01
Tier 1 · Unicorn Gold Award
The Harbour Remembers Twice
港城記得兩次Hong Kong · United KingdomAI-native international production collective
Tideglass Narrative CollectiveDirected by Lau Tsz-ching
View record[ Official record / Closing night ]
HKAIIFF 2026
OFFICIAL LAUREATES
JULY 23, 2026 · HONG KONG · RECORD LOCKED
Nineteen honours across five tiers recognising the films that defined AI-native cinema in 2026.
01 / 19Tier 1 · Flagship unicorn honour
≈ USD $190K-level festival prize support
Unicorn Gold Award
The Harbour Remembers Twice
By Tideglass Narrative Collective
Hong Kong · United Kingdom
“For uniting intimate Cantonese performance, civic imagination, and disciplined generative continuity in a harbour epic whose emotional architecture exceeds its technical ambition.”
International Jury citation
Open the official film record[ All laureates ]
The 2026 award record
19 honours · studios, individuals, labs and AI-native film companies
02
Tier 2 · Best Generative Cinema
A River in Borrowed Weather
借天而行China · KenyaAI-native documentary studio
Silt Lantern Motion HouseDirected by Qiao Muran
View record03
Tier 2 · Best Interactive Narrative
Everyone Chooses the Fire
Everyone Chooses the FireUnited States · MexicoUniversity narrative systems laboratory
Civic Ember Narrative LabDirected by Tessa Valejo
View record04
Tier 2 · Best Procedural System
Season Without a Last Day
Season Without a Last DaySingapore · IndonesiaComputational ecology research laboratory
Equatorial Loop Research LabDirected by Nadira Koh
View record05
Tier 2 · Best Digital Being
Hikari Logs Out
ヒカリはログアウトしましたJapanVirtual character IP studio
Lattice Kite Character HouseDirected by Sae Kirino
View record06
Tier 3 · Best AI Visual
Glaze Before Lightning
雷落釉上ChinaLegacy production company AI division
Pale Kiln Screenworks · Generative Image UnitDirected by Shen Yiqiao
View record07
Tier 3 · Best AI Sound
Frequencies for an Empty Room
빈 방을 위한 주파수South KoreaUniversity sonic research laboratory
Resonance Underfloor LabDirected by Im Seo-ryeong
View record08
Tier 3 · Best AI Storytelling
The Orchard Kept Every Draft
Le Verger des brouillonsFrance · SenegalAI-native screenwriting atelier
Atelier Ronce ClaireDirected by Éloane Bréval
View record09
Tier 3 · Best AI Performance
Second Body, First Breath
두 번째 몸, 첫 숨South KoreaAI-native performance studio
Second Pulse Performance WorksDirected by Jeong Yu-ri
View record10
Tier 3 · Best AI Worldbuilding
The Bureau of Small Storms
小さな嵐の役所JapanAI-native animation studio
Paper Weather Animation HouseDirected by Riku Aonuma
View record11
Tier 3 · Best AI Workflow Innovation
Two People Film a Century
两个人拍完一世纪ChinaTwo-person filmmaking partnership
Daylight Pair CinemaDirected by Luo Yimeng · Gao Zhiwei
View record12
Tier 3 · Best Human-AI Collaboration
The Last Honest Frame
The Last Honest FrameUnited Kingdom · GhanaIndependent restoration atelier
True Splice Restoration AtelierDirected by Elian Rowe
View record13
Tier 4 · Responsible AI Award
The Face That Withdrew
Das zurückgezogene GesichtGermanyFilm rights research laboratory
Klarraum Media Ethics LabDirected by Anke Riedel
View record14
Tier 4 · Social Impact Award
Salt Census
नमक की गिनतीIndiaCommunity media cooperative
Tidal Salt CommonsDirected by Ira Devkar
View record15
Tier 4 · Future Vision Award
The City That Rehearses Tomorrow
مدينة تتدرّب على الغدUnited Arab Emirates · JordanAI-native spatial cinema studio
Future Courtyard CinemaDirected by Rima Al Suwaidi
View record16
Tier 4 · Open Source Contribution Award
The Build Stayed Awake
The Build Stayed AwakeUnited StatesOpen-source non-profit laboratory
Common Night Render FoundationDirected by Nia Holloway
View record17
Tier 5 · Emerging Filmmaker Award
Blue Roof, Red Earth
Telhado azul, terra vermelhaBrazilIndependent filmmaker
Iara MontezDirected by Iara Montez
View record18
Tier 5 · Best Student Film
Roommates in the Render Queue
渲染隊列的室友Hong KongStudent production
Harbour Dormitory Film UnitDirected by Cheng Pui-yan
View record19
Tier 5 · Cross-Industry Innovation
The Monsoon Arcade
อาร์เคดฤดูมรสุมThailandGame studio cross-industry unit
Rain Cabinet Games · Cinema CellDirected by Ploy Sutham
View record[ Geography / Production ecology ]
02Hong Kong
03China
02Japan
02South Korea
02United States
01France
07Other awarded territories