HKUST AI Film Festival

• Film quality. Storytelling impact and overall production quality are central to the evaluation.
• Use of AI techniques. You must include a PDF describing how the film is created, including AI tools used, production time, workflows, screenshots, and process notes. Links to cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, Baidu Pan, OneDrive, Quark Pan, etc.) are acceptable.
• Duration. Films submitted to the Main Competition must be over three minutes long.
• Language. Any film with non-English dialogue must include English subtitles.
• Previous submissions. Films previously submitted to past editions of the Festival will not be reconsidered.

• Initial submission (for selection)
  • Video format: MP4 or MOV
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Codec: H.264
  • Audio: Stereo
  • Subtitles: Burned-in subtitles
• If selected for official screening
  • Resolution: Minimum 1080p, preferred 2K or 4K
  • Audio: Stereo or 5.1 surround sound
  • Selected films may be asked to provide a DCP for theatrical screening.

• Works. Submitted works must fulfil all corresponding submission requirements.
• Screening. The festival programming team reserves the right to assign selected films to the most appropriate screening section.

• Ownership & clearances. By submitting, you affirm you are the rightful owner of the work and have obtained all necessary rights and permissions for music, visuals, and any likeness of real individuals (e.g., actors, public figures).
• AI-generated content. AI-generated content in submissions must respect third-party copyright and intellectual property rights. All submissions must be original works created by the entrant.
• Liability. The organisation team is not liable for copyright infringements conducted by the entrant; any conflicts must be resolved by the parties involved. The festival organisers may disqualify and remove submissions that violate these rules or applicable laws.

By submitting your film and associated materials (video file, PDF documentation, trailer, stills, poster, etc., collectively “Submission Materials”), you grant the organisation team a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to:

• Screening. Showcase the film during the AI Film Festival and associated events.
• Promotion. Use clips, trailers, stills, and posters for promotion on social media, the official website, press releases, and other relevant platforms.
• Education & archives. Use the Submission Materials for educational purposes and to archive them as part of the festival’s historical record.
• Academic research. Analyse and use the Submission Materials—especially the PDF detailing the AI creation process—for non-commercial academic research (papers, reports, articles, presentations, etc.), with proper credit to you as creator.

For selected films that are requested to provide a DCP, the following technical specifications apply:

• Image size: HD, Full, Flat, or Scope (2K or 4K)
• Encoding: JPEG 2000
• Bitrate: ≤ 500 Mbit/s
• Frame rates: 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
• SMPTE and INTEROP DCP formats are both acceptable.

By submitting your film, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to all rules and terms in these regulations, and that you have full authority to grant the rights outlined above.