01 — Story
What did you depict?
Why tell this story? What do you want to say? Has what lived inside the creator risen into being as a work?
Call for Entries
What will you create?
Show us. We'll watch every single one.
We are calling for films created with AI, from anywhere in the world.
The only question: how far does your story move the human heart?
- SECOND SELECTION
- Screened at SCARTS Court and the StudiosFree-admission Selection Screening (1F / 2F of the same building)
- FINAL SELECTION
- Screened on the big screen of the hitaru theater1,686 seats, eligible for all awards
- DEADLINE
- Mar 31, 2027 (Wed) 23:59 JST
- FEE
- $10
- FORMAT
- 3–15 min, 16:9, all ages
Deadline in
-- days
-- hrs
-- min
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Entries are accepted via FilmFreeway. One film per person (up to two). You will be taken to an external service.
Submit on FilmFreeway Opens in December
Eligible works & format
Entries are scheduled to open on FilmFreeway in December 2026. The entry fee is $10. We'll announce the opening on X and Discord.
The call for entries for the first edition has closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted. We'll announce the next call on X and Discord. To all who entered: come and bathe in the stories of your fellow creators at the festival.
What we want to see is a story.
Which AI you used, or how new the technology is, is not the subject of the judging. What does the work say, what experience does it create, and how far does it move the audience? We look at the power of the story first.
02 — Experience
What experience did you create?
The design of image, sound, and time. On the big screen, in the darkness of the theater, does the work become an experience the audience can bathe in?
03 — Impact
How far did you move the heart?
Make them laugh. Make them cry. Surprise them. Make them think. Did you leave something with the viewer?
We look at technique insofar as it supports the story. How well the creator controlled the characteristic seams of AI, broken images or sound, inconsistencies in characters or worlds, and finished the work without compromising the experience. And the willingness to try new forms of expression. These are evaluated as secondary factors supporting the three points above.
The Selection Process
First-Round Review
All submitted films are reviewed.
Second Selection — Confirmed screening at SCARTS
Films that pass the Second Selection are announced on April 15, 2027 and screened at SCARTS Court and Studio A / B on the festival day (Selection Screening, from 10:00, free admission).
Final Selection (Finalists) — Confirmed screening at the hitaru theater
Films that pass the Final Selection are additionally screened on the big screen of Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru and become eligible for all awards.
The Second Selection and Final Selection films are announced together on April 15, 2027. The number of films selected will not be disclosed. All entrants will be notified of the results via FilmFreeway.
Awards
All awards are chosen from among the Final Selection films screened on the big screen of Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru on May 4, 2027. The question is not how new the technology is, but how far the story moves the human heart. ＜Selection method under coordination＞
Grand Prix
Grand Prix
Best Film
The summit of all entries. For the one film that, through the power of its story, moved people most deeply on this day. A trophy is awarded.
Jury Prize
Jury Prize
One film chosen by each jury member, in their own name. Not a ranking, but a prize for a personal conviction: "I could not look away from this one."
Sponsor Prize
Sponsor Prize
Awards named by each sponsoring company (up to three) and presented at the awards ceremony. A prize that marks the first encounter between a creator and a company.
SAPPORO Prize
SAPPORO Prize
For a film by a creator with ties to Sapporo, or a film about Sapporo. A prize honoring a story that sets out from this city for the world.
Excellence Award
Excellence Award
Awarded to the theater-screening finalists who travel to the venue in Sapporo on the festival day. A prize for carrying your story all the way to this city.
Award-winning films are released online after the festival through the official channel and elsewhere. After a one-week early screening for crowdfunding supporters (starting the day after the festival), they are released to the public.
Finalists & On-site Award
Finalists (Final Selection films) are chosen on the basis of the work alone, regardless of whether the creator plans to attend. Finalist films are screened on the big screen of Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru on the day.
- The Excellence Award is given to finalists who attend in person on the festival day.
- The Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Sponsor Prize, and SAPPORO Prize are judged and awarded regardless of whether the creator attends in person.
- Final Selection films are credited in the closing credits following the screening.
Eligible Works & Format
There is a single category. Narrative, art, music videos, animation, documentary, genres that don't have a name yet. The only question is whether your story moves the human heart.
The following is an outline as of today. Eligible works, format, and schedule are subject to change. Detailed entry requirements and procedures will be published on this page once finalized.
Main Selection
Main Selection
Across all genres, we select new stories born from the creativity of AI and humans together.
Runtime3–15 minutes / Aspect ratio16:9 (1080p or higher recommended)
Narrative, art, music video, animation, documentary, experimental… any genre is welcome (content must be suitable for all ages). Any film created primarily through AI generation is eligible. Combining it with some live-action footage is fine. Any language, including invented ones (films not in Japanese, or with unnatural Japanese, must include Japanese subtitles).
- Eligibility
- Open to all nationalities, ages, professionals and amateurs alike. Individuals and teams welcome. Minors must obtain the consent of a parent or guardian.
- Eligible works
- Films made with generative AI as the primary production method. Partial live-action or a mix with live-action is acceptable. Prior screenings at other festivals or public release do not affect eligibility.
- Entry fee
- $10
Paid on FilmFreeway (in US dollars).
- File format
- MP4 (H.264), 1920×1080 or higher recommended, 16:9, stereo audio
Selected films may be asked to submit a screening master. - Subtitles
- Films not in Japanese, or with unnatural Japanese, must include Japanese subtitles. English subtitles alongside are recommended for international jury members and attendees.
- Number of entries
- One film per person (or team). Up to two films may be submitted.
Schedule
This schedule is current as of today. Any changes will be announced on X and Discord.
Jury
The people who will watch your film to the end. ＜More jury members to be announced＞
The ember is already in your hands.
Entries are scheduled to open on FilmFreeway in December 2026. The entry fee is $10. Follow us on X to catch the opening, or join the Discord and find your collaborators first.
Both links lead to external services.The submission deadline is March 31, 2027 (Wed), 23:59 JST. The entry fee is $10. Still undecided? Come talk it over on Discord.
Both links lead to external services.Entrants are the most passionate audience of all. Whatever the result of the selection, come to the festival and bathe in the stories of your fellow creators.