HKAIIFF2027 · Entry & partnership questions

When can I enter HKAIIFF 2027, and does payment or an INDEX record complete my entry?

Entries run from 1 October 2026 to 1 March 2027, closing at 23:59 Hong Kong time (UTC+8). The fee is US$99 per work, with no additional award application fee for applicable expression awards or associated Silver achievements. There are no early-bird or late-entry tiers.

Complete formal entry at hkaiiff.io. An account, draft, payment, INDEX record and accepted submission are distinct states. After supplying required information, the full work, declarations and payment, check the application confirmation and any outstanding items. Festival dates, venues and award resources will be announced separately.

Can I enter in 2027 if my film is already on YouTube, Douyin or another festival’s programme?

The submitted version must have been completed on or after 1 August 2026. No premiere is required: previously published works or films entered elsewhere may apply if they meet the other conditions. There is no universal minimum runtime.

Do I still need to calculate 51% AI use for 2027? How should I explain AI’s role?

AI must play a substantive role in principal audiovisual material, performance, narrative organisation, generative rules or audience experience. There is no fixed AI-use percentage for 2027. Explain its role and human creative decisions through the work, concise context and assessable evidence. Subtitling, denoising, upscaling or administrative assistance alone does not establish eligibility.

I combine commercial models, custom workflows and live action. How much technical documentation do I need?

There is no minimum word count for the AI statement. Identify substantive stages, principal tools and known versions, then explain key choices, revisions and control. Supply representative evidence when needed, rather than all logs, contracts, source code or model weights. Mark unavailable supplier information as unknown.

Does a non-English film need full language support, and must I deliver screening masters at entry?

All languages are welcome, with adequate support for full understanding. Non-English works need suitable English subtitles, transcripts or equivalent support; an English synopsis alone is not a substitute. Screening masters, multilingual publicity and audio stems are confirmed separately when needed.

How should I credit selection or an award on a poster, biography or work page?

Use the year, award name, recipient object and credits shown in the official result, with a link to that result. Selection, screening, support-programme admission and winning are distinct. Preserve the original 2026 award names. A film’s award does not mean every workflow, character or world used in it won that award.

Does a studio or university need a separate entry for each work?

Each work needs its own entry, submitted version and applicable fee. One authorised representative may manage several works, with distinct credits, permissions and confirmations. For one Silver achievement demonstrated by several films, name a principal associated work and consolidate evidence rather than entering the same achievement repeatedly. Contact info@hkaiiff.org if a platform issue prevents multiple entries.

Which awards are available in 2027? Do I need seven separate applications?

There are seven awards: the Golden Unicorn Grand Prix; Silver Unicorn awards for Creative Method, Digital Character and Worldbuilding; and Unicorn awards for Narrative, Audiovisual and Experiential Innovation. Use one work entry and add specific evidence for the Silver achievements you submit. Applicable awards for the same work carry no extra award application fee and do not require four INDEX purchases.

Are the 2027 prizes cash or computing support, and where can I find confirmed details?

Trophies, certificates, compute and other support, including their conditions, are governed by this edition’s subsequent official announcements or written confirmation. Resource amounts on the 2026 pages do not automatically apply to 2027, and resource face values are not redeemable cash. Do not treat unannounced support as assured income.

Will jurors assess the complete work or just the technical statement? How is the decision made?

Eligibility and material checks precede professional evaluation. A works panel evaluates the Grand Prix and three expression awards; a creative-achievements panel evaluates the three Silver awards. Jurors view or experience the complete object and examine the evidence needed for its claims.

Five descriptive levels organise observations, reasons and outstanding questions. They are not mechanically added or subjected to undisclosed weights. Deliberation and voting follow the rules. Each award has at most one recipient object and may remain vacant; joint contributors can share credit.

The Grand Prix requires at least five conflict-free jurors who have completed the review and support from at least two thirds. Other awards require at least three jurors and a majority. Qualified substitutes complete the review if recusals reduce the quorum. Public award announcements include publishable jury reasons.

Does a hackathon or university recommendation waive 2027 eligibility or entry fees?

A recommendation is not formal entry, nomination or an award. The work must still meet the 2027 completion date, substantive AI-use, material and permissions requirements and complete formal submission. Any fee waiver needs an explicit official arrangement for this edition; referral status alone is insufficient.

With a limited budget, should I enter a festival first or seek distribution or creator support?

Start with your purpose: jury recognition, audience exchange, ongoing creative support or a specific licensing discussion. HKAIIFF 2027 costs US$99 per work; allow for subtitles, translation and necessary delivery. Entry does not guarantee an award, screening or recovery of costs. Explore MCN for ongoing collaboration or Hong Kong AI Film Market for buyer and licensing needs; each has separate conditions.

When comparing AI film festivals, what should I check beyond the prize figure?

Check the specific edition’s accepted formats, AI-use conditions, completion dates, premiere restrictions, fees, jury and conflicts policy, required materials, published results and permissions granted on entry. Determine whether prizes are cash, compute or services and read their conditions. HKAIIFF 2027 uses seven awards and substantive creative-use assessment; a 2026 archive does not replace the current guide.

AI generated most of the images. How should I explain my creative contribution?

There is no minimum word count for the AI statement. Identify substantive stages, principal tools and known versions, then explain key choices, revisions and control. Supply representative evidence when needed, rather than all logs, contracts, source code or model weights. Mark unavailable supplier information as unknown.

Which edition’s rules should I cite, and who organises HKAIIFF 2027?

The organiser is Hong Kong AI International Film Festival Association. For 2027 entries, cite the 2027 hub, entry guide and formal documents. The inaugural 2026 edition’s nineteen awards, jury records and laureates remain under their original edition. Check each document’s edition, public version and publication date.

Can a character, world or creative method compete for Silver if its film is not shortlisted for the Grand Prix?

The three Silver awards assess methods, digital characters and worlds, not film placements. The achievement must be demonstrated in an eligible work submitted to this edition; that film need not first be shortlisted for the main competition. Existing achievements must identify the submitted version and distinguish earlier from new contributions.

I made most of the work alone, without a company or full crew. How should I enter my credits?

Individuals, teams, studios, institutions and authorised representatives may apply. One person can hold multiple roles and several people can share a role. A company, a complete conventional crew or an account for every contributor is not required. Identify the human creative leads, actual contributions and accurate public credits.

Can I submit a character or workflow that I have used in earlier work?

The three Silver awards assess methods, digital characters and worlds, not film placements. The achievement must be demonstrated in an eligible work submitted to this edition; that film need not first be shortlisted for the main competition. Existing achievements must identify the submitted version and distinguish earlier from new contributions.

Reuse the film’s contributors, tools and sources; add the achievement’s name, scope, version, specific contributions and evidence. If several films demonstrate the same achievement, identify one principal associated work and consolidate evidence. Using a general-purpose model or tool does not by itself make that model or tool a candidate.

Is a linear film at a disadvantage compared with an interactive work?

Formats are not ranked. The Grand Prix evaluates the complete work’s achievement across fixed, interactive and generative forms. Characters need not converse live and worlds need not use a game engine. Interactivity, realism, runtime, equipment cost and commercial potential are not substitutes for artistic value.

My work changes each time it runs. How will jurors assess the same version?

Provide a runnable version and experience scope, required tools or dependencies, operating conditions, suggested path, stopping conditions and reset instructions. Jurors may explore independently and repeat tests. Disclose known variability and failure boundaries. A recording may supplement access but an edited trailer does not replace the complete dynamic work.

My workflow contains client-confidential or closed-source work. Must I publish its source code?

Open source or full public disclosure is not required. Explain the achievement, human control and assessable claims, and request restricted review, redacted evidence or a controlled demonstration for confidential parts. Jurors still need enough evidence to assess central claims. Confidentiality does not replace verification or authorise disclosure of a third party’s material.

Can I enter for judging without agreeing to publicity, public screening or a sale of rights?

The necessary review permission covers eligibility checks, judging, technical testing and application processing. Public screening, promotional excerpts, public INDEX records and commercial cooperation require separate confirmation. Declining optional publicity or market cooperation does not affect professional evaluation.

Can I reuse an existing INDEX record, and can I enter without one?

You may reference an existing INDEX record you are authorised to use and confirm its version. If direct import is unavailable, include its link in the materials. Buying INDEX is not required. Entry, nomination and awards do not transfer existing rights or guarantee distribution, transactions or income.

Can I withdraw or replace my work after submission, and when is a refund available?

You may request withdrawal in writing. Before eligibility review starts, the organiser’s entry fee is refunded; after review begins it is generally non-refundable, with corrections for duplicate charges, errors or unavailable services under the terms. Explain any replacement version and its changes. A playback repair must not silently introduce material changes. See the Entry Terms for the full conditions.

Can I request review if the wrong version was used or a jury conflict was not addressed?

A written procedural review request may be submitted within fourteen calendar days of the relevant decision notice or results, with evidence of eligibility errors, unresolved conflicts, use of the wrong version or substantial procedural departures. Later-discovered evidence may be explained separately. Artistic disagreement alone is not a procedural review ground.

How can a university support student entries or discuss a workshop?

Institutions may help prepare several works, but each has its own entry, authorised representative, credits and permissions. Use the partnership route to discuss workshops, public talks, creator support, venues or tool resources with a specific brief.

In your first enquiry, provide the organisation, location, contact, objectives, resources, delivery team and expected timing. Brand use, official hosting, costs, data access and deliverables must be agreed in writing. An enquiry does not confer official status.

If we provide tools or compute, can we require entrants to use our product?

The 2027 Unicorn Awards are tool-neutral. Support scope, capacity and delivery may be agreed separately, but a brand cannot become a main competition entry condition, scoring advantage or requirement for an award. Any separate workshop or tool activity must state its own conditions and must not be presented as a festival award.

Can a partner screen shortlisted films or receive creators’ contact details directly?

Permissions depend on the specific use. Festival review permission does not grant partners public screening or personal-data rights. Provide the proposed works, venue, timing, audience, charges and publicity plan so the authorised parties can confirm permission. Private contact details are not a partnership benefit; the official team can facilitate appropriate introductions.

Which names, documents and images should media or partners use when presenting the new awards?

Use the 2027 hub, official seven award names and document centre. Keep the year on 2026 award names and film images; do not imply they are 2027 results. Use published press-room assets within their stated scope and confirm other uses of film stills, excerpts or third-party marks separately. Link reporting to the specific official page, not only the homepage.