PilotRush offers $5,000 and a possible paid Season 1 deal for an 80 second AI drama pilot

Microdra.ma and AdArena want the first episode of an original vertical AI drama by Nov 12. First place pays $1,200 in cash; the deal of up to $10,000 for more episodes sits under a separate agreement whose terms are not public.

Eighty seconds, one hero, one problem, and an ending that leaves a stranger needing episode two. That is the whole brief for PilotRush, an open contest from Microdra.ma, a vertical drama studio, and AdArena, a platform where AI creators compete on brand briefs.

Entrants make the first episode of an original series, 50 to 80 seconds long and framed 9:16 for phones. The pictures must be AI-made, while motion control and human voiceover are allowed. Entry is free, and a pilot you have already published counts if you own it and made it in the last 24 months. The pool is $5,000 across 40 places: $3,500 in cash and $1,500 in tool credits, with $1,200 going to first place.

The scorecard is the useful part. Thirty percent goes on the hook, judged on whether the first five seconds stop the scroll, and 25% on story, meaning a clear want, real stakes and an ending that demands more. Craft takes 20%, casting and performance 15%, and the last 10% asks whether the idea could run for 60 episodes. Microdra.ma founder Yael Tamar and partner Chris Werner judge alongside guest producers and app partners.

The winner is also invited to a separate paid engagement of up to $10,000 to develop more Season 1 episodes, with royalties if a sponsor picks up the series. Creators keep ownership and grant a non-exclusive license to show the first episode. Entries close Nov 12, with winners due within seven days.

Our take: the cash is modest, so the real reason to enter is the development invite and a jury that buys this format. The terms of that deal are not public yet, so read them before you sign anything.

Source: Microdra.ma PilotRush rules and launch post, Oct 22, 2026.