Why CLOWD is Different
The International Competition launched last week
“What makes an (AI) film stay with you long after it ends?
Not the tech. The moment your chest tightens, the character you can’t stop thinking about, the world you didn’t want to leave.I truly believe AI is a powerful tool for storytellers who are ready to learn, evolve, and explore. AI film direction and filmmaking involve a lot of work—and many different skills—but the beauty is that students can learn along the way. They don’t have to master everything at once to get started.” - Maïm Garnier, AI Filmmaker and Founding Juror for CLOWD.
That is the reason I started the CLOWD AI Film Festival. How can we move beyond AI Slop, Tell impactful stories and get them up on the big screen….in a movie theatre? I am excited about the roster of Founding Jurors, carefully curated from an A list of industry executives, traditional filmmakers, advertising and PR execs and peers in the AI Filmmaking community.
AI Filmmaker Roxanne Ducharme states, “I’m very proud to be part of CLOWD as one of the founding jurors, and excited to see what kinds of visions filmmakers bring to it… and something I’m especially excited about 👉 the majority of the judging panel is female, bringing a strong range of perspectives to a space that is still being defined in real time. I’m honoured to be part of this jury alongside so many brilliant filmmakers and artists. 🚀”
Founding Juror Nancy Hamilton says, “I’m very excited about CLOWD and the opportunities it provides for AI filmmakers!”
Sponsor and judge Lisa Trublet de Nermont adds, “We’re living through one of the most fascinating moments in creative history. New tools are changing how films are made, who gets to make them, and what’s possible for independent creators. There’s a lot of noise around AI right now, but what interests me most is the people using these tools to tell meaningful stories, ethically. Not stolen, not scraped.
I’m excited to see the work, meet the creators,
and contribute to the conversation about where this industry goes next. If you’re building, experimenting, creating, or simply curious about the future of storytelling, I’d encourage you to take a look at what they’re putting together.”
Read all about our judges here: https://www.clowdfilmfest.com/judges
We are excited to announce that the festival will be premiering at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA USA.
They just celebrated their 100 year anniversary. Walt Disney screened many of his early movies there. Glendale is also where I grew up and saw many movies at the Alex.
June 29, 2026
Earlybird Deadline
Aug 19, 2026
Regular Deadline//Student Deadline
Sep 2, 2026
Notification Date, Finalists on RAD TV (2 weeks) for the Popular vote.
Sept 16
Final judging
Sep 18, 2026
Student Winner Announced
October 7,8
Event at the Alex
AI Filmmakers who wish to Submit their works for consideration should visit www.clowdfilmfest.com and at Hiike.com https://hiike.com/festivals/festival-86rh46
Want to learn more – https://www.clowdfilmfest.com/
Want to Sponsor? – https://www.clowdfilmfest.com/sponsors
Want to Volunteer? – https://www.clowdfilmfest.com/volunteers
Meet the Judges – https://www.clowdfilmfest.com/judges
Student Competition – https://www.clowdfilmfest.com/student-competition
About the Author
Curt Doty is a former studio executive and award-winning creative director with deep leadership experience across the entertainment and branding industries. Ten years in Television. Ten Years in Movies.
As the founder of CurtDoty.co, a creative consultancy, Curt has led integrated marketing, multi-channel storytelling, branding, identity, and user experience initiatives for a diverse roster of clients.
Over the past 15 years, Curt has leaned into innovation—leading R&D projects at Apple, Toshiba, and Microsoft, and pioneering interactive content.
Today, Curt’s work also explores the intersection of AI and entertainment. A sought-after fractional leader (CCO, CMO), speaker, and AI educator, he focuses on demystifying AI for creatives and executives alike.
Curt recently launched the CLOWD AI Film Festival. Check it out here and enter your AI Films into the global competition.
Curt is a sought after public speaker having been featured at Mobile Growth Association, Mobile World Congress, App Growth Summit, Promax, CES, CTIA, NAB, NATPE, MMA Global, New Mexico Angels, PRSA, EntrepeneursRx, Digital Hollywood, SHRM, Streaming Media NYC, and Davos Worldwide. Download his speaker presskit here.
Through public speaking, keynotes and podcasts, Curt is continuing his role as a visionary voice in the future of creativity. He is now a board member of The Human AI Innovation Commons, Encoding Equity Into AI-Generated Prosperity. A framework for ensuring the innovations arising from Human – AI collaborations benefit humanity broadly, not just corporate shareholders.
Onward!