From Buenos Aires to Barcelona: AI Film Festivals Take Centre Stage This Autumn

Two appointments over the coming weeks confirm that cinema made with artificial intelligence already has its own festival circuit — and that the conversation is moving from the laboratory to the red carpet.

The idea that artificial intelligence is only a production tool is becoming outdated. This autumn, two events in two cities show that AI-made cinema is building its own ecosystem of festivals, juries and prizes.

Buenos Aires: the World AI Film Festival lands in Latin America

On October 30, the Buenos Aires Convention Centre (CEC) will host the first edition of WAIFF Buenos Aires, from 10:00 to 22:00, as part of TecWeek 2026. It is the local chapter of the World AI Film Festival, described as the world’s largest competition for cinema and artificial intelligence.

The categories cover short films, feature films, animation, microseries, advertising and documentary. The local jury is chaired by producer Axel Kuschevatzky and includes Diego Guebel, Agustín Cossa, Alejandra Bruno, Sabrina Farji and Nicolás Esmede, while the global jury brings together Marco Landi, Julien Raout, Joanna Popper, Nancy Hamilton and Nyko Oliver.

The selected works will compete for a place in the official programme and the chance to represent Argentina on the Road to Cannes, the path that leads to the festival’s Global Final.

Barcelona: the AI Awards celebrate a new generation of creators

Closer to home, on November 12 Barcelona will host the gala of the AI Awards, organised by IEBS Business School. The event is free and in person, and will also be streamed online and in the metaverse.

The competition is open to microshorts, short films and spec ads, with two tracks: Debutante, for students, self-taught creators and newcomers to AI-made audiovisual work, and Creador, for directors, digital artists and professionals with an established body of work. The jury includes Pedro Martín Díaz (Visualeo), Rodrigo Miranda (EY / Digitalent Group), Jose Martínez (IEBS), Joan Sans (Singular Agency), creative director Laia Grassi and José Velasco (PLIA / Souvenir). Partners include Movistar, Agencia EFE, Freepik/Magnific, ElevenLabs and HeyGen.

A movement, not a trend

At La Croisette we have watched this convergence grow throughout the year — from the AI Boost Experience and Movies x Brands in Cannes to the first AI-generated feature films reaching commercial cinemas. The emergence of dedicated festivals is the logical next step: a space where AI-made works are not judged by the novelty of the tool, but by the strength of the story they tell.

That is the yardstick that matters. Technology opens the door. Only a meaningful story can make audiences walk through it.

Photo: Diomedes1962 / CC0.