Tribeca Studios partners with OpenAI for 2026 AI filmmaker program

Tribeca Studios, the film production arm of the renowned Tribeca Festival, has partnered with OpenAI to launch an AI-integrated short film program for the 2026 Tribeca Festival, selecting two filmmakers to create live-action shorts using OpenAI’s artificial intelligence tools. The collaboration builds on last year’s successful Sora Shorts initiative and positions Tribeca at the forefront of AI-enhanced filmmaking, offering selected participants funding, training, and mentorship alongside access to cutting-edge AI technology.

What you should know: The year-long program will culminate with premieres at the 2026 festival, accompanied by discussions about AI’s role in filmmaking.

• Selected filmmakers will receive comprehensive support including funding, training, mentorship, and full access to OpenAI’s suite of tools and features.
• The program represents an expansion of Tribeca’s commitment to exploring AI in creative industries following their previous success with AI-generated content.

Building on success: Tribeca Festival previously introduced the Sora Shorts program last year, showcasing five short films created using OpenAI’s Sora model.

• That initiative required participants to follow Screen Actors Guild, Writers’ Guild, and Directors’ Guild parameters for AI usage, establishing industry-compliant frameworks for AI integration.
• The success of Sora Shorts provided the foundation for this more comprehensive filmmaker development program.

What they’re saying: Industry leaders emphasize AI’s potential as a creative enhancement tool rather than a replacement for traditional filmmaking.

• “At Tribeca, storytelling is at the heart of everything we do — and innovation is key to its future. Partnering with OpenAI allows us to be at the forefront of a new creative frontier, where AI is not a replacement, but another powerful tool in a filmmaker’s toolkit,” Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Enterprises co-founder and CEO, said in a statement.
• “Filmmakers have always pushed the boundaries of storytelling, and this program is about supporting that spirit with tools to enhance traditional filmmaking pipelines,” Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, said in a statement.

What’s next: Tribeca has not yet sent out invitations for submissions, with the application process expected to begin soon for the 2026 festival premiere timeline.