HKUST AI Film Festival

HKUST AI Film Festival at Hong Kong
May 16 - 17, 2026

Audience Registration (Attend the Festival): TBD
Discussion and Connect with Others: https://discord.gg/8xQ2g8Sskp

About

The Division of Arts and Machine Creativity at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is thrilled to announce the 2nd HKUST AI Film Festival, themed “New Boundaries, New Life 「虛實破界,共創新機」”. Building on last year’s momentum—714 submissions from 85 countries—the 2026 edition explores the convergence of the virtual and the real in both technology and aesthetics, expands the expressive frontiers of cinema, and renews Hong Kong’s visual heritage through AI. More than a traditional screening-and-talk format, this year’s program advances industry “boundary-breaking” and human–AI co-creation, convening filmmakers, researchers, and partners for showcases, dialogues, and hands-on labs. As a highlight of HKUST’s 35th-anniversary celebrations, the festival will be held in mid-May 2026 at HKUST, with an international open call for works. We invite artists, technologists, scholars, and audiences worldwide to join the conversation and help shape the future of cinematic creation.

Directions

The AI Film Festival will take place at Shaw Auditorium in the HKUST campus, Sai Kung District, Hong Kong SAR.

Map to Shaw Auditorium, HKUST

Program

The 2026 festival will bring together an AIFF Hackathon, in-person guest talks, screenings, roundtable forums, and workshops.

The detailed schedule will be announced soon.



Judges

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Jacob Adler
Runway AIF Gold Winner
Professor, ASU
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Lei Wang
Dean of Animation
Professor, CUC
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Yike Guo
Provost
HKUST
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Paul Debevec
Chief Scientist
Netflix Studios
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Tia Carrere
Actress
Two-Time Grammy Winner
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RuiHan Zhang
Google Research Scientist
Founding Chair, MIT AI Filmmaking Hackathon
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Richard Chuang
Founder of d1n0
Co-founder of PDI


Panel

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Tony Ngai
Honorary Advisor, HKSC
Academy Awards Jury Member
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Jiajian Min
Chair
MIT AI Film Festival Hackathon
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Jean-Peïc Chou
Chair, AI Section
Busan Film Festival
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Ruby Yang
Dean, Academy for Future Media
Professor, HKU
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Yang Li
Dean of Literature
Professor, PKU
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Tao Tao
Professor, CAD
China Dragon Award Gold Winner

Participants from

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Supported By

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Media Coverage

2025 coverage has been archived under Past Editions (2025). New coverage for 2026 will appear here.

2025 Honors

1st HKUST AI Film Festival Laureates

Certificates presented at the inaugural edition to recognize outstanding storytelling crafted with AI-driven workflows.

AIFF certificate for Memory Maker

Memory Maker

Best Film Award

Directed by Nik Kleverov

AIFF certificate for Getting Home

Getting Home

Best Narrative & Viewer's Choice

Directed by Zhixiang Ye

AIFF certificate for Newton's Cradle

Newton's Cradle

Frontier Award

Directed by Jeff Synthesized

Organizers

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Tianyi Zhang
General Chair
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Zeyu Zhang
Submission Chair
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Shiqin Hou
Executive Chair
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Jiayan Chen
Executive Chair
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Ziwei Chi
Hackathon Chair

Advisory Committee

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Anyi Rao
HKUST
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Vennes Cheng
HKUST
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Wei Xue
HKUST
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Timothy Page
HKUST
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Zeyu Wang
HKUST(GZ)
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Xian Xu
LingnanU
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Hongbo Fu
HKUST

Design Team

  • Yue Zeng (Leader)
  • Yihan Liu
  • Yiming Ma

Web Team

  • Longji Huang