AI Christmas films head to national TV in new competition

AI filmmakers are being challenged to create their own Christmas movies for a new competition that will put 10 finalists in front of a national television audience.

AFRO TV has launched Cue Film Fest, a seasonal festival dedicated to short films combining generative AI with human storytelling, direction and editing. Its first edition, Cue Christmas '26, is accepting films between 90 seconds and three minutes long.

Viewers will help choose the winners

Entries can use any generative AI video tools, with filmmakers given until 20 November to submit their Christmas-themed shorts. Ten finalists will then be revealed on 1 December, when public voting opens.

The competition culminates on 12 December with a live festival and awards ceremony. Finalist films will be screened before four prizes are awarded for Best Film, Best Image, Best Sound and Best Music Video, with the winners decided through a combination of viewer voting and a three-person jury.

AFRO TV is also bringing the technology behind the films into the event itself. An AI Village will run during the day, allowing filmmakers to experiment with participating generative video, image and sound tools before the televised awards begin.

The Christmas competition is only the start. Cue plans further seasonal editions in 2027 built around Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day and Halloween, potentially creating several opportunities each year for AI filmmakers to get their work onto television.

Cue Christmas '26 airs on AFRO TV in the US on 12 December, with the live broadcast beginning at 7pm ET.