CREATOR IN RESIDENCE - AI FILMMAKING INCUBATOR Stars Collective x Stars International Film Festival Powered by Leyline

Qualifications

• Directors, cinematographers, editors, and VFX artists ready to expand their creative toolkit
• Screenwriters and storytellers eager to visualize their work
• Commercial creators seeking faster iteration cycles
• Any visual storyteller with a vision and the drive to execute
• No prior AI filmmaking experience required—just creative ambition and a willingness to learn
• Created with Leyline or other AI tools
• Demonstrate your prior work in film, video, or visual media

Benefits

• Investment considerations for feature / full series development will be given at the end of the program
• This is your opportunity to create a short film, commercial, or music video using professional-grade AI production tools—with mentorship from Hollywood veterans and a premiere at the Stars International Film Festival
• Membership in the Stars Collective filmmaker community
• 1-on-1 mentorship from Hollywood executives
• Access to exclusive industry events and networks
• Awards recognition at Stars International Film Festival
• Investment consideration for feature / full series development
• 6-month Pro subscription
• Motion graphics artists exploring new production methods
• Backed by Primavera Capital ($20B AUM)

Responsibilities

• Priority generation queue access
• Weekly hands-on workshops with the Leyline team
• 24/7 WhatsApp technical support
• Hybrid workflows combining live-action footage with AI generation are encouraged
• Leyline serves as your primary production pipeline—giving you access to AI screenwriting, shot breakdown, asset design, keyframe composition, video rendering, and final export
• AI FILM SAMPLE (30-90 seconds)

Full Description

The GenAI Narrative: Creator-in-Residence program selects 10 visionary creators to produce original AI-integrated content during an intensive 4-week sprint.

Investment considerations for feature / full series development will be given at the end of the program.

This is your opportunity to create a short film, commercial, or music video using professional-grade AI production tools—with mentorshipfrom Hollywood veterans and a premiere at the Stars International Film Festival.

The only permission you need is yours.

WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE

FROM STARS COLLECTIVE & SIFF:

• Membership in the Stars Collective filmmaker community

• 1-on-1 mentorship from Hollywood executives

• Access to exclusive industry events and networks

• Awards recognition at Stars International Film Festival

• Investment consideration for feature / full series development

FROM LEYLINE (AI Production Platform):

• 6-month Pro subscription

• Priority generation queue access

• Weekly hands-on workshops with the Leyline team

• 24/7 WhatsApp technical support

• Featured placement in Leyline's creator gallery

• Marketing visibility across Leyline channels

WHAT YOU'LL CREATE

A 2-3 minute original work in one of three categories:

• Short Film

• Advertising/Commercial

• Music Video

Hybrid workflows combining live-action footage with AI generation are encouraged.

Leyline serves as your primary production pipeline—giving you access to AI screenwriting, shot breakdown, asset design, keyframe composition, video rendering, and final export.

IDEAL CANDIDATES

We're looking for:

• Directors, cinematographers, editors, and VFX artists ready to expand their creative toolkit

• Screenwriters and storytellers eager to visualize their work

• Motion graphics artists exploring new production methods

• Commercial creators seeking faster iteration cycles

• Any visual storyteller with a vision and the drive to execute

No prior AI filmmaking experience required—just creative ambition and a willingness to learn.

TIMELINE

• Applications Open: January 14, 2026

• Application Deadline: January 28, 2026

• Selection Announced: February 3, 2026

• Program Dates: February 5 – March 5, 2026

• SIFF Showcase & Awards: April 2026

HOW TO APPLY

Submit the following at leylinepro.ai/starscollective-genai-narrative:

AI FILM SAMPLE (30-90 seconds)

Created with Leyline or other AI tools.

Show us your vision.

CREATIVE STATEMENT (300 words max)

What will you create in 30 days?

What story are you burning to tell?

PORTFOLIO OR REEL LINK

Demonstrate your prior work in film, video, or visual media.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

STARS COLLECTIVE

Stars Collective is a Los Angeles–based film finance and production company behind The Garfield Movie (2024) and The Monkey (2025), working closely with Patrick Wachsberger, Sam Raimi, Donna Gigliotti, Rob Minkoff, and other A-listed filmmakers.

STARS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SIFF)

Celebrating innovative filmmaking and emerging voices in cinema.

GenAI Narrative is a long-term official program of the STARS International Film Festival (SIFF), dedicated to exploring the future of storytelling at the intersection of cinema and generative AI.

Volume I is proudly launched in collaboration with Leyline AI as the inaugural edition of this ongoing initiative.

LEYLINE

The AI production platform trusted by studios worldwide.

Made by Creators, for Creators.

Backed by Primavera Capital ($20B AUM).

Our 6-agent AI Film Crew takes you from script to screen: Screenwriter → 1st AD → Art Director → DP → VFX Supervisor → Editor.

Creators always stay in control, AI does the heavy lifting.

The future of filmmaking is being written right now.

Write yourself into it.

APPLY: leylinepro.ai/starscollective-genai-narrative

Greenlight yourself in 2026.