Hackathon FAQ

Anyone over 18 with creative drive and access to AI tools. No film background or coding required. Solo or in a team of 1–5 people.

Registration happens at hkaiiff.com, the official HKAIIFF registration platform. The main HKAIIFF site does not host the form — clicking "Register" anywhere redirects you there.

City Selection Seat is the 11-benefit package earned by winners at each city station. It is not a prize cheque — it's a position inside the HKAIIFF discovery infrastructure (vault, registry, Recommended Submission, market access, academy, brand match, and more).

No. The Seat earns Recommended Submission status, which is a flag in the official Global Submission Center. Selection committee still independently decides — programming, screening, and awards are not automatic.

On-site participation in the 72-hour sprint is free. Travel and accommodation are at participants' expense. Each city station's Authorized Center provides venue, basic equipment, and internet.

It is the HKAIIFF threshold for AI-native cinema — AI is a core creative participant, not a finishing touch. The hackathon evaluates this through Conductor Theory: how clearly the human creator(s) directed AI partners across script, image, sound, and edit.

All 14 city stations are listed on the City Stations page. Specific launch dates are announced as local Authorized Centers are confirmed; register at hkaiiff.com to receive updates.

Two options: (a) register interest at hkaiiff.com — you'll be the first to know if a new station opens, or (b) apply to host the station yourself via the Authorized Centers page.

You own your work. HKAIIFF requests a non-exclusive license to archive, screen, and promote (for HKAIIFF and the City Selection Seat ecosystem). Brand Challenge entries may grant additional commercial use to the brand partner, clearly described in each brief.