Welcome to the AI Horror Film
Contest Rules Page!

Objective:

Create your best Horror or Halloween-themed AI Film! Ready, go!

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at hello@curiousrefuge.com.

1. AI-Generated Visuals:

• Mandatory Use of AI: Every shot in the submission must be generated using AI. AI tools can be used to create, manipulate, or enhance the visual elements of your film.

• Subject Replacement Tools: Tools like Seedance 2.5 may be used to integrate characters and movements from live action footage. But the majority of the pixels in the frame must be AI-generated.

• Keying Live-Action Footage: You may use green screen, greyboxed, or rotoscoped footage in your film. But the world in which the footage lives (background, details, etc.) must be AI-generated. Previously created films (i.e. shot before this competion) that are reskinned with AI do not qualify as unique films and will be disqualified.

• Core Visuals: The underlying core visuals and composition of the project must be generated or altered by AI, even when using live-action or digitally produced assets to assist the production.

• No Private Beta Tools: For the sake of fairness, you must use tools that are available to everyone. You cannot use private-beta tools to generate your visuals.

• Disputes: In case your skills are too good… Curious Refuge has the right to request proof of AI generation. Failure to produce proof may result in your submission being disqualified.

• Likeness: You may not use the likeness of existing actors or people without their consent.

2. Sound:

• Epidemic Sound Music/SFX Requirement: To enter the competition, all participants must create an Epidemic Sound account, (a free 30-day trial is available via our link below and if you already have an account or used a free trial in the past, you can use the same link and paste code curious1 at checkout for a free month) and use Epidemic Sound exclusively for all music and sound effects in their submission. Entries that use any other music or sound effects will not be eligible for judging.

• Voice Overs: You are free to use recorded voiceovers, AI-modulated voices, or create AI-generated voices. There is no requirement for the type of voice that must be included. (But you must use Epidemic Sound in either Music or SFX).

• Voice Likeness: While the use of AI voices is allowed, you may not use the likeness of existing actors’ voices without their consent.

New to Epidemic Sound? Click above for your free 30-day trial. If you've already used an Epidemic Sound free trial in the past and still want to use Epidemic Sound for free for a month, click the link above and paste the code curious1 at checkout.

3. Length and Quantity:

• Maximum Duration: Your submissions must be no more than 3 minutes long.​

• Quantity: You may enter the contest with up to 2 original films.

4. Genre & Collaboration:

• Original Idea: Your idea must be original and not connected to existing 3rd party Intellectual Property. You may use historical figures, but you may not use fictional or historical characters with likenesses that is owned by other people or studios. (Example: Don’t use M3GAN, FNAF characters, Elvis, etc.). You also may not use the likeness of any famous person currently living.

• Collaboration: You may collaborate with others to create the film.

• Previous Work: You may use previous work you have created, so long as it adheres to all of the rules of this contest.

5. Submission:

• Keep it around PG-13: Keep the project within a normal PG-13 rating. While there is wiggle room here, these guidelines will allow us to actually share your work on social media without getting removed. It’s no fun if we can’t actually share your film online. You can reference this page for a guide.

• Right to Disqualify: Curious Refuge reserves the right to disqualify any film that breaks the spirit of creative collaboration or connection.

• Deadline: All projects must be submitted by October 9th, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.

• Submission Method: Ensure your project is submitted on time to be considered for the contest.

• End Card:You are required to include this end card in your film. It must be on screen for at least 3 seconds.

• Link to Submission: The link to the submission page can be found below.

• Link to Full-Size Project: Please use the submission page to submit your project. If your project exceeds 150 MB simply upload a low-res version and include a link to download the full-size version in the submission form. There is a spot for it on the form page. Emailed submissions will not be accepted!

6. Evaluation:

• Judging: Submissions will be evaluated based on creativity, adherence to the AI usage requirements, story, attention to detail, and overall impact. Essentially, we’re looking for quick, impressive films that showcase your storytelling skills. Each judge will bring their own personal taste and subjective criteria when judging the submission.

• Awards: We will announce the winners of the contest on October 29th, 2026.

• Points: Each judge will choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. 1st place votes will receive 5 points each, 2nd place will receive 3, and 3rd place will receive 1 point. The total combined points will determine the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. The public will judge the Audience Favorite award once the finalists are selected and posted online.

7. Additional Information:

• Clarifications: For any doubts or clarifications, feel free to contact the contest organizers at hello@curiousrefuge.com. We are very lenient at Curious Refuge. We will not likely disqualify your film on a small technicality as long as you are adhering to the core rules for this competition.

• Updates: Stay tuned for updates and additional information regarding the contest.

• Project Use: Epidemic Sound and Curious Refuge have the right to utilize submissions as marketing material (this typically just looks like posting projects on social platforms to help promote the competition, as well as posting the winners). The creators will always be credited whenever their work is utilized.

• Compilations: For the sake of celebrating the winners and great submissions, Curious Refuge has the right to create a compilation video featuring the films you created for this competition. We will likely premiere some of the best submissions online and/or in-person at events. By submitting your film, you grant Curious Refuge the full rights to create compilation videos and/or compilation series to be consumed by the larger community.

• Final Say: Curious Refuge reserves the right to disqualify any submission if there is any concern of fairness, cheating, or any other reason not mentioned here.

8. Sharing

• You are required to share your AI film online on at least one social media channel, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Be sure to tag Curious Refuge and Epidemic Sound.

• Use the hashtags #CuriousRefuge and #EpidemicSound so we can find your submission. We often share submissions on our social channels and film gallery throughout the competition.