2026 film festival announcements

In July 2026, two separate film festivals issued notable updates.

The Algiers International Film Festival opened its call for submissions for the 13th edition, scheduled for 27 November–4 December 2026. Filmmakers could submit free entries through Filmfreeway until 1 September, with eligibility limited to works produced after 1 January 2025. Both short and feature‑length projects in Arabic, English or French were accepted, with subtitles required for other languages. A professional selection committee would announce the final list by 10 October 2026.

A week later, the Reply AI Film Festival, held alongside the 83rd International Film Festival of the Venice Biennale, announced its ten short‑film finalists for the third edition. The competition, which drew over 3,000 entries from 76 countries, scheduled its award ceremony for 6 September at Venice’s Match Point Arena. An international jury, chaired by Oscar‑winner Gabriele Salvatores, would choose the winner and present additional AI‑focused awards.

Together, these updates reflect ongoing activity in the global film‑festival circuit, with traditional and AI‑driven events both advancing their 2026 programming.