Halloween Contest 2026

Bring your nightmares, dark comedy, and strange Halloween stories to FilmsAI.

1. The FilmsAI Halloween Contest 2026

Two categories · $1,000 in total prizes · six winners

Each prize track has a $500 pool with first, second, and third place:

• AI Shorts / Films / Animation — $500 (1st $300 · 2nd $150 · 3rd $50)
• AI Music Videos — $500 (1st $300 · 2nd $150 · 3rd $50)

Three placements per category (six winners total). Feature-length films are welcome. The expanded pool is funded by FilmsAI, thanks in part to creators who redirected September and Original Creator Fund payouts into the contest. Prizes will be paid by November 5.

Submission dates

Submissions open October 1 and close October 28.

How to enter

Upload with your usual content category (for example music video, short film, commercial, or animation). Check Halloween Contest 2026 and choose a prize track. Only Halloween-themed content is eligible.

Account eligibility

To be eligible for the contest, the submitting creator's account must meet FilmsAI verification requirements (verified badge). See how to get the verified badge.

Availability hold

Each Halloween Contest 2026 entry stays on FilmsAI, and stays in the contest, for 45 days from the hold start for that entry. During the hold you cannot delete the film yourself or remove it from the contest. You keep ownership and may keep publishing the work elsewhere. A copyright, intimate-image, or other legally required removal still follows its own deadline. FilmsAI may still remove a film sooner for rights, safety, security, fraud, or program integrity. Your submission page shows the end time while a hold is active. This matches the program availability hold in the Terms of Service.

Entry limits

You may enter multiple films in each prize track (AI Music Videos and AI Shorts / Films / Animation). Each entered film must still choose a prize track and meet the other contest requirements.

Halloween contest entries must be at least 90 seconds long. There is no maximum length. This applies to both contest prize tracks.

Independent judging

Neither Paul nor Krista will judge. Judges will be independent—not part of FilmsAI and not friends of either of us. Judges will be selected by Wednesday, September 30.

Halloween broadcast

Our Halloween livestream on X will run October 30–November 1 and include all contest submissions that meet the guidelines.

2. Submission Guidelines

Runtime clarification

• Halloween contest entries: minimum 90 seconds, with no maximum length.
• Regular October uploads outside the Halloween contest: the minimum remains 30 seconds.

Other requirements

• Your account must be verified under FilmsAI's verification requirements.
• Submit your own original work and hold the necessary commercial rights to all included music, visuals, footage, voices, and other assets.
• No stolen or infringing content, pornography, or nudity.
• No artificially padded runtime, blank or silent uploads, or duplicate uploads intended to game the contest or creator programs.
• Use accurate titles, descriptions, categories, age ratings, thumbnails, and creator credits.
• Disclose AI-generated or synthetic content honestly. No deceptive impersonation or fabricated endorsements.
• All submissions must comply with FilmsAI's Community Guidelines and are subject to review.

October collaborations

Collaborations are welcome in October, including for the Halloween contest, as long as every participating creator has a verified FilmsAI account.

Credit all participating creators and ensure you have the necessary permissions for the submitted work.

(We will have an auth form for all parties to sign.)

3. Branding & Watermarks

Creators may include their own personalized branding or watermark on the left side of their content.

All other watermarks must be removed before submission. FilmsAI branding will be added to all content shown during our livestream broadcast.

Starting October 1, FilmsAI will no longer accept uploads displaying watermarks from other platforms or video generators. This applies to all new uploads, including content outside the Halloween contest.

Other creator uploads

Keep uploading your series, episodes, music videos, films, and other work! Content that isn't Halloween-themed belongs in the regular FilmsAI categories and will not be entered into the Halloween contest.

The minimum runtime for regular October uploads remains 30 seconds. The 90-second minimum applies specifically to Halloween contest entries.

Browse contest entries by prize track at /halloween.

October creator sponsorship

October creator sponsorship is separate from this contest. Those details will be announced October 6, after we complete September creator payouts on October 5.

Questions

Please email all questions to krista@filmsai.com.

Follow @filmsaicom for updates.

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