Prompt to Premiere
AI Filmmaking Competition
DATE
September 25, 2026
TIME
Live: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM CT
Submissions close: 10:00 PM CT
PRIZE
$1,000 Black Tech Street Grand Prize
An NDA Haus Hackathon powered by Thankless Production LLC and presented as part of the official Tulsa Tech Week programming.
The Challenge
What can you create in a single day? Creators receive the prompt at 10:00 AM CT and have until 10:00 PM CT to create and submit an original short film.
Prompts will draw inspiration from real Tulsa businesses, community programs, and places. Participants may use artificial intelligence throughout the creative process, including ideation, writing, image and video generation, animation, voice, sound, music, editing, and post-production. Human creativity, direction, and judgment should remain at the center of every submission.
Who can participate
Prompt to Premiere welcomes filmmakers, writers, designers, animators, musicians, technologists, marketers, actors, and multidisciplinary creators. You do not need to be an experienced filmmaker or an advanced AI user. You do need to be ready to experiment, make decisions quickly, and complete a film before the submission window closes.
The flagship in-person room will be in Tulsa. Free virtual participation is open from anywhere, with focused outreach to Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Northwest Arkansas, Little Rock, Dallas-Fort Worth, Kansas City, and Austin.
Ways to Participate
Tulsa In-Person Creator — $10+
- Compete from the official Tulsa competition room.
- The $10 minimum registration contribution includes breakfast and lunch.
- Participants may contribute more to support event production and community access.
- Space is limited, and participants should plan to attend the full live program.
- Bring a laptop, charger, headphones, and access to the tools you plan to use.
Virtual Creator — Free
- Compete remotely from anywhere during the official competition window, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT.
- Receive the prompt, instructions, updates, and submission information digitally.
- Provide your own workspace, equipment, internet connection, software, accounts, and creative tool access.
Competition-Day Flow
Check in and review the final rules and submission process.
Receive the official competition prompt at the start of the timed window.
Develop and produce an original short film individually or with your registered team.
Complete the required submission form and disclose the tools used.
Submit the final film before the submission window closes at 10:00 PM CT.
The detailed run of show, submission link, technical specifications, and Tulsa venue instructions will be sent to registered participants before the event.
Team Participation
Creators may compete individually or as part of a self-organized team. Prompt to Premiere will not form teams or match participants on behalf of registrants.
Teams may include up to four registered participants.
Every team member must register individually and use the exact same team name.
Each team must select one captain as its primary contact and final submitter.
In-person members each purchase an in-person registration because the fee covers that person's meals.
Virtual team members register at no cost.
Teams may be fully in person, fully virtual, or hybrid.
Each participant may contribute to only one competition entry.
The final team roster must be confirmed before the competition begins.
Team captains are responsible for communication, division of roles, file management, and final submission. Hybrid teams are responsible for arranging their own remote communication during the competition.
Submissions and Creative Requirements
Films must be created between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM CT on competition day.
Each submission must respond meaningfully to the assigned prompt.
Participants must list the AI and creative tools used and briefly explain how they were used.
Participants must have permission to use all footage, voices, music, likenesses, trademarks, and other submitted materials.
Submissions may not include unlawful, hateful, sexually explicit, exploitative, defamatory, or rights-infringing material.
Late, incomplete, inaccessible, or noncompliant submissions may be disqualified.
Final film length, file format, orientation, upload method, and technical requirements will be included in the final competition rules shared with registrants.
Judging
Eligible films will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Story and emotional or intellectual impact
Originality and creative point of view
Meaningful use of the assigned prompt
Intentional and inventive use of AI tools
Overall execution and completion
Judges' decisions are final. Additional judging details, including scoring weights and any tie-breaking process, will be included in the final rules.
Prize
$1,000
Black Tech Street Grand Prize
The $1,000 grand prize is awarded to the winning submission. If a team wins, the prize will be divided equally among the registered members on the team's final roster. Winners may be required to provide payment and tax documentation before funds are distributed.
Ownership and permission to share
Creators retain ownership of their original work. By submitting, participants grant Prompt to Premiere, NDA Haus, Thankless Production LLC, and event partners a nonexclusive right to screen, display, and promote the submitted film and related excerpts in connection with the competition and its documentation. Complete release language will be provided with the final rules and submission form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Prompt to Premiere?
Prompt to Premiere begins September 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM CT. The live Tulsa program ends at 3:00 PM CT, and submissions close at 10:00 PM CT. Virtual creators may participate from anywhere. Registered in-person participants will receive the venue address and arrival instructions before the event.
Is this part of Tulsa Tech Week?
Yes. Prompt to Premiere is presented as part of the official Tulsa Tech Week programming.
Experience & Team FAQs
Do I need filmmaking experience?
No. Experienced filmmakers are welcome, but the competition is also designed for writers, designers, musicians, technologists, marketers, actors, and other curious creators. Telling a clear story and submitting by 10:00 PM CT matter more than having a traditional film resume.
Do I need prior experience with AI tools?
No, but this is a timed competition rather than an introductory class. Familiarize yourself with your tools before September 25 and be prepared to submit by 10:00 PM CT.
Can I participate by myself?
Yes. Solo creators and teams are both welcome.
Can teams participate?
Yes. Teams may include up to four registered participants and may be fully in person, fully virtual, or hybrid.
Will Prompt to Premiere help me find a team?
No. Participants who want to compete as a team must form and organize their own team before the competition. You may still register and compete as an individual.
How does my team register?
Every member registers separately, enters the exact same team name, and identifies the team captain. In-person members each select the paid Tulsa ticket because the contribution covers that participant's meals. Virtual members select the free virtual ticket.
Can I join more than one team?
No. Each person may contribute to only one competition submission.
Can team members participate from different cities?
Yes. Hybrid and fully virtual teams may collaborate across cities. Teams are responsible for arranging their own communication, shared files, accounts, and production workflow.
Registration & Tools FAQs
Why does in-person registration cost $10?
The $10 minimum contribution covers breakfast and lunch for the registered in-person participant. Registrants may contribute more to help support event production and community access.
Is virtual participation really free?
Yes. Virtual competition registration is free. Virtual participants are responsible for their own equipment, internet access, software, subscriptions, and tool credits.
Will AI tool credits be provided?
Participants should not assume that credits or subscriptions will be provided. Any sponsored tools or participant benefits will be announced separately if they become available.
What should in-person creators bring?
Bring a laptop, charger, headphones, and logins for the tools you intend to use. A portable mouse, extension cord, external drive, or other accessories may also be useful. Do not wait until competition day to create or verify your accounts.
Prompt, Tools & Submission FAQs
When will we receive the prompt?
The official prompt will be released at 10:00 AM CT when the competition begins. Participants may prepare their tools, workflows, and teams beforehand, but may not pre-produce the story or finished submission. The submission window closes at 10:00 PM CT.
What AI tools can I use?
Participants may use legally accessible AI-assisted tools for writing, images, video, animation, voice, sound, music, editing, and post-production, subject to the final rules and each tool's terms. Participants are responsible for understanding the permissions attached to their outputs.
Can I use pre-existing footage, templates, or assets?
Reusable workflows and legally licensed production templates may be permitted, but the story and finished film must be created during the competition. The final rules will specify any limits on stock assets, pre-existing footage, characters, music, or model-generated material.
How long should the film be?
The final duration and technical specifications will be provided to registered participants before the competition. Films that fall outside the required length or format may be ineligible for judging.
Prize, Ownership & Logistics FAQs
How will I submit my film?
The team captain or solo creator will complete one submission form and provide the final video using the designated submission method. The submission must arrive by 10:00 PM CT and include the required tool disclosure and team roster.
Who owns the finished film?
Creators retain ownership of their original work. The organizers receive a nonexclusive right to screen and promote the submission in connection with Prompt to Premiere, subject to the complete release terms.
How is the $1,000 prize handled for a team?
The prize belongs to the winning entry. If the winning entry was created by a team, the organizers will divide the prize equally among the registered members on the final roster.
What if I register in person and can no longer attend?
Contact the organizers as soon as possible. The final registration policy will explain whether an in-person registration may be transferred, converted to virtual participation, or refunded.
What if I need an accessibility accommodation or have a food allergy?
Include the request or dietary information in your registration. The organizers will follow up when more information is needed and will communicate what accommodations can be provided.
Who owns my film?
You do. Creators retain all ownership rights in their films. Prompt to Premiere does not purchase, acquire, or take ownership of any submitted film.
Can Prompt to Premiere screen or share my film?
Yes. By submitting, you grant the organizers a limited, nonexclusive, royalty-free license to screen your film as part of the competition and related showcases and to share it for the promotion, documentation, and educational presentation of Prompt to Premiere.
This permission does not allow the organizers to sell your film, transfer its ownership, or license it to a third party for independent commercial distribution.
Will creators be paid if a commercial opportunity arises?
The $1,000 competition prize is separate from any future commercial opportunity. If a streaming service, broadcaster, distributor, sponsor, or other third party wants to license or monetize your film, the opportunity will be presented to you. No commercial distribution or monetization will occur without a separate written agreement approved by the creator, including any applicable payment terms.
Can the organizers edit my film?
The organizers may make limited technical or promotional adjustments—such as encoding, captioning, subtitling, resizing, or using brief excerpts—when reasonably necessary to screen, promote, document, or make the competition accessible.
The organizers will not materially alter the film’s story or meaning, create a derivative work, or authorize another party to do so without the creator’s written permission.
Creator Representations and Permissions
By submitting a film, each creator represents and warrants that:
Rights Ownership
They own or control the rights necessary to submit and license the film.
Team Approval
Every registered team member has approved the submission and license.
Third-Party Permissions
They have obtained any necessary permissions, releases, or licenses for music, footage, scripts, artwork, voices, performances, trademarks, locations, personal likenesses, and other materials included in the film.
AI & Tool Compliance
Their use of AI and creative tools complies with the applicable platforms' terms, including any restrictions on commercial use or sublicensing.
No Infringement
The film does not knowingly infringe another person's copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, contractual, or other legal rights.
Accurate Information
The submitted information concerning authorship, team members, AI tools, and third-party materials is accurate.
Creators may only grant you rights they actually control. That matters especially with AI-generated material: the Copyright Office says copyright protection depends on sufficient human authorship; prompting by itself may not establish copyright ownership. U.S. Copyright Office AI guidance, January 2025 summary
Who should I contact with another question?
Use the contact information on the official registration page. Competition updates and final instructions will be sent to the email address used during registration.
Before you register
Decide whether you will compete individually or with a self-organized team.
If you have a team, agree on one team name and choose a captain.
Confirm that you can complete and submit your film by 10:00 PM CT.
Test your equipment, accounts, subscriptions, and production workflow.
Read the final rules and participant agreements when they are released.
Built in Tulsa. Open to creators everywhere.
A copy of the official rules can be downloaded here.
OFFICIAL COMPETITION GUIDE & FAQ