Colin Petrie-Norris

Founder & CEO at Fairground — building the future of TV with AI-generated storytelling. Serial entrepreneur. Surf dad chasing waves & new ideas.

[WHORANGE @whorange__]

A few days ago, I joked that I'd make a short film using this style... so I actually did 😂

--sref 3733128026 --v 7

What I love about this style is how it turns simple shapes into powerful storytelling. The characters feel almost symbolic, the compositions are bold and graphic, and every frame looks like an illustration from a dark children's book.

The muted colors, rough painterly textures, and geometric forms create a unique atmosphere that feels both beautiful and unsettling at the same time.

I chose a war setting for this experiment, but honestly I think this style could work for almost any dramatic story.

Made with @dreamina_ai
#dreaminacpp

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

We asked the world to send us their best AI Films.

Over 400 people answered.

After weeks of watching, rewatching, and debating, we're ready to announce the Best of AI Season 2 winners.

What made judging so difficult wasn't the volume. It was the quality. From 400 submissions to 200 finalists to 16 Grand Finalists, the bar kept rising. Every cut was painful and second guessed.

In the end, we asked: which films built a world you believed in? Which stories stayed with you? Which craft pushed the boundary of what AI cinema can do?

Three films answered all three in abundance:

🥇 1st Place - Thea Philopatora by Gertywood (@Gertywood5)

🥈 2nd Place - NOCTARI by Jakob Söe-Pedersen

🥉 3rd Place - Operation Valkyrie II by Jacek Kadaj (@jacek_kadaj)

Congratulations to the winners and everyone who submitted. The stories you crafted, and the craft behind them, were extraordinary to watch.

This competition is closed. The next one is already in motion. Stay tuned.

#AIFilm #AiFilmmaking #AICinema #GenAI

[Colin Petrie-Norris @cpetrien]

Nice to see you there Alex! #photobomb

[Alex Patrascu @maxescu]

What an amazing day in Cannes at the Higgsfield event!

The journey started this week here in Cannes, with Google I/O coming up, AI on the Lot, and Magnific Upscale

It’s going to be an amazing month in AI

[Colin Petrie-Norris @cpetrien]

@Gertywood5 @JSFILMZ0412 Glad to have it !

[Colin Petrie-Norris @cpetrien]

@JSFILMZ0412 @shahidiqbal1980 You can get distributed at @fairground_tv … that might be who’s putting you on those streamers ?

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

The Winner of Fairground Reimagined is...

After weeks of deliberation and a spirited debate among our panel, we have a winner. Choosing from such an elite pool of AI filmmakers was a challenge, but one film truly redefined the competition parameters.

We are honored to announce PINOK IO by Loïc Ramboanasolo (@loicRambo) as the winner of Fairground Reimagined!

The judges were captivated by the seamless character consistency across two distinct animation styles and his ability to reimagine a classic story while using AI to push the boundaries of visual storytelling in such a unique way.

It was a tough decision for our judges as the caliber of talent in this competition was staggering. If you aren’t already following these visionary creators and finalists, you’re missing out on the future of cinema:

Bridget Fox, Rosa Lykiardopoulos, Brett Stuart (@bstuartTI), Marcel Rutschmann, Dr Dreams (@drdreams), Markus Laukkanen (@MarkusLkknn) & Tatiana Laukkanen (@UnmoglichAI), Digital Da Vincis (@davincisdigital), Mehdi Saqi (@DrMachakil) and Roshni Singh (@roshxmachines).

A huge thank you to our inaugural panel of judges for their time, insight, and passion: BLVCKL!GHT (@BLVCKLIGHTai), Ryan Phillips / Uncanny Harry (@Uncanny_Harry), TzuJung Lin & Jiaze Li (@DiDi_OKK) , HENDO AI (@HendoAi) AI, and Fred Grinstein (@MachineCinemaAI).

What’s Next?

While Fairground Reimagined may be closing its curtains, the Best of AI Season 2 judging is just getting started. We were flooded with high-caliber submissions and needed extra time to ensure every film received the fair, detailed review it deserved.

Mark your calendars:

📅 Monday, May 18th: Finalists will be announced
📅 Wednesday, May 20th: The winners will be announced

We appreciate the patience of everyone that submitted, we're excited to announce the finalists and winners next week.

And we have more surprises "brewing" in the background that we can't wait to share.

Follow us to stay updated on the winners and some big announcements coming your way!

#AI #Filmmaking #AIFilmmaking #GenAI

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

The Fairground Reimagined Finalists have arrived!

Out of 200+ submissions, we're proud to announce the 10 finalists of the competition.

These filmmakers took the classics we love, such as Pinocchio, Alice, Sherlock Holmes and Dracula, then reimagined them through the lens of AI-powered storytelling.

The result? Compelling, fresh, and visually stunning cinema.

Congratulations to our finalists:

PINOK IO - Loïc Ramboanasolo (@loicRambo)

The Real Woods - Bridget Fox

I am real, now what? - Rosa Lykiardopoulos

Null - Brett Stuart (@bstuartTI)

Dracula Meets the Walkers - Marcel Rutschmann

Cinderella: The Ash Maiden - Dr Dreams (@drdreams)

ALYCE Sound of Wonderland - Markus Laukkanen (@MarkusLkknn) & Tatiana Laukkanen (@UnmoglichAI)

Alice on the Fury Road - Digital da Vincis (@davincisdigital )

Pigs on the Run - Mehdi Saqi (@DrMachakil)

Miss Holmes: Miss Homes: What If Sherlock Was a Woman? - Roshni (@roshxmachines)

To every finalist: congratulations! You showed what's possible when human storytelling and AI filmmaking come together and the results defied expectation.

👇 Finalists, drop a comment and tell us: what was the hardest part of making your film? And everyone else: which title has you most curious?

We'll be announcing the winner on Wednesday, May 13th, so stay tuned!

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

200+ entries. A 3 week AI filmmaking competition. We are still blown away!

The Fairground Reimagined competition closed last Friday and what the AI filmmaking community submitted genuinely moved us.

What came back?

A high-octane retelling of Three Little Pigs. Alice navigating a sun-scorched desert wonderland. Public domain characters leaping off the page and into the real world in ways we did not see coming.

This community didn't just use AI tools, they brought craft, intention, and a creative vision that showed what AI cinema can be.

We know what it costs. The late nights. The render queues. The tenth revision of a shot that still didn't feel quite right.

We understand the time, effort and passion creating quality AI cinema requires and could not be more thankful to our community for participating.

Finalist announcements are coming soon. But to every single person who entered:

Thank you!

Finalist announcements are coming soon, make sure to follow us so you don't miss them!

#AIFilmmaking #aivideo #Genai #AIcinema #CreativeAI #aivideos

[Colin Petrie-Norris @cpetrien]

RT @fairground_tv: Want to watch some of the best, most impactful international AI Cinema?

As part of Best of AI, we worked with 6 top int…

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

LAST CALL: Fairground Reimagined closes this Friday!

$5,000 in prize money. A rare chance to have your work reviewed by the people shaping the future of AI filmmaking.

Submissions have already set a high bar with AI filmmakers reimagining Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and more in ways nobody saw coming.

The judges are going to have a hard time choosing. Speaking of judges, here's who's reviewing the entries:

Ryan Phillips / Uncanny Harry (@Uncanny_Harry) - BAFTA-nominated and Award Winning Director

TzuJung Lin - Award-Winning Producer & Editor at
@DiDi_OKK

Jiaze Li - Award-Winning Filmmaker & Director at
@DiDi_OKK

BlvcklightAI (@BLVCKLIGHTai) - Award-Winning AI Filmmaker & World-Builder

HENDO AI (@HendoAi) - AI Strategy Consultant & Creative Director

Fred Grinstein - Co-founder at @MachineCinemaAI

Submit your film by Friday here: https://t.co/49qVqg26Hd

Not submitting this round? Follow Fairground. The next opportunity is closer than you think.

#AIFilm #Filmmaking #ArtificialIntelligence #CreativeAI #Fairground #AICompetition

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

Big news for the Fairground Reimagined Competition: Fred Grinstein, Co-Founder of @MachineCinemaAI, is joining the judging panel!

Having Fred join is a massive win and he'll be judging alongside a stacked panel of judges that have set the standard for AI filmmaking:

Ryan Phillips / Uncanny Harry (@Uncanny_Harry) - BAFTA-nominated and Award Winning Director

TzuJung Lin - Award-Winning Producer & Editor at @DiDi_OKK

Jiaze Li - Award-Winning Filmmaker & Director at @DiDi_OKK

BlvcklightAI (@BLVCKLIGHTai) - Award-Winning AI Filmmaker & World-Builder

HENDO AI (@HendoAi) - AI Strategy Consultant & Creative Director

Between them they've received BAFTA nominations, festival wins, and established careers at the forefront of AI filmmaking. These are the people defining what this medium looks like and they want to see your best work.

With entries open until May 1st, Fairground Reimagined is giving creators the opportunity to compete for $5,000 in prize money, with entries required to feature a Public Domain character or story.

This is your shot to get your work in front of the people defining AI filmmaking. Will you throw your hat in the ring?

Submit here:
https://t.co/49qVqg26Hd

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

Season 2 of Best of AI is open for submissions 🟢

Every selected film earns a revenue share, with $6,000 in prize money for the winners.

That's the deal. Submit your best work, get selected, and your film starts earning as it's distributed across 13+ Connected TV and FAST channel partners by the end of the year.

As a bonus for Season 2, we're also including $6,000 in prize money as part of our Fairground Reimagined competition.

Season 1 had over 30 creators participate. Their content is reaching audiences right now. Season 2 is going to be even bigger.

If you've been sitting on something, now's the time to submit it for distribution.

Submit here: https://t.co/49qVqg26Hd

Know a creator with great work? Tag them below 👇

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

This month, over 30 independent AI creators had their films available on television.

Not on social media or an app, but on the same connected TV and FAST channel infrastructure that carries traditional Hollywood content, distributed the exact same way.

This was made possible due to 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈: Fairground's series dedicated to the very best of AI filmmaking.

Animation. Science Fiction. Powerful, narratively driven foreign cinema and more.

And for many viewers, it was their first real encounter with what AI filmmaking is actually capable of.

This builds on our recent announcement: the first-ever native placement for AI creator content.

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 is an example of what that infrastructure looks like with real creators inside it.

By the end of the year, the show will be on over 13 platforms globally and we've already green lit Season 2.

A special thank you to Marcin Rossa, Alfonso Castro, Jiaze Li (@DiDi_OKK), TzuJung Lin (@DiDi_OKK), Jakob Söe-Pedersen, Nidal Studio (@nidal_studio), Frank Houbre (@FrankHoubre), DefeiKong, Aaron Liberman (@QualitativAi), Yifeng Wang, Ferran Brooks (@FerranBrooks), Arielko, Digital Da Vincis (@davincisdigital), Axel Schilling, DSTUDIOPROJECT (@D_studioproject), WenYe-Bot (@WenyeBot) & XingXing Liu, John Kelly, Bharat Parmar & The Indie Photographs (@theindiephotos), Wilfred Lee (@wilfredlee), Loïc Ramboanasolo, Exxix, Daniił Vołkaŭ (@machina9000), Nirdeshak Rao (@NirdeshakRao), DrishtiCone Productions, Michele Ranauro, Danny Tseng, Jaio Studios (@jaiostds), Vinod Padmanabhan Vijay Kumar (@vinodpvijay1978), FOID AI Studio, Donovan Marsh (@MarshDonovan), Steve Cholerton, Ronnie Apteker, DRAGON STUDIOS, Sergio G. Navarrete, SnAi Studio (@LucasZhu0879), Pioneer Factory, Jason Bonner, James Lecky, Martin Bradley, Tony Doherty, Paul Duran-Lemos (@cloakofqualia), Marvin Chik and the Taeki Workshop, WAI Studio (@waistudio2025), Toby Hyder, and more for working with Fairground to make this series a reality.

What these creators have made deserves the biggest stage possible. We will keep fighting to give it to you.

If you're an AI filmmaker, Season 2 entries are open now through our Fairground Reimagined competition. Details are below👇
https://t.co/Zf7tSIfKBk

[Alex Patrascu @maxescu]

This was a fun one to make with the new, updated Higgsfield Cinema Studio!

Check out the Seedance 2.0 prompt below:

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

Great competitions are defined by their judges. Here's who's defining 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 and helping award $5,000 to one standout winner:

Ryan Phillips / Uncanny Harry (@Uncanny_Harry) - BAFTA-nominated and Award Winning Director

TzuJung Lin - Award-Winning Producer & Editor at DiDi_OK (@DiDi_OKK)

Jiaze Li - Award-Winning Filmmaker & Director at DiDi_OK (@DiDi_OKK)

BlvcklightAI (@BLVCKLIGHTai) - Award-Winning AI Filmmaker & World-Builder

HENDO AI (@HendoAi) - AI Strategy Consultant & Creative Director

We didn't want judges who simply talk about AI filmmaking, we wanted creators who've proven what's possible when narrative craft meets cutting-edge tools.

They've set the standard. Now it's your turn to meet it.

If you're serious about AI filmmaking, this is the competition for you.

Enter Fairground Reimagined or submit for Best of AI Season 2:
👉 https://t.co/Zf7tSIfKBk

Need more details on the competitions?

🏆 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 | $𝟓,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞
The public domain is your canvas. Take a timeless story and make it yours through AI. Any genre, any style, any interpretation. Sherlock Holmes as sci-fi. Romeo & Juliet in a dystopian future. Dracula as a mockumentary. The source material is timeless. Now it's your turn.

🎥 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐 | $𝟔,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬
Got a finished film? Submit it for Season 2 of Best of AI, our show now airing on connected TV and streaming platforms. Top film takes $3,000.

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

$11,000 in prizes. Two AI film contests. One month.

We're opening both up this April...and the window is short.

🏆 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 | $𝟓,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞
The public domain is your canvas. Take a timeless story and make it yours through AI. Any genre, any style, any interpretation. Sherlock Holmes as sci-fi. Romeo & Juliet in a dystopian future. Dracula as a mockumentary. The source material is timeless. Now it's your turn.

🎥 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐 | $𝟔,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬
Got a finished film? Submit it for Season 2 of Best of AI, our show now airing on connected TV and streaming platforms. Top film takes $3,000.

And here's what makes Fairground different: every submission is eligible for our revenue-share program. Get selected for distribution and make money on your work, whether you win or not.

Your film on screens this summer, with the chance to win up to $5,000!

Follow this link for more information👇
https://t.co/Zf7tSIfKBk

[Colin Petrie-Norris @cpetrien]

@gstrompolos @fairground_tv From humble beginnings indeed… who knows where it goes - thanks @gstrompolos !

[Colin Petrie-Norris @cpetrien]

Our #creator partners and studios have been so patient with us at Fairground over the last year as we have worked to arrange distribution to our friends in the #TV arena... it takes a while to do things properly - and we're getting out there into the big leagues.

We're in the first innings of this. There's a long road ahead of lessons to learn, feedback to hear, improvements to make - but also cool moments like this when we lurch forward and take another step. We've got lots more coming too!

If you're a creator, and making films and longer form content that's good for TV come sign up at our portal (https://t.co/LO3HUaDuoC) - we'd love to see what you're working on.

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

This month, Fairground secured native placement on major connected TV and FAST channel platforms for the first time in history, putting AI creator content on television alongside traditional films and TV series.

This isn't a dedicated app or a social media experiment. For the first time, long-form narrative AI cinema is being distributed the same way as traditional Hollywood content.

Over 50 creators and studios are now live across these platforms. For many viewers, it will be their first real introduction to AI cinema and what’s possible in the medium.

This didn't happen because the industry came to us. It happened because our team Colin Petrie-Norris (@cpetrien), Alexandra Mills, Petrie, Cameron Saless, Brian Decker, Kristofer Shinn and Chris Landa built the infrastructure before anyone believed it was necessary.

It also happened because a group of creators took a genuine chance on a vision that hadn't been proven yet: Noah Wagner, Jagger Waters (@glamoureptile), Winston Mayo, HENDO AI (@johnhenderson), Nick Dorra (@ndorra), Alex Patrascu (@maxescu), Brogan Wassell (@theBW7), Eli Green, Barney Miller, Markus Laukkanen (@Markuslkknn), Tatiana Laukkanen, Henri Rantala, Jesse Koivukoski (@JesseKoivukoski), BlvcklightAI (@BLVCKLIGHTai), Tiffani Lee Joseph, Reza Sixo Safai (@rezawrecktion), Andrew Mills (@AndrewMillsZA), Aaron Bhugobaun, Michal Jan Owerczuk, Maddie Hong (@hmdehong), and Sana Hussein.

While the broader entertainment industry is still debating whether AI belongs in the room, our creators are already on the screen introducing the world to quality, narrative long-form AI cinema.

And we're just getting started. Over 13 platforms will be active by year's end, with new competitions, projects, and opportunities for creators and media partners coming next week.

If you believe AI content deserves a real stage, we're building it. Come join us!

#ai #aicinema #genai #aifilm

[fairground.tv @fairground_tv]

In less than a year, Fairground has paid out over $200,000 to AI content creators.

Considering that last October, we had only paid out $100,000 makes this a tremendous milestone.

And here’s the thing that matters most: For some creators, this helped them quit their day jobs to pursue AI content creation full-time.

When we gathered in Laguna Beach recently for our company offsite, that’s the number that kept coming up in conversations.

Not to pat ourselves on the back, but as a reminder of why Fairground exists.

As a Gen-AI studio and distribution network powered by AI content creators, our goal is to get their work onto connected TVs and FAST channels.

And our core principle, the one we keep coming back to and guiding our company’s direction, is simple:

Fairness.

In a space moving this fast, it's easy to chase every shiny object. The offsite helped us stay anchored and focused on what’s important.

We talked about the nature of AI content creators and how they're the newest wave of the Creator Economy, fundamentally similar to what came before in some ways, and completely different in others.

Figuring out who they are, and how to serve them best, is one of the most exciting challenges we are tackling as a team.

Outside of how we’re serving our creators, we also spent time discussing how best to adapt to an always changing environment.

Our CEO @cpetrien summed it up perfectly: "A cost of doing business is subscribing to multiple tools knowing that they improve at different times, making a competitive advantage simply being flexible with a willingness to experiment."

We're building in one of the fastest-moving industries in the world.

And we're just getting started, but if we’re not contributing to the industry and striving to make it better, we’re heading in the wrong direction.

[Lucy @TheLucyShow1]

This cracked me up!! 😹😹😹