4 creator programs from AI video companies that hand out free plans or credits, plus 9 calls that cost nothing to enter. Credit programs are applications, not giveaways: some take anyone, others want a portfolio or a big following, and each card says which.
Our take (Apply): Biggest cash on the board and 30 spotlight prizes means real odds. If you have no film, the Script Track only needs a screenplay + short pitch video. Pilot Track locks you into PixVerse Canvas.
Deadline
Oct 31, 2026, 23:59 UTC (extended from Oct 9) = 4:59 PM PT
Worldwide, individuals or teams. Pilot Track: 3–20 min pilot made with PixVerse Canvas as primary platform. Script Track: 45–90 min feature screenplay + 1–5 min video pitch.
Our take (Maybe): Free cash for a 90-second vertical episode, but it's locked to Wandura and you have to post it publicly. The storyboard review takes up to 48 hours, so send yours this week or skip it.
Deadline
Oct 31, 2026, 23:59 UTC = 4:59 PM PT; winners announced Nov 4
Prize
$10,000 pool: $5K 1st, $3K 2nd, $2K 3rd, plus a $2,000 Audience Favorite bonus (most TikTok shares among the top 10). Top teams may get production credits.
Entry fee
Free
Eligibility
18+, worldwide except sanctioned countries; solo or teams up to 4. Episode 1 of a series: up to 90 sec, 9:16, English or subtitled, every frame made with AI in Wandura Drama Studio or Cinema Studio. Storyboard + first 15 sec are reviewed first (within 48 hours); the final episode must be posted publicly with the 'Made with Wandura.ai' mark and required hashtags.
Our take (Apply): Free, and a holiday theme you can make in a weekend. A single unedited clip gets rejected, so cut it properly. TV broadcast is a nice bonus.
Deadline
Nov 20, 2026, 11:59 PM ET; awards broadcast Dec 12 on AFRO TV
Prize
Four awards incl. Best Film grand prize (cash award; amount not published)
Entry fee
Free
Eligibility
18+. One Christmas AI short film or AI music video, 2:00–6:00, made of multiple intentional shots with your own final edit. Any gen-AI video tool.
Our take (Apply): Best free festival with no tool lock-in. Keep a log of AI used in script, shots and finishing, because that three-stage rule is what disqualifies people.
Deadline
Submissions Sept 2 – Dec 2, 2026; audience vote Dec 9 – Jan 13; ceremony Feb 2027, Paris
Prize
€10,000 Grand Prize + 30-sec cut screened in all mk2 cinemas for a week; three €1,000 awards
Entry fee
Free
Eligibility
Worldwide. Max 314 seconds. Must use at least one gen-AI tool in each of pre-production, production and post-production.
Our take (Apply): Largest December cash. Use AKOOL for one real part of the film (face, avatar or lip-sync) and say exactly how in your submission. The $100 bonus isn't for free accounts.
Deadline
Submissions close Dec 20, 2026; winners Jan 15, 2027
Prize
$50K Grand, $25K, $15K, plus $2,500 finalist awards; $100 Creator Reward per qualified entry (qualifying Premium accounts only)
Entry fee
Free (no purchase necessary)
Eligibility
Three categories; AKOOL must play a meaningful role. See official rules for eligibility.
Our take (Maybe): Free, and the first 100 registrants with code 'metamorph' get 5,000 starter credits. Only if you're fine making half the film in TapNow.
Deadline
FilmFreeway lists the Winter Competition deadline as Jan 1, 2027; other listings say Dec 30. Not stated on the official page.
Our take (Apply): The only real production money on this list. Draft the four-step form offline first because it doesn't save. Show the look in your pitch video. One shot per year.
Deadline
Rolling (no deadline published)
Prize
Grants from $5K to $1M+ plus Runway credits (per Runway's 2024 launch post)
Entry fee
Free
Eligibility
18+, worldwide where legal. Original projects in late development or early production (not finished) that use Runway's generative tools. Finish within 12 months. No branded content.