AI Film Award

The AI Film Award 2027, organised by the 1 Billion Followers Summit in partnership with TikTok and powered by Dreamina Seedance, invites filmmakers, content creators and storytellers from around the world to create an original short film using artificial intelligence.

The competition offers a $1,000,000 grand prize to one winner. The five finalist films will premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai in January 2027.

Who Can Apply?

• Creators and filmmakers from around the world, subject to eligibility and sanctions restrictions.

• Applicants aged 18 or older at the time of submission.

• Both experienced filmmakers and newcomers to AI filmmaking.

• Individuals who can produce an original film meeting the competition's requirements.

No formal education or professional filmmaking experience is required. Participants may submit multiple original films through separate applications.

Film Requirements

Applicants must submit an original short film that meets the following criteria:

• Duration: 5–7 minutes.

• Format: Horizontal, 16:9.

• Resolution: Minimum 1080p.

• File format: MP4 or MOV.

• Language: Any language, with English subtitles.

• AI technology: At least 70% of the final film must be generated using Dreamina Seedance as the primary video-generation tool.

• Originality: The film must be created specifically for the competition and must not have been previously publicly released or submitted to another competition.

• Opening: Include the official competition intro available on the website.

Competition Themes

Each film must explore at least one of five themes:

1. Society, Community & Humanitarian Issues: Social challenges, inequality, education and community.

2. Truth, Fake News & Misinformation: Disinformation, deepfakes and the influence of digital media.

3. Humans & AI: The relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

4. Climate, Nature & Our Changing Planet: Environmental issues, climate change and the future of the planet.

5. Human Relationships: Family, friendship, love and human connection.

Prize and Selection

The winner will receive USD $1,000,000.

Films are evaluated according to:

• AI Integration – 30%

• Storytelling – 30%

• Creativity & Aesthetic – 20%

• Technical Execution – 20%

Responsible and ethical AI use is mandatory.

Applicants retain ownership of their films but grant the organiser a non-exclusive licence for specified screening, promotional and archival uses.

Important Dates

• September 30, 2026: Applications open.

• November 20, 2026: Submission deadline.

• December 15, 2026: Top 10 shortlist and public voting begin.

• December 25, 2026: Top 5 finalists announced.

• January 8–10, 2027: Summit and finalist screenings in Dubai.

• January 10, 2027: Winner announcement.