1 Billion AI Film Award 2027: Free Global Call, $1 Million Grand Prize, 20 November Deadline
Opportunity and organizer
New Media Academy, organizer of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, is inviting creators worldwide to enter the 2027 AI Film Award with TikTok and Seedance as partners. The contest offers one grand prize worth US$1 million for an original AI-made narrative short. Finalists are due to be showcased during the Dubai summit in January 2027. The focus is on storytelling, artistic choices and the responsible application of generative tools.
Eligibility and what to submit
Individual entrants must be at least 18 and may come from any country. A new, previously unreleased film made for this award must run 5–7 minutes, be 16:9 landscape at a minimum 1080p and delivered in MOV or MP4. All spoken languages are welcome provided English subtitles are included, and the official intro sequence must be used. Films must address one of five themes: community, misinformation, humans and AI, climate and nature, or human relationships.
Deadlines and costs
At least 70% of the film must be generated using the required Seedance technology. Merely using another text-to-video generator does not satisfy the published requirement. Applicants must disclose the AI services, versions and proportions used and retain prompts, timelines and generation records for potential verification. Permissions are needed for music, footage and any recognizable person's voice or likeness.
Evaluation and potential benefits
Entry costs nothing and the submission deadline is 20 November 2026. The scheduled Top 10 announcement and audience vote is 15 December, followed by a Top 5 shortlist on 25 December and a winner announcement at the 8–10 January 2027 summit. The single US$1,000,000 prize is conditional on judging, identity and eligibility verification; it is not a guaranteed grant to entrants.
Application steps and important conditions
Submit the completed film through the official award website using the requested link and AI-use disclosure. You retain ownership, but grant the organizer a non-exclusive licence for screening, judging, archives and promotion. Review the full updated terms for originality, publicity, payment arrangements, potential taxes and restrictions before participating. An already publicly released or previously submitted film is not eligible.
Official organizer and entry rules
https://www.1billionsummit.com/ai-award-2027
https://www.1billionsummit.com/ai-award-2027/submit
https://www.1billionsummit.com/ai-award-2027/terms-and-conditions