A hall for AI filmmakers who swing a hammer, not just a prompt. Earn your place. Put your film in the fire. Take your cut of what it earns.
Free to apply·You keep your rights·Every film reviewed by a person
The worst thing you can do is try to do this by yourself. There is a small window of opportunity, and it is open now, but only for the filmmakers who band together. Join now and be part of something big.
Before a corporation moves in, gatekeeps us all, and pits us against one another, let's come together and own this space.
Stand with a guild of AI filmmakers who share feedback, opportunities, and a seat at the table.
Contributors share in the revenue the catalog and its deals earn.
Stay with us over time and earn ownership equity in the company itself.
Concerned about your identity? Release your work under The Forge Cinema banner or a pen name. You never have to go public.
Free to apply·Stay anonymous if you choose·Built by filmmakers, for filmmakers
Equity is earned through a written program with eligibility and vesting terms, shared with accepted Contributors and subject to applicable law. Revenue share is paid only from revenue actually earned; no income is promised. Nothing on this site is an offer to sell securities.
We're gathering AI filmmakers to plan how we join forces: how we share the work, the revenue, and the ownership, and how we keep this space ours.
If you're interested and willing, leave your email and a sample of your work. We'll let you know when the first meeting is set.
No cost·No commitment·Your email stays private
Our first festival is open to AI filmmakers everywhere. Bring your best steel. Only one film walks away with the purse.
Shorts, series, and features from the first filmmakers through the door. Yours could be next.
Sample titles shown for preview. Founding filmmakers get featured placement at launch.
No open uploads. No shortcuts. Every filmmaker is tested before they're let through the door, so the catalog stays worth watching.
Apply with who you are, the tools you use, and a link to your strongest work.
We judge story, craft, and originality. Those who hold up become Contributors.
Submit finished films to your Contributor dashboard. Approved titles go live in the catalog.
Your film earns from the catalog and any deals we bring you. You approve every deal before it goes ahead.
Every film is judged by people, not an algorithm. We look at the whole film, not how it was generated. Here is the bar.
An opening that grabs, characters worth following, and an ending that lands.
Faces, worlds, and look stay consistent from shot to shot. No drifting faces, no melting hands.
Clean dialogue, music mixed right, and sound design that adds weight without getting in the way.
A finished cut with captions, and clearance for every voice, likeness, and piece of music in it.
The right film finds the right room. A thriller might fit a genre channel. A vertical drama might suit a mobile series app. A strong story might get a second life as audio.
We are building these relationships now. These are the kinds of outlets we pitch to. Placement is never promised.
Any offer spells out exactly what it asks for before anything happens:
You read it. You decide. Getting accepted never transfers your rights.
A portion of platform revenue goes into a Creator Pool. The pool is split among Contributors by their share of total watch time. More viewers, bigger cut.
Strong applications come from filmmakers who know story first and tools second. Our education partner, FilmmakingStuff, teaches both.
Learn the craft. Forge your first short. Then come back and apply with it.
The craft behind AI-made films, from idea to finished short.
Applications are reviewed in batches. If your work holds up in the fire, we'll email you with next steps and the Contributor Agreement.
Just here to watch? Switch the form to "Early access" and we'll tell you when the doors open.
Fill out the filmmaker application with a link to your film and check "Enter this film in the festival." The winner receives a $1,000 cash prize. Deadline, eligibility, and official rules will be posted here soon.
Any filmmaker using AI as a meaningful part of their process. Solo creators and small crews are welcome. You need at least one finished piece we can review.
A portion of platform revenue funds a Creator Pool, which is split among Contributors by share of watch time. Exact percentages and payout schedules are in the Contributor Agreement, shared with accepted filmmakers.
No. Applying or being accepted never transfers your rights, and the catalog is non-exclusive. Any outside deal spells out the platform, territories, term, exclusivity, and revenue split, and nothing happens unless you approve it.
No. Acceptance puts your film in the catalog and in consideration for outside opportunities. Placement depends on fit with each outlet's format, language, and content rules, and no specific views or earnings are promised.
Contributors who stay with The Forge Cinema over time can earn equity in the company. It is granted through a written program that sets out who is eligible, how much, and the vesting schedule. Accepted Contributors receive the details before anything is granted.
Yes. You can release your films under your real name, a pen name, or only under The Forge Cinema banner, and change that choice later. We still need your real name privately for your contract and, if you earn, for payment and tax paperwork, but we never publish it without your permission.
We review applications in batches. Expect to hear back by email within a few weeks.
Start with AI Filmmaking Fundamentals at FilmmakingStuff, make a short, then apply.
