Aotearoa New Zealand’s first hybrid AI short film competition.
Register Now!
The overall aim of this hybrid event is to enable hands-on experience for our film making talent through learning to manage AI so it doesn’t manage us. We are not here to advocate for or promote AI film making, rather we are here to provide a supportive environment to explore some aspects of AI tools that can help support workflow so we can keep human creativity flourishing.
All films are judged on the strength of their story – human storytelling is at the heart of FututreFrames:NZ. Hybrid film making is encouraged!
Connect & Educate
FF:NZ is a hybrid event that starts with teams (of up to 5 people) diving into a series of industry workshops. Each focusing on a core element of filmmaking and how we, as filmmakers, can leverage AI to tell our stories. Over the workshops our teams will explore how our industry can responsibly and proactively use these tools. Knowing, understanding and using AI tools are essential skillsets that are needed to build a future proof, sustainable and successful film industry in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Create
With their new knowledge in scriptwriting, producing, directing, AI tools and Sound & Music teams will have four weeks to produce their films. Throughout the process industry mentors will be available to teams. The final films will be judged by an independent panel of professionals from across the screen sector.
Ten Finalists will have their films screened at the Big Screen Symposium, 3rd – 4th July 2026. This is a major opportunity for our finalists to have their work screened before the industry, with cash prizes up for grabs for the winning films!
Prizes
First Prize: $5000 cash + A post-production finishing package & international film festival submission
Second Prize: $3000 cash
Third Prize: $2000 cash
Key Dates for 2026:
Applications Open: 27 March
Applications Close: 10 May
Workshops: 23 & 24 May
Films Submitted: 21 June
Screening & Awards at Big Screen Symposium: 3 & 4 July
Free to enter and open to all filmmakers at any stage in their career
Proudly sponsored by:
Past Winners
WINNERS 2025 AI CREATIVE MEDIA HACKATHON
1st place prize $3k Team AI GUYS for “Generate Me”
2nd place prize $2k Team Butter for “A Current Affair”
3rd place prize $1k Team Wairarapa for “Shit Rolls
Claire Patolo, the co-creator of the winning film, had this to say about his experience using AI in the hackathon,
“It was extremely surprising to take home the award at BSS for our film, and we are very humbled and grateful. To have had no experience with the tools, we were stunned. We are glad that our storytelling came through, even with our lack of knowledge of the tools being used. Thank you to everyone, especially Melissa and Amelia at SMSG for making everything run smoothly.
AI is not going anywhere. In the next few years, maybe even in the next few months, it will only advance in its capabilities. We will continue to learn more about it, to learn how we can use it as a tool to assist our filmmaking. But it will never replace our voice, or our very own Nafanua may give us a visit.”
Check out the winning film ‘Generate Me’ below.
2025 AI Creative Media Hackathon Judging Panel
WINNERS 2024 AI CREATIVE MEDIA HACKATHON
1st place prize $3k Team Digital Platina for “Ophelia”
2nd place prize $2k Team Pronoid Android for “Shut In”
3rd place prize $1k Team Render Rebels for “It’s not a Montage”