HKAIIFF · 2026 / HACKATHON / HOST

If you are a city cultural organization, a university, a science / creative park, an event company, an industry alliance, an incubator, a media outlet, or an AI company, you can apply to operate the hackathon in your city, on your campus, or around your industry vertical.

What you get

  • ·Use of the HKAIIFF AI Film Hackathon name in your city / campus / industry — Authorized Center designation visible on the official HKAIIFF site.
  • ·Direct connection to HKAIIFF's network of creators, juries, mentors, AI tool partners, and brand partners.
  • ·City Selection Seat allocation for your station's winners — connecting your local creators to the festival's discovery infrastructure.
  • ·Resource exchange + co-host operating model — partners join based on mutual brand value rather than pure financial outlay.
  • ·City station co-branded marketing, press coverage, and content distribution.

What we expect

  • ·Local venue, internet, and basic equipment for 72 hours.
  • ·Local team that handles ground operations — at least one experienced event lead.
  • ·Local creator community access (mailing list, school partnership, creator chat groups).
  • ·Local jury seats — usually 3–5 jurors drawn from your local film, AI, and industry ecosystem.
  • ·Adherence to HKAIIFF brand guidelines, the 51% standard, and Conductor Theory framing.

Apply now

Fill in the application. We review every submission and reach out within 5 business days.

⚠Important notice.

Earning a HKAIIFF Recommended Submission slot does not equal automatic selection, screening, or any award at the Festival. All selected projects must complete formal submission through the HKAIIFF Global Submission Center. Final selection, programming, and award decisions rest solely with the official jury of the Hong Kong AI International Film Festival.

Title Sponsor

Co-named city station — e.g. "HKAIIFF AI Film Hackathon · Tokyo, presented by [Brand]". Front-of-stage brand integration across creator comms, jury comms, and festival recommendation channels.

Strategic Partner

Multi-station, multi-year strategic alignment. Joint planning of theme tracks, content rights, and ecosystem programmes (academy, market).

AI Tool Partner

Provide credits / pro access during the 72-hour sprint + 7-day refinement, and again to City Selection Seat winners for the following 6 months.

Brand Challenge Partner

Set a real brand challenge that creators address through the Brand & Commercial Film track. You receive licensable creative concepts plus the right to commission top responses.

Venue Partner

Host the 72-hour sprint at your venue: cinema, creative campus, gallery, co-working space, science park. Branded space activations and on-site creator presence.

Media Partner

Editorial partnership: feature city stations, jury, winners, and the path to the Festival on your channels — in exchange for a curated content stream and exclusive access.

Partner / Sponsor Inquiry

Tell us a little about your brand and what you'd like to do. We respond within 5 business days.

Apply as Jury or Mentor

Each city station has 3–5 jurors from the local film, AI, and industry ecosystems. If you'd like to serve, apply below.

⚠Important notice.

Earning a HKAIIFF Recommended Submission slot does not equal automatic selection, screening, or any award at the Festival. All selected projects must complete formal submission through the HKAIIFF Global Submission Center. Final selection, programming, and award decisions rest solely with the official jury of the Hong Kong AI International Film Festival.