Submissions are now open for the first international festival for AI-enabled, director-driven animation, which celebrates the future of storytelling.
Modern Uprising Studios, the immersive studio division of Toro Science, and Screenvision Media have announced Frame Forward Animated AI Film Festival, the first global competition dedicated to celebrating the intersection where animation, artificial intelligence, and human creativity meet.Film submissions are open through December 30.
Creators worldwide are encouraged to submit original short films that integrate AI tools in their creative or production process.The inaugural Frame Forward Festival will highlight visionary filmmakers, artists, and technologists redefining the future of animated storytelling.Jurists and animation fans can vote on their favorite films.
Selected finalists will have their film trailers featured both virtually and on the big screen via Screenvision’s national network of 14,000 screens in 2,300 theaters across all 50 states.The winning filmmaker will be announced in March 2026; they will receive a national theatrical release through Screenvision Media, immersive adaptation production via Celeste, Modern Uprising Studios’ proprietary immersive rendering engine, and support for submission to leading international film festivals.“Frame Forward is about celebrating the incredible possibilities that emerge when technology and human creativity come together,” said Joel Roodman, President and Head of Studio for Modern Uprising Studios.
“We want to give animators and filmmakers the distribution and infrastructure to push the boundaries of their craft, and we’re excited to see how artists around the world experiment with AI to tell bold, original stories that inspire the future of animation, theatrically.”
“Through our Front + Center preshow, Screenvision is committed to the power of the big screen to inspire and engage moviegoers like no other medium,” said Ted Bolan, Senior Vice President of Content & Creative for Screenvision Media.“Frame Forward showcases the evolution of Generative AI, highlighting how filmmakers are using these tools to push the creative envelope and bring their stories to life.”
Beyond competition, Frame Forward Festival serves as a launchpad for emerging creators, a showcase for next-generation tools, and a gateway for artists and filmmakers seeking visibility at the intersection of entertainment, innovation, and culture.
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
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