How to Submit an AI Film to Festivals and Build a Career

0:04A finished film needs an audience. In this lecture, festivals, the traps that cost you time and money, online distribution, and how to turn your films into work.

0:16Start with festivals that accept AI -generated films. There are now dedicated AI film festivals and awards, and more general festivals with AI sections. Read the rules before anything else, whether AI is allowed, and how much of the film it may cover, and whether you must disclose your tools.

0:37Build a festival sheet for your film once. A logline, a short synopsis, a director's statement, stills, a poster, the runtime, the language and subtitles, and a note on your AI workflow. Most submission platforms ask for the same pieces.

0:55Here are the traps we hid with Lost Garden. Duration limits. Many short film sections stop at 10 or 15 minutes, so a 17 -minute episode was out. National festivals that only accept films from their own country. Mandatory subtitles in the festival's language. And platform fees. A submission platform can charge you a fee for every entry, even when the festival itself is free. Check all four before you submit.

1:23Online, publish where your audience already is, and build around the film. The trailer, behind -the -scenes posts, your storyboard next to your final shots. People love the process as much as the result. Write a clear note on how the film was made. Honesty about AI builds trust, and it's increasingly expected.

1:46And keep your credits honest. Name the tools, the models where it matters, and every person who worked on the film.

1:54And turn films into work. Your short is your portfolio. Brands, agencies, and studios need people who can deliver consistent AI films on a deadline, with a real pipeline. Show the method, not just the result. The script, the sheets, the storyboard, the final cut. That's what makes a client trust you with a budget.

2:18Start small. Offer a 30 -second spot or a short pilot scene. One consistent, well -made minute sells better than 10 random clips.

2:29Your exercise. List five festivals that fit your film. Check the four traps for each one, and plan the launch of your short. The trailer, three behind -the -scenes posts, and a portfolio page. In the bonus lecture, a few last words and where to go next.