The excitement is back as the Dota 2 Short Film Contest returns for another year! This annual contest celebrates The International 2024 by giving Dota 2 fans and animation experts the chance to showcase their storytelling and animation skills.
With a first-place prize of $25,000 up for grabs, the stakes are high at the Short Film Contest 2024.
How to Enter the Dota 2 Short Film Contest 2024
Short Film Contest 2024 for TI13 (Image credit: Dota 2)
This year, a new rule has been added to the contest due to advancements in technology. Participants are now prohibited from using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in their submissions.
Why AI-Generated Content is Banned
Valve’s decision to ban AI-generated content stems from the rapid development of generative AI technology. AI models like OpenAI’s Sora can create high-quality videos based on text prompts alone, showcasing the potential for AI to dominate creative competitions.
While AI advancements are impressive, using them in the Short Film Contest goes against the spirit of human creativity and innovation.
Sora’s video generation capabilities (Image credit: OpenAI)
Other Contest Rules
In addition to the AI ban, other rules for the Short Film Contest remain the same as previous years. Some key requirements include:
- Submissions must be under 90 seconds and at least 1080p in resolution.
- Entries must be Dota 2-themed, but can be in any animation style, including live-action.
- Use of Valve’s Dota 2 hero models is allowed, but using non-Valve intellectual property (IP) requires permission from the copyright owner.
- All entries must be new creations made specifically for the contest and submitted to the Steam Workshop with the tag “Dota 2 – Short Film Contest 2024”.
For the full list of rules and guidelines, visit the official Dota 2 Short Film Contest page.
Prizes for the Short Film Contest 2024
As in previous years, the first-place winner will receive $25,000, with $10,000 for second place, $5,000 for third place, and a consolation prize of $500 for fourth to tenth place winners.
Image credit: Dota 2
Last Year’s Winners
Recalling the top three winners from last year, “Chemical Rage” by 4fun took first place with a gripping storyline featuring Phantom Assassin’s unexpected betrayal. Second and third place went to “Finish Pls” by Keller Max and “Anomidae” by GAME BREAKERS.
As we anticipate this year’s entries, remember that the winners are decided by the Dota 2 community’s votes. Visit the Steam Workshop to see the latest Short Film submissions and show your support for your favorites!
