Welcome to GLOBAL AI FILM HACK

Global AI Film Hack @ MIT

2026 SEASON 4

"OPEN YOUR EYES"

Open Your Eyes is not simply about Vision.
It is about Perspective. Presence. Consciousness.

“The way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe.” —— Ways of Seeing, John Berger

In 1972, Berger challenged the neutrality of vision. He argued that seeing is never passive, it is shaped by history, power, memory, and ideology. In an age of mechanical reproduction, he asked us to question how images construct meaning.

Today, in the age of generative AI, the question returns with new urgency. AI can generate endless faces and worlds, but storytelling demands more than that. It requires continuity, emotion, and characters who persists across time. A believable presence. A consistent inner life.

This year, we invite creators to move beyond image and into presence, work across 2D, 3D, live-action hybrids, and interactive forms to build AI characters that do more than appear on screen.

Not just visible, but vivid.
Not just generated, but felt.

Join us on this journey.

Jiajian Min, Chair

Anna Borou Yu, Cochair

Poster designed by Jiajian Min with AI.

2026 TIMELINE

March 15

March 22 - April 10

April 18,19

May - December

Registration Starts

Global Hackathon (Online)

Summit & Festival @ MIT

Global Screening & Incubation

2026 HACK DETAILED INFO

JOIN 26 HACK !

FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN FOR UPDATES!

Supports and Prizes to our Hackers

$50k+ Free Credits

Global Screening and Distribution

AI StartUp Incubator

Research Publication

Media Spotlights

Internship + Fellowship

Info Session

AWARD CATEGORIES

Short Film Track

Innovation Track

🏆 Short Film and Innovation Track Winners Prizes 🏆

• Spotlight Showcased on official website, social channels and media partners.

• Best Film will receive $10k+ Valued Production Support to develop your work into a feature film.

• Global screening opportunities with our festical partners like SXSW, Cinequest, Beijing IFF, HarvardXR and more!

• Research publication with MIT core team on AI Filmmaking at top Conference like CVPR.

Partnership Track

🏆 Autodesk Research Residency Award🏆
🥇 Winner: (Working with Autodesk Flow Studio) Eligible for the Autodesk Research Residency Program, with opportunities to:
• Collaborate with creative technologists and researchers
• Receive support from Autodesk Research
• Access Autodesk tools for your project
• Explore advanced Technology Centers in Boston, Toronto, and San Francisco

🏆 OpenArt Award 🏆
🥇 Winner：1 year wonder plan(1440$)
⭐ Nominee (x3)：6 months infinite plan (1000$)
• Priority to be enrolled in open artist/creative partner program
Spotlight feature - opportunity to be showcased on official social channels（500K followers）
• Enrollment into openart affiliate program
• Priority considered for openart intern or full-time roles when applicable

🏆 Flick Award🏆
🥇Winner:
• Flick Filmmaker Residency Summer 2026 Seat — mentorship and production support for your next film: https://flick.art/residency
• One-year free Flick Studio Subscription ($1440 value)
• Featured spotlight on Flick's app homepage and social media channels

🏆 TapNow Award 🏆
🥇 Winner: 100k Tapies ➕Lv4 Creator Role
⭐ Nominee (x3): 50k tapies + Lv4 Creator Role
• Featured spotlight on TapTV
($10k+ value in total)

🏆 Pixverse Award 🏆
🥇 Winner: One-year Premium Subscription + 100,000 Credits
⭐ Nominee (x3): 3-month Pro Subscription
✨ Winner Benefits (All Awardees)
• Spotlight Feature — Showcased on PixVerse's official website and social channels
• Top-tier works get showcased at major film festivals via PixVerse's industry network — from Busan to Berlinale and beyond
• Priority enrollment in our Creative Partner Program
• A fully-loaded account for seamless PixVerse CLI access
• Priority consideration for PixVerse Intern&Full-time positions when you apply

2026 PARTNERS

CREATIVE PARTNERS

FESTIVAL & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

Join Our CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM !

PARTNER WITH US!

Short Film ● Micro Drama ● Music Video ● Interactive & Immersive

PIONEERING AI FILM & ART EVENT FROM MIT

This is not just a hackathon. It is a global call to reimagine character, storytelling, and the future of cinema.

Founded at MIT in 2023, Global AI Film Hack is one of the earliest and most internationally recognized platforms dedicated to AI Filmmaking, media art, and next-generation storytelling.

Each year, it brings together filmmakers, artists, researchers, technologists, students, and creative pioneers from around the world to explore how AI is transforming the language of film, digital media, and immersive experience.

SUPPORTED BY

A GLOBAL CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM

MIT Media Lab ● SXSW ● Google ● OpenArt ● Autodesk ● Runwayml ● StabilityAI ● CINEQUEST ● Seattle AIFF ● HKUST AMC ● Pixverse ● Deemos ● Meshy ● SAGA ● Molypix ● AIVA ● FLICK ● Imastudio ● Runway ● TripoAI ● MiniMax ● PikaAI

1500+ Participants

50+ Partners

50+ Countries

200+ Original AI Films

OUR CORE VALUES

“CREATIVITY BEFORE COMPUTATION”

IMAGINATION

We champion bold ideas that challenge assumptions and open unexpected directions for storytelling and artistic expression.

COLLABORATION

By connecting artists, technologists, researchers, and students, we create a community where shared knowledge leads to stronger, more ambitious outcomes.