The Rome AI Festival (RAIF) is built around a simple idea: AI filmmaking deserves to be judged by people who understand cinema, technology, distribution, creativity, and the future of storytelling. For the 2026 edition, RAIF brings together an international panel of judges and industry voices spanning entertainment research, film distribution, public broadcasting, streaming discovery, production, and festival leadership.

If you’re submitting an AI film, attending the festival, or tracking where generative AI cinema is heading, this is the panel to know.

Why the RAIF judging panel matters

AI films are not only evaluated by how impressive the tools are. The best AI films still need story, craft, emotion, originality, and a clear creative point of view. That’s why RAIF’s panel brings together people who can evaluate both sides of the work: the cinematic result and the technological leap behind it.

Who are the Rome AI Film Festival 2026 judges and panelists?

Erik Weaver — Director at ETC@USC

Erik Weaver brings a research-driven perspective on emerging entertainment technology through his work at ETC@USC. His presence on the panel connects RAIF to the questions shaping the next generation of production: virtual workflows, generative tools, creative infrastructure, and how studios and creators adapt to new media systems.

Brendan McCafferty — CEO at IPX.Exchange

Brendan McCafferty brings a market and rights-focused lens to the panel. As CEO of IPX.Exchange, he represents the business side of creative IP: how work circulates, how value is built, and how new forms of media can become part of a larger creative economy.

Gianluca Guzzo — CEO at MYmovies.it

Gianluca Guzzo brings deep experience in film discovery, audiences, and digital cinema culture. As CEO of MYmovies.it, he understands how viewers find films, how festivals reach audiences, and how new cinematic movements enter the public conversation.

Mattia Morgut — R&D at RAI

Mattia Morgut adds a public-broadcasting and research-and-development perspective from RAI. His viewpoint matters because AI filmmaking is not only a creator trend; it is also part of a broader shift in how media institutions experiment, produce, archive, and distribute stories.

Lori McCreary — CEO at Revelations Entertainment

Lori McCreary brings a major production perspective to the RAIF panel. As CEO of Revelations Entertainment, she represents the craft and responsibility of storytelling at scale: strong concepts, audience connection, production judgment, and the human decisions that make technology meaningful on screen.

Riccardo Vincenzi — Festival Director and Founder of VIA

Riccardo Vincenzi, Festival Director and Founder of VIA (Visual Innovation Awards), brings the curatorial vision behind the Rome AI Festival. His role anchors the event around a clear mission: to give AI-assisted filmmakers a serious, international stage and to recognize the artists shaping a new language for cinema.

What will the judges look for in an AI film?

A strong AI film is not defined by a prompt alone. The most competitive submissions combine human authorship with technical ambition. Judges are likely to pay close attention to story, visual coherence, emotional impact, sound, pacing, originality, and whether generative AI is used as a meaningful creative component rather than a novelty.

• Story and emotional clarity

• Originality of concept and visual language

• Creative use of generative AI

• Editing, sound, pacing, and overall craft

• Fit with the selected award category

The four RAIF award categories

The Rome AI Festival recognizes work across four award categories, giving different kinds of AI filmmaking a place to stand out:

• Best AI Animation

• Best Narrative

• Best Documentary

• Best Experimental

Why this panel strengthens RAIF’s position in AI cinema

For filmmakers, a credible jury changes the stakes. A selection or award matters more when the panel includes people who understand creative technology, cinema audiences, public media, production, IP, and festival culture. That mix is why RAIF is positioned as one of the most important AI film festivals for creators who want visibility, serious feedback, and a place in the emerging history of generative AI filmmaking.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the Rome AI Festival 2026 judges?
The RAIF 2026 judges and panelists include Erik Weaver, Brendan McCafferty, Gianluca Guzzo, Mattia Morgut, Lori McCreary, and Riccardo Vincenzi.

What do AI film festival judges look for?
They look for story, originality, craft, emotional impact, and a meaningful use of generative AI as part of the creative process.

Why does the judging panel matter?
A strong panel makes awards and selections more meaningful because films are reviewed through both artistic and industry perspectives.

Can I submit an AI film to RAIF?
Yes. Filmmakers can submit AI-assisted films to the Rome AI Festival if generative AI is used as a significant creative component.

Want your film seen by this panel? Submit your AI film to the Rome AI Festival and join the creators shaping the future of cinema.