HKAIIFF · OFFICIAL FILM ARTWORK[ Submission / 2027 Call ]
Globally open to AI-native cinema. Participation must surpass the 51%+ holistic threshold via our professional submission channel.
Season Without a Last Day · Best Procedural System · HKAIIFF 2026
2027 call opens 1 October 2026 · closes 1 March 2027 · USD $99 flat
- ▸51%+ holistic AI participation threshold
- ▸USD $99 flat fee · one window · no early-bird or late tiers
- ▸Call: 1 October 2026 – 1 March 2027 · submit via hkaiiff.io
At a glance
2026 rules (tiered fees, world-premiere requirement) are archived and do not apply to 2027.
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 1 August 2026; earlier finishes are ineligible for the 2027 edition.
- ▸No premiere requirement. Works already screened at other festivals, released theatrically or published online remain eligible, provided rights are clear and the AI-participation dossier is complete.
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
USD $99 per entry · all categories · no tiers
Register the work on INDEX, complete the dossier and AI-participation disclosure, then pay the flat fee.
Technical and rights screen (R1), professional matrix review (R2) and finals (R3) run in sequence after the window closes.
Laureates are announced during festival week; the 2026 record was published on 23 July 2026.
Entry fee (USD · per entry)
▸ USD $99 · flat · every category · one window (1 October 2026 – 1 March 2027)
Submit to INDEX →Four-step intake ladder
01 · Call window
Register on INDEX, complete the creative and toolchain dossier with AI-participation disclosure, pay the flat fee.
02 · Eligibility screen · R1
Technical conformance, rights documentation, completion date (on or after 1 August 2026) and 51% disclosure are checked.
03 · Professional matrix review · R2
Four-axis professional review — artistry, technical fidelity, disclosure quality, resonance — admits works into deep adjudication.
04 · Finals & laureate lock · R3
Finals combine screenings and an ethics caucus ahead of laurel lock across nineteen honours in the five-tier pyramid.
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?▼
For the 2027 edition, only films completed on or after 1 August 2026 are eligible. Earlier finishes do not qualify.
How is my submission fee calculated?▼
The 2027 call runs from 1 October 2026 to 1 March 2027 with a single flat fee of USD $99 per entry for every category. There are no early-bird or final-call tiers.
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?▼
No. From the 2027 edition there is no premiere requirement. Works that have screened at other festivals, been released theatrically or published online remain eligible, as long as rights are clear and the AI-participation dossier is complete.
Ready to Submit?
Submit to INDEX →Awards remain subject to terms and juried eligibility verification. Submissions traverse the dedicated professional submission channel and inherit that channel’s operative terms.