[ Submission / 2026 Entry ]
Submit Your AI-Native Film
Globally open to AI-native cinema. Participation must surpass the 51%+ holistic threshold via our professional submission channel.
- ▸51%+ holistic AI participation threshold
- ▸USD $99 reference tier · Early USD $74 · Final USD $149
- ▸Festival week July 17–23, 2026 · Hong Kong
Who Can Submit
- ▸Individuals, crews, studios, universities, distributors, labs, NGOs, civic tech partners, XR collectives—we welcome every serious AI storytelling team.
- ▸Works must be original and free of unauthorised third‑party intellectual property disputes.
- ▸AI-native participation must surpass the mandated 51%+ holistic evaluation baseline defined by HKAIIFF.
- ▸Films must be completed on or after January 1, 2026; earlier finishes are ineligible.
- ▸All submissions must have their World Premiere at HKAIIFF. Films that have been publicly screened at any other festival, released theatrically, or made publicly available online (including via streaming or social media) are not eligible.
51% AI Participation Standard
51% defines a holistic review of creative dominance—not a single metric line. Across six authoring lanes we score writing, directing, AI generation pipelines, editorial craft, sonic design, and finishing.
Read the full 51% standard →Eligible Categories
Generative Cinema
(51‑70%+ AI dominance)
Narratives where diffusion, multimodal renders, neural animation, volumetric composites, procedural lighting, adaptive colour, or AI choreography define the mise-en-scène.
Interactive Narratives
(51‑80%+ AI dominance)
Branching dramas, participatory essays, conversational adventures, tactile installations, playable archives, procedural theatre hybrids, multisensory walkthroughs—the audience co-authors the journey.
Procedural Systems
(51‑90%+ AI dominance)
Montage‑as‑code ecosystems, swarm cinematography rigs, realtime environmental storytelling, procedural score engines, latent-space editing suites—the film is inseparable from the generative scaffolding.
Digital Beings
(51‑85%+ AI dominance)
Synthetic performers, biometric avatars, multi-agent rehearsals, empathic choreography, hyper-personal documentaries, holographic conductors—presence is mediated by embodied AI artistry.
Required Materials
Creative package
Full master playback file, teaser or trailer edits, multilingual derivatives, uncompressed stems, calibrated subtitle tracks, Dolby or immersive audio beds, captions, transcripts, QC reports.
Technical documentation
A 2 000‑5 000 word creative rationale plus a 5 000‑10 000 word toolchain dossier outlining datasets, licences, lineage, reproducibility safeguards, disclosures, archival policies, downstream usage.
Compliance kit
Chain-of-title packs, likeness releases, biometric opt-ins, soundtrack clearances, open-weight attestations where applicable, model cards describing training provenance.
Supporting materials
Key art, campaign decks, laurels PDF, director statements, biodiversity of press coverage, playable builds for interactive entrants, supplementary media kits for jury distribution.
Submission Timeline & Fees
75% · early‑bird discounted tier versus standard USD $99 reference
Priority technical concierge and early adjudication feedback.
100% · reference pricing
Standard SLA coverage aligned with juried evaluation cadence.
150% · last-chance band
Compressed assistance with capped intake finishing ten days ahead of adjudication freeze.
Unified category fee ladder (USD · per category)
| Category | Early · USD | Standard · USD | Final · USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generative Cinema · Feature narrative | $74 | $99 | $149 |
| Generative Cinema · Short narrative | $74 | $99 | $149 |
| Interactive Narratives · world-building lanes | $74 | $99 | $149 |
| Procedural Systems | $74 | $99 | $149 |
| Digital Beings & Synthetic Performance | $74 | $99 | $149 |
| Student productions (credential verified) | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Unified USD $25 across every window · already reflects −70% education relief. | |||
Relief stacking policy
- ·Developing economies with verified sponsorship letters · up to −50%
- ·Accredited students / conservatories referencing programme IDs · −70%
- ·First‑time entrants to HKAIIFF with sworn declarations · −20%
Reliefs may stack upward to −70% total against that window’s list price.
Begin Your Submission →Four-step intake ladder
01 · Early submission
Capture discounted USD $74 pricing, concierge routing, disclosure audits, plus automated checksum of creative dossiers.
02 · Standard submission
Dominant throughput window anchored on USD $99 reference pricing plus standard SLA support.
03 · Late submission · final call
Final USD $149 band with hardened intake quotas leading directly into adjudication blackout.
04 · Hybrid jury review · R1 / R2 / R3
R1 · Preliminary (technical conformance + disclosures) clears roughly 60% of advancing dossiers. R2 · Professional matrix review (four axes) admits ~40% into deep adjudication. R3 · Finals combine live/defence screenings plus ethics caucus ahead of laurel lock.
Quantitative artistry, technical fidelity, disclosures, resonance, plus ethical clearance remain blended—see FAQ for granular rubrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit a film using AI tools but not 51%+ AI participation?▼
No. HKAIIFF specifically evaluates AI-native cinema where AI participates as a primary creative collaborator across six dimensions. AI-assisted films with under 51% AI participation should consider other festivals.
What languages does HKAIIFF accept?▼
All languages welcome. Films in non-English languages must include English subtitles or a detailed English synopsis.
Which films are eligible by completion date?▼
Only films completed on or after January 1, 2026 are eligible for HKAIIFF 2026. Earlier finishes do not qualify.
How is my submission fee calculated?▼
Every professional lane shares USD $99 at the Standard window (May 1 – June 30, 2026). Early Bird is USD $74 (April 1–30), Final Call is USD $149 (July 1–10), and verified student reels stay at USD $25 across every window.
Where does my film actually get submitted?▼
All submissions are processed through our professional submission channel—the portal handles file uploads, documentation, and payments. This hkaiiff.org site is for information only.
Does HKAIIFF require a World Premiere?▼
Yes. Every accepted submission must have its World Premiere at HKAIIFF. Films previously screened at other festivals, released theatrically, or made publicly available online—including via streaming or social media—are not eligible.
Ready to Submit?
Submit Your AI‑Native Film →Awards remain subject to terms and juried eligibility verification. Submissions traverse the dedicated professional submission channel and inherit that channel’s operative terms.