Artefact Announces Finalists for the Artefact AI Film Festival

Celebrating Global Creativity Powered by AI

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Artefact, the global leader in data and AI consulting, has announced the finalist selections for the Artefact AI Film Festival, created in partnership with mk2. The festival received 265 submissions, including 223 films from 52 countries, reflecting the accelerating momentum of AI-assisted creativity across filmmakers, artists, and new hybrid creator communities.

Why it matters

The Artefact AI Film Festival is a platform for exploring the intersection of AI and filmmaking, showcasing how generative AI technologies are enabling new forms of storytelling and creative expression. As AI continues to advance, events like this festival highlight the potential for these tools to empower a diverse range of creators around the world.

The details

The festival's second edition explores the theme '(Dis)play', inviting creators to experiment with play, formats, and perspectives while questioning what we choose to reveal on screen. The American finalists selected this year are: THE REALM by Seif Abdalla, RULES OF PLAY by Jacob Adler, and A RIVER IN A RIVER by Bruno Lasevicius. The 2025/2026 edition jury is chaired by Cédric Klapisch, alongside a multidisciplinary panel spanning cinema, culture, and creative technology. Awards for the festival include: Grand Prix (€10,000), Jury Prize (€1,000), Audience Prize (€1,000), and the Artefact 'Best Use of AI' Prize (incubator-style support for a next short film).

  • The Artefact AI Film Festival received 265 submissions, including 223 films from 52 countries.

The players

Artefact

A global leader in data and AI consulting, dedicated to designing AI solutions that positively impact people and organizations.

mk2

A partner organization in creating the Artefact AI Film Festival.

Seif Abdalla

Director of the American finalist film THE REALM.

Jacob Adler

Director of the American finalist film RULES OF PLAY.

Bruno Lasevicius

Director of the American finalist film A RIVER IN A RIVER.

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What’s next

The festival culminated with an Awards Ceremony at mk2 in Paris last night, where the winners were announced.

The takeaway

As AI continues to advance, events like the Artefact AI Film Festival highlight the potential for these tools to empower a diverse range of creators around the world, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in filmmaking and storytelling.