Rules & Terms

1. About these terms

These terms govern the use of the OPUS Film Awards website and entry into the awards. By submitting a film or using this site, you accept them. Questions can be sent to info@opusfilmawards.com.

2. Rights & copyright

Filmmakers retain full ownership and copyright of their submitted work. By submitting, you grant OPUS Film Awards a limited, non-exclusive licence to use excerpts, stills and trailers for the promotion of the awards. Winning films may be showcased via OPUS's official platform partners as part of a post-event feature, with the filmmaker's agreement.

3. Eligibility & AI disclosure

• Films must be created using AI tools.
• Full AI tools disclosure is mandatory. At the point of submission you must list every AI tool, model or service used across production — image, video, audio, voice, music, upscaling and editing — and note the role of each. Incomplete or missing disclosures may disqualify an entry.
• Films must have been completed after 1st January 2026.
• All genres and styles are welcome.
• Films previously screened or published elsewhere are eligible, provided they meet the completion date above.

4. Submission

• A submission fee applies per entry: £25.50 for all categories, £35.50 for Best AI Feature Film.
• Runtimes vary by category. Please check individual category requirements.
• Submissions close 5th September 2026.
• Entries may be submitted via FilmFreeway or directly through this website.
• You must own or have cleared all rights in the work you submit, including music, footage and likenesses.

5. Judging

• Nine categories are open for submission, plus the OPUS People's Choice Award and Grand Prix.
• Shortlisted films are assessed by the OPUS jury.
• The Grand Prix is awarded on the night by full jury decision and requires no submission.
• The OPUS People's Choice Award is decided by live audience vote on the night.
• Jury decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding results.

6. Fees & refunds

Submission fees are processed securely by Stripe and are non-refundable once an entry has been received, except where an entry is withdrawn before judging begins at our discretion, or where required by law.

7. Ceremony

The first edition of the OPUS Film Awards takes place on 12 November 2026 in Central London. Details, timings and venue information are confirmed to nominees and ticket holders ahead of the evening and may be subject to change.

8. Website use

This site and its content are provided for information and entry purposes. You may not copy, scrape or republish site content, artwork or submitted films without written permission. We may update, suspend or withdraw parts of the site at any time.

9. Liability

We take reasonable care in operating the awards and this website, but we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, for loss arising from technical failures outside our control, or for third-party services such as payment or hosting providers. Nothing here limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

10. Data & privacy

Personal data is handled as described in our Privacy Policy, including how submission details are shared with the jury for judging.

11. Governing law & changes

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. We may update them from time to time; the latest version will always be available on this page.