Film overview
Recognises a distinctive identity, coherent behaviour, emotional range and continuity across situations. Live conversation and an established commercial IP business are not required.
Show continuity through different realised situations and identify contributions to design, performance, voice and generation control. Disclose the basis for using any real person’s likeness or voice.
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.
This overview accompanies the published guidance. Consult the current official documents for rules and permissions.
Four assessment dimensions
- Identity and recognisability
- Behaviour and emotional expression
- Continuity across situations
- Creative control and extension
Related questions
Must a digital character talk in real time or already be a commercial IP?
No. A character in a fixed film can qualify. The award considers identity, behaviour, emotional range and continuity across situations. Real-time conversation, trademark registration, valuation, followers and licensing deals do not determine its artistic achievement.
Must a digital character talk in real time or already be a commercial IP? ↗How do I demonstrate a character’s continuity and credit the team?
Provide the character definition, actual performances in at least two different situations, their locations in the submitted work, and principal creative, performance and revision contributions. Both situations may come from the same film. Credit actual design, performance, voice and generation-control work, including shared roles; disclose the basis for using a real person’s likeness or voice.
How do I demonstrate a character’s continuity and credit the team? ↗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.
Can a character, world or creative method compete for Silver if its film is not shortlisted for the Grand Prix? ↗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.
Which awards are available in 2027? Do I need seven separate applications? ↗