Sapporo International AI Film Festival 2027

Sapporo International AI Film Festival & Incubation

Unleash your story. Shake the soul. The ember is already in your hands.

May 4, 2027 (Tue, national holiday) Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru / SCARTS

Concept

The Sapporo International AI Film Festival is a flame. A festival flame for experiencing and honoring the stories born from people who have taken up new ways to create, and for kindling, from those stories, the next creators and the next stories to come.

Read the full concept

Choose your path

In which role will you take part?

One day, one flow

Bathe in Stories. Know Your Creativity. Ignite the Future.

Screenings, talks, and the reception are designed not as separate events but as a single flow. A day that doesn't end with watching, but leads to the next act of creation.

  1. I

    12:00 – 15:00

    Bathe in Stories

    Theater Screening & Awards Ceremony (hitaru)

    The Final Selection films, on the theater's big screen. Take in each film whole, with the laughter, the silence, and the gasps of the audience around you. Followed by an awards ceremony honoring outstanding films and their creators. Second Selection films screen all day at SCARTS, free of charge.

  2. II

    16:30 – 17:45

    Know Your Creativity

    Creator Talks (SCARTS Court)

    Creators who use AI in real film production share their ideas and their trial and error. Encounter the creativity of others, and go home with a slightly longer list of "things I might be able to make, too."

  3. III

    17:45 – 19:00

    Ignite the Future

    Networking Reception (Incubation)

    Creators and companies, students and professionals, Japan and the world. From encounters that make you think "I never knew those could connect," the next film, team, or job begins to move.

After the festival, the award-winning films will be released online through the official channel and elsewhere. The stories reach even those who couldn't be in the room.

See the program How the festival is structured

Don't miss the first flame.

We'll email you when entries open, when the jury is announced, as the crowdfunding progresses, and when tickets go on sale.

What will you create? Show us.

Submission deadline: March 31, 2027 (Wed), 23:59 JST. 3–15 minutes, 16:9, any genre. Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Sponsor Prize, SAPPORO Prize, Excellence Award.

Same time, same place, one story.

May 4, 2027, Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru / SCARTS. Theater admission ¥1,000, reserved seating. The Selection Screening at SCARTS is free. Early support opens late October on CAMPFIRE (through late November). Tickets are on sale now via teket. Film entries are also open. The call for entries opens in December.

Happening today.

Tickets, timetable, and venue access are here. Screenings at SCARTS are free, no ticket required.

Next time, your story.

The award winners and records of the first edition are now online. We'll announce the next call for entries on X.

Crowdfunding

Light the first flame with us.

We are raising funds for the first edition through crowdfunding on CAMPFIRE. Early ticket support is available there too. Late October to late November 2026.

The crowdfunding campaign (CAMPFIRE, late October to late November 2026) has ended. Everyone who supported us is listed on the Supporters page with their Ember Number.

Theater

Theater Admission (reserved seat)

¥1,000

Screening of the Final Selection films and the awards ceremony (hitaru, 12:00–15:00). 300 seats in the presale. Choose your seat in December with a teket redemption code.

Online Archive

Online Archive

¥1,000

Recordings of the talks, streamed for about one month after the festival. For those who can't make it to Sapporo.

Full Access

Full Access (on-site, incl. theater admission)

¥5,000

Theater admission + the talks (in person) + the Networking Reception. CAMPFIRE exclusive, 50 seats.

Every supporter receives an Ember Number and is listed by their chosen name on the Supporters page (for at least one year after the festival). Award-winning films are shown to supporters for one week starting the day after the festival, then released online to the public. The ¥10,000 tier is "Premium Supporter"; the ¥50,000 tier is "Founding Supporter."

Presale payments are processed on CAMPFIRE and are non-refundable.
Overview

Festival Overview

Interior of Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru
Name
Sapporo International AI Film Festival & Incubation
札幌国際AI映画祭
Date
May 4, 2027 (Tue, national holiday)
Theater: doors 11:30 / screening & awards ceremony 12:00–15:00
Sponsor Session, talks & Networking Reception: 16:00–19:00 (SCARTS Court)
Selection Screening: from 10:00 (SCARTS Court 10:00–13:00 / Studio A & B 10:00–21:00)
Venue
Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru / Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS
Sapporo Community Plaza, Kita 1-jo Nishi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0001, Japan
Theater: 4F (1,686 reserved seats on two levels) / SCARTS Court: 1F / Studio A & B: 2F / Mall A & B
Program
Theater screening of the Final Selection films & awards ceremony / Selection Screening of the Second Selection films (SCARTS, free) / talks / Networking Reception / online release of the award-winning films (after the festival)
Admission
Theater Admission ¥1,000 (reserved seat) / Online Archive ¥1,000 / Full Access ¥5,000 (CAMPFIRE exclusive)
Expected attendance: approx. 1,000
Organizers
Sapporo International AI Film Festival Executive Committee
Sapporo Sugoi AI Kai
Support & Cooperation
<TBC – under coordination>
Jury & Speakers

Jury & Speakers

All jury members & speakers Meet the jury

News

News

All news

Sponsors

Sponsors

Now seeking sponsors

We are looking for sponsors to help create the first edition with us. Beyond logo exposure, you get direct contact with creators at the Networking Reception. This is a festival that runs no advertising in the hitaru auditorium or on its screen. Sponsorship applications close April 25, 2027.

Follow

Get updates

Entry openings, jury announcements, crowdfunding progress, ticket releases: the latest news goes out on X. Creators are welcome to join our Discord to talk shop and find collaborators.

Both links lead to external services.
Get updates Ticket presaleOpens late October Buy tickets Submit your film Get updates Call for EntriesOpens in December Submit your film See the award winners