A $1 Million Prize Is on Offer for the Best Five to Seven Minute Film Made With Seedance
The 1 Billion Followers Summit is offering $1,000,000 for one original AI film of 5 to 7 minutes, with at least 70% generated in Seedance. Entries close 20 November 2026.
One film, one story, one winner, and a cheque for $1,000,000. That is the pitch from the 1 Billion Followers Summit, which has opened submissions for the AI Film Award 2027, a competition it describes as the world's largest film award. The money goes to a single creator, and the only way in is to make a complete short film of between five and seven minutes.
The catch is the toolchain. At least 70% of the finished film must be generated with Dreamina Seedance, the video model that powers the award, so this is a contest about what one specific tool can do in the hands of a storyteller. The organisers say they want emotional journeys from first frame to last, not showreels of impressive visuals. Entries close on 20 November 2026, which leaves just over a month from today.
What you submit
You submit one original film that tells one connected story. It must run between five and seven minutes, be horizontal at 16:9, and be delivered at 1080p as an .MOV or .MP4 file. Any language is allowed, but English subtitles are required. The page also asks entrants to add an official intro before the film, which can be downloaded from a shared folder linked on the rules.
Your film must speak to one of five themes: society, community and humanitarian issues; truth, fake news and misinformation; humans and AI; climate, nature and our changing planet; or human relationships. Each theme comes with a list of example directions on the official page, from deepfakes and loneliness to displaced communities and divorce.
Original live-action footage is permitted as a supplement, provided Seedance still accounts for at least 70% of the final film. Other AI tools and traditional post-production can be used for support. The submission form takes four short steps and needs a private or unlisted link to the finished film with subtitles. You can enter more than once, with each film as a separate application, and you must be 18 or over. Entry is open worldwide. The submission form is here.
Prize structure and timeline
The Grand Prize is $1,000,000 in cash, paid by bank transfer within 60 days of the announcement, subject to eligibility and identity checks. The winner is responsible for any applicable taxes. The page also promises global recognition and exposure to creators, platforms and industry figures, though it does not describe any other prizes for the runners-up.
The schedule runs as follows:
- 20 November 2026: submission deadline.
- 15 December 2026: an international expert committee picks a Top 10, and public voting begins.
- 25 December 2026: the Top 5 are announced.
- 8 to 10 January 2027: the Top 5 premiere at the summit in Dubai, with the winner announced live on 10 January.
Judging is scored out of 100: AI integration 30%, storytelling 30%, creativity and aesthetic 20%, and technical execution 20%. Responsible and ethical use of AI is a mandatory eligibility requirement and is not scored.
Terms worth reading
Entry is free, and the page mentions no fee. On rights, the terms are creator-friendly. Entrants keep full ownership and copyright, and grant the organiser a non-exclusive licence to display, screen, share, archive and promote the film for judging, summit screenings, archival and promotional purposes. Non-exclusive means you can still use the film elsewhere.
Two points deserve attention. First, the 70% Seedance requirement is checked during evaluation, so keep your project files and generation records. Second, the Top 10 face a public vote, which means your film will be seen publicly before any result. Read the full terms and conditions before you upload, as this summary does not replace them.
No cutoff time or timezone is published for 20 November 2026, so submit with a day in hand. Questions go to [email protected].