Win Up to $5,000 in Cash Prizes

The World’s First AI Holiday Film Competition

It’s time to create the most magical Holiday film ever. Welcome to the 2023 AI Holiday Film Competition.

We are thrilled to announce the first-ever AI Holiday Film competition co-hosted by Curious Refuge and Epidemic Sound. This is your chance to showcase your storytelling skills and earn serious cash prizes! Submissions are now open. You have until December 6th at 11 AM PST to submit your project.

We’re dispursing over $7,500 in cash prizes. That makes this contest the biggest prize pool for fully AI-generated films in history.

You can download the full brief and view the judging criteria by clicking the rules button below. Judges will select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, and Santa’s favorite will be chosen by the big man himself.

Submissions are closed. Winners will be announced on Friday, December 15th. Browse the finalists below.

See the Rules

Enter the Contest (SUBMISSIONS CLOSED)

Browse Submissions & Vote

Your Magical Sponsors

Curious Refuge is the world’s first online home for AI filmmakers. We create online training to help artists contextualize AI tools while pushing the limits of AI art.

Explore AI Filmmaking ->

Epidemic Sound is a global royalty-free soundtrack company providing world-class music and sound effects for creative people around the world.

Get a Free Week of Epidemic Sound ->

See Our Judges Breakdown

In this quick video, our judges review the AI Horror videos and share why they chose the winners below.

The Finalists

Here are the top 8 films from the competition.

AI Christmas

Phantom Christmas

Dragged Holidays

Santa Black

KK Holiday

Santa’s Break

Mistletoes

Twas the Mice Before Christmas

The Winners

1st Place - Dragged Holidays by Rafael Arinelli, Beto Padreca, and Paula Fernandes

Rafael, Beto, and Paula will Recieve:

$5,000 USD
12-Month Free Subscription to Epidemic Sound
Free Enrollment in Our AI Filmmaking Course
Shout Out on Curious Refuge Social Platforms
A Custom Tacky Holiday Sweater from Curious Refuge

2nd Place - Mistletoes by Kurt Knight and Friends.

Kurt Will Recieve:

$1,500 USD
10-Month Free Subscription to Epidemic Sound
Free Enrollment in Our AI Filmmaking Course
Shout Out on Curious Refuge Social Platforms
A Custom Tacky Holiday Sweater from Curious Refuge

3rd Place - Phantom Christmas by Misha Penievskyi and Friends.

Misha Will Recieve:

$1,000 USD
8-Month Free Subscription to Epidemic Sound
Free Enrollment in Our AI Filmmaking Course
Shout Out on Curious Refuge Social Platforms
A Custom Tacky Holiday Sweater from Curious Refuge

Santa’s Favorite - Santa’s Break by Antonio Carlos Moraes

Antonio will Receive:

Automatic Admission to the Nice List
A Custom Tacky Holiday Sweater from Curious Refuge
Milk and Cookies

The Judges

Caleb Ward

CEO of Curious Refuge

Shelby Ward

COO of Curious Refuge

Santa Claus

CEO of the North Pole & Professional List Checker (Twice)

Shelah Linde

Director of Creator Partnerships at Epidemic Sound

Josefin Lindberg

Creator Marketing Lead at Epidemic Sound

Tim Simmons

AI Educator and Owner of Theoretically Media

Rules FAQ

AI must be used to generate every shot.
In order to be considered for the prizes, you must create an Epidemic Sound account, and all the music and sound effects used must be from Epidemic. Use the link below to get a 7 day free trial.
7-Day Free Trial of Epidemic Sound
The film does not need to be animated or in the style of animation. But you can if you want.
You can use subject replacement tools like Wonder Studio to generate character movements, but live-action backgrounds must be manipulated with AI in each shot.
Your submission must not be longer than 3 minutes.
Your Submission must thematically include Holiday motifs (snow, presents, festivities, etc.), but does not necessarily need to be a ‘Holiday’ movie. You are free to have creative interpretations in any genre you prefer. Die-Hard was a holiday movie after all…
Projects must be submitted no later than December 6th at 11 AM PST.
You can use live-action assets, but the underlying core visuals and composition must be AI.
You must include the required end card at the end of your film. (download on the rules page)
The film can be previously created prior to the competition but must meet all the requirements listed above.
See the full rules for all details.