AI Film Award by 1 Billion Summit and BytePlus Seedance
  • About
  • Format
  • Themes
  • Criteria
  • Timeline
  • FAQs
  • Submit FilmArrow Icon
  • About
  • Format
  • Themes
  • Criteria
  • Timeline
  • FAQs
  • Submit FilmArrow Icon
  • Back to Summit
The world's largest film award

AI FilmAward 2027

$1,000,000Grand Prize
Submit Your FilmArrow IconGenerate Your FilmArrow Icon

Submissions are openDeadline 20 November 2026

POWERED BY
BytePlusIn partnership withTikTok
The 1 Billion AI Film Award

The world's largest film award

The world's largest AI film award, with $1 million on the line for the most compelling film created with Seedance.

Whether you're a filmmaker, a creator or simply someone with a story to tell, you're invited to push the boundaries of AI filmmaking and create an original 5–7 minute film powered by Seedance. The top films will premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, where one creator will be awarded $1 million.

THE FORMAT

1 FILM. 1 STORY. 1 WINNER.

Create a complete, compelling story in a single 5 – 7 minute film. From the first frame to the last, take audiences on an emotional journey by bringing together the craft of storytelling with the possibilities of technology and AI.

1
Film

Each submission must include one film forming one connected story.

5–7
Minutes

Each film runs between 5 and 7 minutes — up to 7 minutes in total duration.

16:9
Horizontal format

All films must be produced in a horizontal, cinematic format.

Resolution
1080p
File format
.MOV or .MP4
EN
Subtitles required

Create in any language — English subtitles must be included.

POWERED BY SEEDANCE

HUMAN STORYTELLING. AI-POWERED PRODUCTION.

Seedance empowers creators to bring stories to life through new visuals, characters, worlds and cinematic possibilities.

70%

Generated with Seedance

At least 70% of the final film must be generated using Seedance as the primary video-generation tool. Other AI and post-production tools may be used for support.

AI FILM AWARD

THE THEMES

Five themes about stories that matter to humanity today and tomorrow. Your film must speak to one of them.

01

Society, Community & Humanitarian Issues

Stories that explore the challenges affecting people, communities and society today. This theme can highlight social problems, injustice, inequality or issues that deserve greater awareness, while also exploring empathy, responsibility and possible solutions.

Example directions
  • Poverty and the cycle of inequality
  • Bullying and its long-term emotional impact
  • The impact of social media on children
  • Should children have unrestricted access to social media?
  • Loneliness and social isolation
  • Access to education, healthcare, food, or housing
  • Discrimination and social exclusion
  • How one small act of kindness can transform a community
02

Truth, Fake News & Misinformation

Stories about how information can shape the way people think, behave and see the world. This theme explores fake news, rumours, manipulated content, deepfakes and the growing difficulty of knowing what is real.

Example directions
  • How one false rumor can spread across an entire society
  • Why people believe and share misinformation
  • Deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation
  • The consequences of accusing someone based on false information
  • How algorithms can amplify misleading stories
  • The difference between perception and reality
  • A world where nobody knows what content is real anymore
03

Humans & AI

Stories exploring the evolving relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence. This theme looks beyond technology itself and asks what AI could mean for our identity, emotions, work, creativity, relationships and future.

Example directions
  • What does it mean to be human in the AI era?
  • Can humans develop emotional relationships with AI?
  • Humans working alongside AI rather than competing with it
  • AI companions for elderly or lonely people
  • Can an AI understand love, grief, or empathy?
  • A child growing up with an AI as their closest friend
  • What happens when AI knows someone better than their own family?
04

Climate, Nature & Our Changing Planet

Stories about the relationship between humanity and the natural world — climate change, extreme weather, environmental destruction and how our planet may look for future generations. Films can address the issue directly or tell personal human stories set against environmental change.

Example directions
  • Climate change and its impact on everyday life
  • Extreme heat, storms, floods, droughts, or wildfires
  • Weather events not experienced for generations
  • Communities forced to leave their homes because of environmental change
  • The disappearance of natural environments or wildlife
  • What cities could look like in 50 years
  • The impact of pollution and overconsumption
  • A future generation discovering parts of nature that no longer exist
05

Human Relationships

Stories about the connections that define our lives — romantic relationships, families, friendships, parents and children, and the complicated emotions that come with them. This theme can explore love, conflict, sacrifice, separation, forgiveness, dependency and the ways relationships evolve over time.

Example directions
  • Toxic romantic relationships
  • Parents and children struggling to understand each other
  • The relationship between siblings
  • Friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness
  • Divorce and its impact on children
  • Generational differences within families
  • Losing someone you love
  • Choosing between personal ambition and family
  • Relationships shaped or damaged by technology
  • Learning to let someone go
The overall direction

The five themes are ultimately about stories that matter to humanity today and tomorrow. They allow filmmakers to use AI not simply to create visually impressive films, but to tell meaningful stories about society, truth, technology, our planet and human connection.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

Everything a submission needs to qualify for the 2027 competition

01

CREDITS

Ensure to have the intro added before your film.

Download the intro↓
02

FILM LENGTH

Each film must be 5 – 7 minutes long.

03

FORMAT

All films must be horizontal and delivered to these specifications:

Aspect ratio
16:9
Resolution
1080p
File format
MOV or MP4
04

LANGUAGE

Submissions can be made in any language. However, English subtitles must be included.

05

AI TECHNOLOGY

As part of the creative production process, at least 70% of the film must be generated with Seedance.

06

ORIGINAL CONTENT

The submitted film must be an original work created specifically for the award.

HOW IT WORKS

From first idea to the $1,000,000 Grand Prize.

1
30 SEP 2026

SUBMISSIONS OPEN

Submissions are open from day one. Creators and filmmakers from around the world submit their original 5 – 7 minute film, powered by Seedance.

2
20 NOV 2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Last day to submit a complete 5 – 7 minute film. Each film can be up to 7 minutes.

3
15 DEC 2026

TOP 10 & PUBLIC VOTING

An expert international committee selects the Top 10 on storytelling, originality, character development, structure, visual creativity and use of Seedance. Audiences vote for their favourite film.

4
25 DEC 2026

TOP 5 ANNOUNCEMENT

The five finalist films are announced and showcased to a global audience.

5
8 - 10 JAN 2027

PREMIERE & GRAND PRIZE

The Top 5 films premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, where the $1,000,000 winner is announced live.

SUBMIT YOUR FILMArrow Icon
The Grand Prize
$1,000,000

One winning creator receives the $1,000,000 Grand Prize — plus global recognition through the 1 Billion Followers Summit and the opportunity to showcase their work to an international community of creators, filmmakers, platforms and industry leaders.

Submit Your FilmArrow Icon
Submissions are openDeadline20 November 2026

TERMS & CONDITIONS

By submitting a film, applicants agree to the AI Film Award 2027 Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Terms and ConditionsArrow IconPrivacy PolicyArrow Icon

FAQs

A global award by 1 Billion Summit, TikTok and Seedance celebrating the future of storytelling through AI film. Creators produce an original 5 – 7 minute film powered by Seedance. The Top 5 premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit and one creator receives the $1,000,000 Grand Prize.

One original film of 5 – 7 minutes, telling one complete story, produced in a horizontal format. Films can be in any language with English subtitles included.

Use the Submit Your Film form on this site. It takes four short steps — who you are, the film, how it was made (including your AI tools disclosure), and a final review. You will need a private or unlisted link to the finished film with English subtitles. Your progress is saved on your device until you submit.

Your film must speak to one of five themes: Society, Community & Humanitarian Issues; Truth, Fake News & Misinformation; Humans & AI; Climate, Nature & Our Changing Planet; or Human Relationships. Each theme comes with example directions — see The Themes section.

Yes. Seedance must be used as part of the creative production process and be the primary video-generation tool. All submissions are evaluated to check that at least 70% of the final film was generated using Seedance. Other AI tools and traditional post-production tools may be used for supporting elements.

Original live-action footage may be incorporated as a supplement, provided that at least 70% of the final film remains generated using Seedance.

The competition is open to creators and filmmakers worldwide. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission, and each individual may submit one film.

Each film is scored out of 100: AI Integration (30%), Storytelling (30%), Creativity & Aesthetic (20%) and Technical Execution (20%). Responsible and ethical use of AI is a mandatory eligibility requirement and is not scored.

Submissions are open now and close on 20 November 2026. The Top 10 shortlist and public voting begin 15 December 2026. The Top 5 premiere at the Summit on 9 January 2027 and the winner is announced on 10 January 2027.

Yes. Applicants retain full ownership and copyright. By submitting, you grant the Organizer a non-exclusive license to display, screen, share, archive and promote the film for judging, Summit screenings, archival and promotional purposes.

The winner receives USD $1,000,000 by bank transfer within 60 days of the announcement, subject to verification of eligibility and identity. The winner is responsible for any applicable taxes.

HELLO@1BILLIONSUMMIT.COM
8, 9, 10 JAN 2027
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
AI Film Award by 1 Billion Summit and BytePlus Seedance

The AI Film Award by 1 Billion Summit, TikTok and Seedance — the world's largest film award, with a $1,000,000 Grand Prize awarded at the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2027.

POWERED BYBytePlus
In partnership withTikTok
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