A competition for AI storytellers

Submit a Body of Work that tells a story from start to finish. Be reviewed by expert judges, and compete for a $1,000 grant and a feature in Prompt Magazine.

Free to enter · Open worldwide · Judged on skill · Entries close 12 July

The Finest Steel

Emptiness. We all know what it feels like. The weight of monotonous days presses down on a person like heavy bricks, stripping them of the light, free version of themselves. Days pass. Life becomes covered in grey fog.

Boredom. We all know what it feels like. We open a social app, scroll, like, scroll again, afraid of missing something. We keep producing interactions without direction.

And in THAT MOMENT, just when you think today will be exactly like every other day, a feeling cuts through you like lightning: I have never seen him before, and yet I want him.

You go through his pictures. In one minute, you create the entire film of your wedding in your head, then realize you still know nothing about him. You search. You collect pieces. You try. You hope you can get through the fortress built around him.

You lie down. You get up. You lie down. You get up. Everything continues the same way, but deep in your stomach, you feel that wild, uncontrollable tingling.

You lie down.

A message arrives.

The machine begins to move.

Two completely different people. Two different worlds. Opposite ends of the earth.

You do not know how it happened. You have not even had time to come to your senses. “I must be dreaming,” you think.

Days, nights, months, seasons follow one another. You look at him as a human being. You listen to him. You are there for him. You become his support and his confidante.

You love him. He loves you. You love each other.

Slowly, you dare to believe it is real. That the universe has dealt you a card too.

“It’s fine,” you say. “We’ll figure it out.”

You knew it would not be simple. But you long for him. You want him. You would do anything for him.

You fly. You meet.

The outside world disappears. There is only the two of you.

His closeness dazes you, intoxicates you. The wind of his world touches your face.

Then it tears a crack between you.

You are ripped apart. You suffer. He suffers.

His absence devours you, chews you up, spits you out. Again and again.

The loud noise of the crowd falls over you like a shadow. The loud noise of the crowd falls over him like a shadow.

Hold on a little longer, you tell yourself. Hold on a little longer, you tell him.

One day, the clouds will pass, and the sun will come out again.

And then one day, it did.

The circumstances changed. But your feelings for each other only grew stronger.

Once again, the bright spring sunlight finds you in his embrace.

You have come home. He has come home.

The firm grip of your hands is like the finest steel.

OddOneOut

@sayhellotooddoneout

0Creations

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Edition 1 Theme

The Architecture of Feeling

Pick a feeling - (wonder, longing, awe, the quiet kind of joy, it's up to you!) - and build a Body of Work that tells a story about it. Tell one story from start to finish, as a collection of images and/or videos, or as a single edited video. Think short film or mini exhibition, not a single image, clip, or mood board.

We want to feel it, not just see it.

Full competition details

Key Dates

Entries open

Jun 15, 2026

Entries close, judging begins

Jul 12, 2026

Winners announced

Jul 20, 2026

Entries close in 17:32:46

Awards & Prizes

🏆
Best Overall$1,000 USD grant + 30,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine
📖
Best Storytelling15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
✨
Most Creative15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
❤️
Community Favourite15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
🎖️
Highly Commended (×10)2,400 fast credits each + print copy of Prompt Magazine + Highly Commended badge

Full prize list

Judging Panel

Angus Russell

Founder, NightCafe

Sarah Impey

AI Community Manager, Runware

Marco Pittarello

Founder, Prompt Magazine

Gully Ahmed

NightCafe community member

About the panel · How it's judged

FAQ

Discuss NightCafe Select

OddOneOut

@sayhellotooddoneout

0Creations

View Profile

Key Dates

Entries open

Jun 15, 2026

Entries close, judging begins

Jul 12, 2026

Winners announced

Jul 20, 2026

Entries close in 17:32:46

Judging Panel

Angus Russell

Founder, NightCafe

Sarah Impey

AI Community Manager, Runware

Marco Pittarello

Founder, Prompt Magazine

Gully Ahmed

NightCafe community member

About the panel · How it's judged

Discuss NightCafe Select

OddOneOut

@sayhellotooddoneout

0Creations

View Profile

Edition 1 Theme

The Architecture of Feeling

We want to feel it, not just see it.

Full competition details

Key Dates

Entries open

Jun 15, 2026

Entries close, judging begins

Jul 12, 2026

Winners announced

Jul 20, 2026

Entries close in 17:32:46

Awards & Prizes

🏆
Best Overall$1,000 USD grant + 30,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine
📖
Best Storytelling15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
✨
Most Creative15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
❤️
Community Favourite15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
🎖️
Highly Commended (×10)2,400 fast credits each + print copy of Prompt Magazine + Highly Commended badge

Full prize list

Judging Panel

Angus Russell

Founder, NightCafe

Sarah Impey

AI Community Manager, Runware

Marco Pittarello

Founder, Prompt Magazine

Gully Ahmed

NightCafe community member

About the panel · How it's judged

FAQ

Discuss NightCafe Select

Edition 1 Theme

The Architecture of Feeling

We want to feel it, not just see it.

Full competition details

Awards & Prizes

🏆
Best Overall$1,000 USD grant + 30,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine
📖
Best Storytelling15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
✨
Most Creative15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
❤️
Community Favourite15,000 fast credits + feature in Prompt Magazine + verified Select portfolio
🎖️
Highly Commended (×10)2,400 fast credits each + print copy of Prompt Magazine + Highly Commended badge

Full prize list