CLOWD GETS A LIFT

Hollywood veteran and award-winning creative director Curt Doty has created CLOWD which will invite AI filmmakers from around the world to submit their short films to an international competition and festival built for what’s next. Unlike other AI festivals, CLOWD puts creators first—respecting IP, integrating crowd-sourced voting, leveraging qualified judges, and drawing on the expertise of seasoned indie film festival operators.

The CLOWD AI Film Festival aims to lead the charge in shaping the next frontier of cinematic innovation.

Founder Curt Doty adds:
“The internet is flooded with AI-slop -- content following the algo rather than humanity, We believe that technology leads currently, but will be followed by storytellers. Let’s move past the experimental sensation and develop profoundly human stories. We want to empower the next generation of storytellers, and we are honored to have leaders like Andy Beach, Peter Csathy, Tim Tennant and Chris Gannett advising us along with companies and organizations like ElevenLabs, RAD TV, and SHAIKE to help us with this effort.”

Advisor and Sponsor Tony Mugavaro of Rad TV underscores the significance of the moment:
“We are incredibly proud to partner with CLOWD for this landmark event. Rad TV has always been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of how audiences consume content, and the CLOWD AI Film Festival represents the absolute cutting edge of that mission. By providing a professional stage for AI filmmakers while strictly protecting their intellectual property, CLOWD is setting a new gold standard for the industry. We believe that the fusion of human creativity and artificial intelligence is the next great chapter in cinema, and we are thrilled to help bring these visionary works to the big screen where they belong.”

CLOWD Judge Ulrike Kerber of Viva adds:
“I’m excited to see Curt launch this new AI Film Festival and showcase work that feels fresh and has never been seen before. It’s a powerful reminder that while storytelling remains a craft, the ways we create and produce films are rapidly evolving. What matters most is that talented creators are using these tools to push boundaries and explore new forms of cinematic expression.”

Advisor Andy Beach of Alchemy Creations frames the broader shift:
“The next phase of filmmaking isn’t about replacing creatives, it’s about reformatting the system around them. AI turns production into something more iterative, more programmable, and more accessible. What CLOWD is doing is creating a space where that shift can play out in the open, with creators still owning the work and the outcome. That’s a meaningful step forward.”

Sponsor Tim Tennant, Executive Producer and CMO at Vertex, adds:
“The CLOWD Film Festival will showcase the best creative AI talent to date. Curt Doty has been at the forefront of AI creative and has his finger on the creative pulse of AI's current and future impact on Hollywood. As AI tools evolve, human talent across the entire entertainment storytelling ecosystem will use these tools to deliver exciting and world-illuminating experiences.”

Through panel discussions, competitions, and exclusive screenings, the festival will give creators a platform to showcase their work, engage with industry leaders, and inspire audiences with what’s possible when AI meets storytelling.

Doty continues:
“To celebrate and evangelize the integration of AI in filmmaking, we created CLOWD— a groundbreaking initiative designed to showcase AI-driven narratives, nurture a global community of AI video creators, and establish AI filmmaking as a unique and evolving category in the creative arts. This festival will highlight not only films made with AI tools but also explore the ethical implications, creative potential, and future of AI-powered storytelling.”

Five winners will be selected from 20 semi-finalists through a combination of public and judge voting. Cash prizes will be awarded, and all finalists will receive a one-year subscription to ElevenLabs Creator.

"At The Human AI Innovation Commons, we believe human-AI collaboration produces something neither could achieve alone — and CLOWD is proof of that principle in action. Festivals like this don't just celebrate creative work; they establish new norms for how that work is owned, valued, and shared. HAIIC exists to support exactly these kinds of projects — where the ethical alignment of technology and human authorship isn't an afterthought, but the foundation. We're proud to stand behind CLOWD and the storytellers it will bring to light."

— Jeff Boortz, Founder & CEO, HAIIC — The Human-AI Innovation Commons

CLOWD is finalizing its location and dates and is actively seeking additional sponsors. In the meantime, AI filmmakers can join the waitlist and receive 50% off their first three submissions once entries open. For sponsorship opportunities, click here. https://www.clowdfilmfest.com/sponsors

About the Founder

Curt Doty is the founder of CLOWD, CurtDoty.co, and RealmIQ, with a legacy spanning branding, marketing, and product development for over 50 Fortune 500 companies. A former NBCUniversal creative executive, he has marketed hundreds of movies, led entertainment branding across major television networks, while pioneering early innovations in film and mobile with Apple, and Microsoft. Doty directed branding efforts for the Santa Fe International Film Festival for seven years and has served as a judge for the Emmys, Effies, Clios, Silicon Valley Film Festival, and the Arlington Film Festival. An AI Evangelist, podcast host of RealmIQ: Sessions, and global speaker at events including Digital Hollywood, Streaming Media and Davos Worldwide, he continues to shape the intersection of storytelling, technology, and innovation.