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Upstream AI Short Film Festival

Festival overview

About Upstream AI Short Film Festival

Physical film festival with submission categories including Animation (AI Short) and Documentary (AI Short).

Festival is an Estonian experimental film festival exploring how artificial intelligence is changing cinema. It is taking place in Tallinn, Estonia, for the first time.

This year is experimental for us, just as AI is for the world today, so for our first year, our mission is simple: to introduce high-quality AI short films of various genres to Estonian audiences. We live in an era of rapidly changing visual effects, where it is becoming harder to tell what is real and what is generated.

However, the human remains the creator, deciding what the films of the future will ultimately look like. We are open to discussion: is AI just a tool, or can it be a creator too?

Join us to test these new possibilities and bring your wildest dreams to the big screen!

Schedule

Important Dates

Call for Entries Opens
Sep 1, 2026
Final Submission Deadline
Jul 1, 2027
Notification Date
Aug 15, 2027
Festival Starts
Aug 13, 2027
Festival Ends
Aug 15, 2027
Eligibility

Rules & Eligibility

General Rules+

  1. Festival Submission Rules

  2. General Requirements

  3. 1. Submitted films must feature all the essential elements of cinema: developed characters, a structured screenplay, a clear genre identity, and compelling visuals. Commercials, advertisements, and pure music videos are not accepted.

  4. 2. The festival will review all submissions and reserves the right to reassign a film to a different category if necessary.

  5. 3. Submitted films must maintain at least an Estonian Premiere status. This means the film must not have been screened at any cinema, other festival, cinema, or public event in Estonia, nor broadcast on Estonian television prior to Upstream.ff 2027. Online availability on international platforms does not void this status (see. Public distribution on international personal portfolios and social media platforms (such as YouTube, X/Twitter, or Vimeo) is permitted. However, we highly encourage creators to submit their latest work, and preference will be given to projects that haven't been widely circulated online.

  6. 5. The festival does not accept submissions from filmmakers, production companies, or AI creators who are tax residents, citizens, or legal residents of the Russian F

Current Categories, Deadlines & Fees

Category

Animation (AI Short)

Animation (AI Short) currently lists a maximum runtime of 15 minutes. Listed fees include EUR 7 regular, EUR 15 late, and EUR 15 extended.

Current FeeEUR 7.00Standard
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 15 minutes
Category

Documentary (AI Short)

An exploration of documentaries and mock documentaries and reality reinterpretation through AI tools. The film must be similar to a real event, or a real event must be made in the form of an AI. Prompt verification may be requested.

Current FeeEUR 7.00Standard
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 15 minutes
Category

Narrative Fiction (AI Short)

For narrative short films focusing on a strict live-action cinematic aesthetic. The generated visuals must seamlessly translate as traditionally filmed footage, featuring photorealistic human characters (natural skin tones, expressions) and believable, real-world environments. No heavily stylized or cartoonish AI renders.

Current FeeEUR 7.00Standard
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 15 minutes
Category

Estonian AI Short

This category is for Estonian directors, creators, and AI artists. Films must be directed by Estonian residents or nationals, or tell stories closely connected to Estonia, and must use AI tools as part of the filmmaking process.

Current FeeEUR 7.00Standard
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 15 minutes