Overview

Generative AI is rapidly transforming how moving images are produced. It is also giving rise to new visual languages, storytelling methods, and creative identities. As knowing how to use AI becomes a basic skill, what truly deserves recognition is how creators use AI to develop new ideas, establish new aesthetics, and bring their work into real design, art, and commercial settings.

In 2026, London Design Festival and Sunra are launching an official AI Moving Image Competition. Creators worldwide are invited to submit AI films between 1 and 5 minutes long. The competition aims to connect creators, artists, directors, designers, students, and creative teams, bringing outstanding work from online creation to a physical showcase in London.

One of the World’s Most Influential Creative Events

Every September, London Design Festival transforms London into the global capital of design. Over nine days, it brings together more than 300 partners and provides a world-class stage for the designers, creatives, and industry pioneers shaping the future.

1.4M+ festival visits across nine days
3.2B global media reach
500K+ followers across LDF’s official social media channels
1 in 2 visitors works in the creative industries

Competition Categories

1. Best Commercial

A brand or product film that combines creative impact with a clear commercial purpose and business value.

2. Best Short Film

A cinematic short, including drama and other narrative forms, where story, character, and craft take centre stage.

3. Best Experimental Work

A concept-led work that explores new ideas, forms, or visual languages beyond conventional storytelling.

4. Best Music Video

A film shaped by music, combining rhythm, performance, and a distinctive visual identity.

5. Best Visual Effects

An outstanding achievement in visual craft, built around a shot or sequence that makes viewers wonder how it was made.

Awards

The five categories are judged independently.

Category Winner Award: one winner per category, US$2,000 each
Finalist Award: five finalists per category, US$300 each

Additional Opportunities

Official exhibition at a London Design Festival venue in 2026
An official London Design Festival exhibition certificate
International promotional support through social media and design and AI media channels
Connections with brands, production companies, creative studios, and cultural institutions
Live evaluation involving both the audience and a professional jury
Potential inclusion in future international cultural projects and professional screenings

Jury

The competition brings together leading voices from design, moving image, and AI creation. The professional jury and the audience at the venue will vote together.

Jack Irving, visual artist and fashion and installation designer, London
Zan Xie, co-founder and director of MANA Global New Media Art Platform
Pablo Rivera, film director and AI filmmaker, London
Ara Badilia, senior creative and art director, McCann London
WildPusa (野菩萨): AIGC Artist, Creative Educator & Founder of WildTemple
Vlad Dita: Artist & Composer
Justin Hackney: co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Wonder Studios

Additional international judges will be announced.

Schedule

September 5, 2026: final submission deadline
September 12, 2026: London Design Festival opens and competition winners are announced
Mid-September 2026: selected films are exhibited at the official festival venue
September 20, 2026: London Design Festival closing ceremony
During the exhibition: in-person workshops and related activities

How to Enter

Create your film. Use Sunra, another AI tool, or a combination of tools. Entrants can apply for 3,000 Sunra credits.
Submit online. Upload your AI short film and complete the required entry information at https://www.manamana.net/match/LDF2026.
Screen in London. Selected films will appear at London Design Festival in mid-September, with live judging and industry connections.

Entry Requirements

The work must be between 1 and 5 minutes long.
AI must play a substantive role in the core visual, audio, or moving-image creation process.
The submission time recorded on the official competition website determines whether the entry meets the deadline.
There is no entry fee.

Organisations

Host: London Design Festival

Exclusive producer: Sunra.ai

Supporting organisations: MANA Global New Media Art Platform, Arklink, WaytoAGI, and Wonder Studio

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use Sunra to create my film?

No. The competition is platform-independent. You may use Sunra, other AI tools, or a combination of tools.

Is there an entry fee?

No. Entry is free.

What is the required duration?

Submitted AI moving-image works or short films must be between 1 and 5 minutes long.

When is the submission deadline?

The final submission deadline is September 5, 2026.

Could my work be exhibited in London?

Yes. Selected and outstanding works may be screened at an official London Design Festival exhibition venue in 2026.

Competition page: https://www.manamana.net/match/LDF2026