A 5 to 7 Minute AI Film Made With Seedance Could Win a US$1 Million Prize

One film, five to seven minutes long, could be worth US$1 million. That is the headline prize in the AI Film Award 2027, run by the 1 Billion Followers Summit, which describes itself as the world's largest AI film award. BytePlus, the company behind the Seedance video model, has signed on as a partner, and the brief is aimed at anyone with a story to tell, whether or not they have made a film before.

The catch sits in the format. Your film has to be original, it has to fit that five to seven minute window, and at least 70% of it must be generated with Dreamina Seedance. The top five films will premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, and one creator will leave with the grand prize. The submission window is open now and closes on 20 November 2026, a month from today.

What you submit

The requirement is a single original film of between five and seven minutes. At least 70% of the film must be generated using Dreamina Seedance, so this is a showcase for one specific tool rather than an open-model competition. The remaining 30% is left to you, which in practice leaves room for live footage, other software, sound design, music and editing, though the announcement does not spell out what is permitted for that share.

The announcement is open to filmmakers, creators and "simply someone with a story to share", so there is no stated requirement for professional credentials. The full rules, including how the 70% threshold is checked, sit on the entry page, which you should read before you start generating.

Prize structure

The announcement names one prize amount: US$1 million for the grand prize winner, described as one creator. It also says the top five films will premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, so finalists get a public screening at the event. The post does not say whether the five finalists receive any money, travel costs or credits, nor does it say whether the US$1 million is paid in cash, in instalments or in some other form. Those points are worth confirming on the official award page.

Terms worth reading

The source for this article is a promotional post on X, not the full rules, so several details are unconfirmed. Check the following on the entry page before you commit time and credits:

- Entry fee. The post does not mention one. Confirm whether entry is free.
- Costs of using Seedance. The 70% requirement means you will be generating a lot of video. Check what access, credits or subscription that needs and who pays.
- Rights and licences. The post says nothing about who owns the film or what licence the organisers take for the premiere and promotion. Look for clauses on public screening, online distribution and ownership of the finished work.
- Eligibility. The post gives no age or country restrictions. Look for them in the full rules.
- Judging. The post does not name the judges or the criteria.

Deadline

The submission period runs from 30 September 2026 to 20 November 2026. The post gives no cutoff time or timezone, so treat the end of 19 November as your real deadline and submit with a day in hand.

Entries go through the official award page at 1billionsummit.com/ai-award-2027. The announcement itself is the Seedance Enterprise post on X.

Source: Seedance Enterprise on X