (to be determined by the Organization) in the Film Festival. Ownership of and rights to your Video Submission By entering the Film Festival and submitting a Video Submission, you (and your Team) hereby grant to the Organization, the Festival Parties and their assigns an eighteen month non-exclusive, irrevocable, transferable, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid right and license to publicly perform, publicly display, digitally transmit, distribute, copy, modify, create derivative works, and otherwise use the Video Submission on Organization’s social media accounts, blogs, websites, theatrical releases and our platform; as well as in promotional materials created by the Organization, its investors, or other partners, including for purposes of marketing the Organization, its products and services and the Film Festival, without the need for further approval. Organization and its licensees may modify or edit the Video Submission to ensure the quality or for any purpose that Organization deems necessary or desirable in its sole discretion, and by entering the Film Festival, you (and your Team) grant Organization a fully-paid, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, transferable, and sublicensable right and license to make such modifications to the Video Submission. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you (and your Team) hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waive all, and the enforcement of all, moral rights that you may have, if any, in the Video Submission. Subject to the rights and licenses conveyed herein, you (and your Team) shall retain sole and exclusive right, title and interest in and to your Video Submission and all intellectual property rights thereto. Limitations of Liability of Festival Parties To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree (i) the festival parties shall not be responsible for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive or special damages arising out of or connected with (a) the film festival or (b) any prize awarded, and (ii) your remedies for any claims relating to the film festival are limited to your actual out-of-pocket expenses of participation in the film festival (if any). The Festival Parties assume no liability and are not responsible for, and by entering the Film Festival, you hereby waive and release the Festival Parties from, any actions, claims, damages, losses or injuries of any kind (collectively “Claims”) arising out of or relating to the Film Festival and/or the receipt, use or misuse of any prize, including without limitation, claims relating to: (i) the malfunction of any computer, telephone, mobile device, network, satellite, hardware, software or communications line; (ii) unauthorized human intervention; (iii) incorrect, delayed or inaccurate transmission, winner notifications, prize claims or other information or communications relating to the Film Festival, or the failure to capture or transmit any such information; (iv) damage to any person’s computer or mobile device; or (v) any errors in these Official Rules, winner notifications or other announcements or communications relating to the Film Festival. In the event of any ambiguity or error(s) in these Official Rules, the Organization reserves the right to clarify or modify these Official Rules however it deems appropriate to correct any such ambiguity or error(s). If due to an error or for any other reason, more legitimate prize claims are received than the number of prizes stated in these Official Rules, Organization reserves the right to award only nine (9) prizes, as stated above, from all eligible entries. In no event will more than the stated number of competition prizes be awarded. LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT A PARTICIPANT, TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS FILM FESTIVAL MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, ORGANIZATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND PURSUE ALL OTHER REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Organization may prohibit an entrant, and their associated Team, from participating in the Film Festival or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Film Festival by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or any Festival Parties. For California Residents Only: You hereby waive California Civil Code Section 1542, which states, “A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.” Organization’s Reservation of Rights If the Film Festival is not practically capable of running as planned for any reason outside the control of the Organization, including without limitation, due to a force majeure event or infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, government orders, natural disasters, the effects of any pandemic or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Film Festival, Organization reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, or cancel the Film Festival. In the event of cancellation, Organization reserves the right to select Winners from all non-suspect, eligible entries submitted as of the time of cancellation. Governing Law All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, the rights and obligations of entrants and the Winners, and the rights and obligations of the Organization in connection with the Film Festival, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of State of New Mexico, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Organization’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that or any other provision. If any provision of these Official Rules is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck, and the remaining provisions shall be enforced. Privacy Any personally identifiable information collected during an entrant’s participation in the Film Festival will be collected and used by Organization and its designees for the administration and fulfillment of the Film Festival and as otherwise described in these Official Rules and Organization’s privacy policy available on their website. THEMES AND DURATIONS UTOPIA (2-11 minutes) Explore the world of Solar punk. Time to create counter programming to Dystopia and celebrate an optimistic future. FANTASY (2-11 minutes) Explore the theme of FANTASY WORLDS, showcasing your creativity in a non-linear, non-sequitur form of artistic expression. LONG FORM COMMERCIALS (2-4 minutes) Please submit a spec commercial with our fictitious brand Agua Fria and show how AI will takeover the ad industry. SHORT NARRATIVES (2-11 minutes) The narrative and character consistency has long been a challenge for AI Films. Show us your skills to prove the naysayers wrong. MUSIC VIDEOS (2-11 minutes) Using music, AI generated or not, becomes the inspiration for the AI world of music videos. STUDENT COMPETITION (1 minute) Hollywood has always been a dream factory—but now, the tools of storytelling are evolving faster than the industry itself. CLOWD GOES TO HOLLYWOOD invites the next generation of filmmakers to step into that tension: tradition vs. innovation, human instinct vs. machine intelligence. Create a 1-minute film that reimagines the spirit of Hollywood through an AI + human hybrid storytelling approach. To qualify for the Student Film category, the project must have been completed while enrolled in an accredited educational program. Proof of student status is required. *Please note, film may not contain content that violates or infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to, privacy, publicity, copyright, trademark, trade secret, trade dress, patent, or any other intellectual property rights. No public figure’s likeness may be used without their prior written permission or the prior written permission of their authorized representative.