Film overview
Recognises coherent rules, relationships, culture, space and causality, with the capacity to support further stories. Scale, the length of a world bible and game functionality are not entry conditions.
Use realised situations and consequences to demonstrate the world’s rules, relationships and scope for continuation. Attractive backgrounds or a large number of locations alone do not establish worldbuilding.
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
- Distinctiveness and overall coherence
- Rules, relationships and causality
- Capacity for stories and experiences
- Extension and maintenance
Related questions
Can a small, non-interactive world qualify for Worldbuilding?
Yes. A fixed film can demonstrate a coherent world. There is no minimum map size, required game engine or interactive feature. The award considers how rules, relationships and consequences support stories and experience, not simply the number of locations or attractive backgrounds.
Can a small, non-interactive world qualify for Worldbuilding? ↗Is a world bible enough? What evidence of the world is needed?
A world bible cannot replace what is realised in the work. Provide a world overview, principal rules, at least two realised situations and their locations in the submitted work. Claims of extension need new situations, actual tests or other specific, verifiable implementation material. Explain versions, dependencies and limits.
Is a world bible enough? What evidence of the world is needed? ↗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? ↗