The second edition of GEN:48 is over, yet Runway Studios has more to come than that.
Time flies, with the speed of light in the AI-ed part of the world. We have barely cooled down our enchantment after watching the shorts of the finalists of the first GEN:48 edition that took place in October last year, yet it’s the second edition of Runways’ ML 2-day film competition that has just finished. Hungry for more that’s how we feel, and most probably many of us AI enthusiast know this shivering sensation on our backs that comes along with the winners announcement in competitions like that. For Runway Studios knows the game well!
For those who haven’t heard about GEN:48, it’s a two-day event in which AI filmmakers collaborate to produce short AI films. Each of the teams who submit their work has a chance to win $5,000 cash, 1,000,000 Runway Credits (approximate value of $10,000); 1 year’s access to Epidemic Sound’s Commercial Plan, and a right to be screened at Runway’s AI Film Festival somewhere in May 2024. The jury awards one Grand Prix (wins all of the above), Best Craft, Best Art Direction, and awards one Gold People’s Choice Winner (wins all of the above) and by public voting 4 people’s winners. Out of hundred submissions only 40 made it to the finals. And here are the top of the tops of the 2nd edition of GEN:48.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE GOLD: Be An Elephant BY GURKAN ATAKAN
PEOPLE’S CHOICE SILVER: PLIERS BY NELSON QUIMBAY, WILMAN AGUILERA CHARRY, JUAN FELIPE ORTIZ
PEOPLE’S CHOICE BRONZE: GET BIG BY GUILLERMO MIRANDA, JAVIER DE LA CHICA
PEOPLE’S CHOICE MERIT: I Want to Go Home, Please. BY EVAN SIEGAL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE MERIT: You Are, Unfortunately, an A.I. Artist BY MIND WANK
If you want to see more of the great works submitted please jump over to Runway’s website here or even more on a YouTube channel here. Don’t forget to bring some nachos.
And last but not least, as we have mentioned earlier, as the folks at Runway Studios don’t like to sit back and relax they are getting ready for their second annual AI Film Festival, a celebration of the art and artists making the impossible at the forefront of AI filmmaking.
“AIFF is a celebration of the art and artists embracing new and emerging AI techniques for filmmaking. Works showcased offer a glimpse at a new creative era. One made possible when today’s brightest creative minds are empowered with the tools of tomorrow.
Of the countless submissions, 10 finalists will be selected and showcased at gala screenings in NYC and LA. Winners will be chosen by an esteemed panel of judges (to be announced in the coming months) with $60,000+ in total prizes to help fund the continued creation of AI filmmaking.”
The general requirements are simple: the submitted short has to be 1-10 minutes in length, includes AI-powered tooling in the creation process (not limited to generative AI) and submitted using a Runway link. You can find the detailed list here. The clock is ticking as the submissions are closing in 17 days from now. You can do it! Last years was very interesting, now we are looking forward to what 2024 will bring.
