Question 1

How do I select the right emotion for my film?

Accepted Answer

Choose the emotion based on what the audience feels after watching your film, not the genre, theme, or the emotions portrayed by the characters on screen. The selected emotion should represent the dominant emotional response your film triggers—what lingers with viewers once the credits roll. For example, a film may depict anger, conflict, or grief throughout the story, but if audiences ultimately leave feeling hope, reflection, or awe, that is the emotion you should select. This approach is intentionally different from conventional movie categories. We are less concerned with what happens in the film and more focused on what happens to the audience. When in doubt, ask yourself:
“If someone describes my film in one emotional word after watching it, what would that word be?”
If you firmly believe your film evokes more than one dominant emotion, the same film may be submitted again under a different emotion category, and each submission will be judged separately.

Question 2

How are films evaluated?

Accepted Answer

Films are evaluated through a two-stage judging process designed to ensure both technical rigor and emotional impact.

Stage One – Qualification & Initial Assessment
In the first phase, each submission is reviewed by two technical jurors to verify that it meets basic qualification criteria. This includes required runtime, resolution standards, and proper application of fundamental techniques in either traditional filmmaking or AI-generated production. Films that do not meet these requirements are eliminated at this stage. Submissions that qualify then move to a quality assessment, where jurors evaluate overall execution, narrative clarity, and aesthetic merit. Each film receives a score. Using these scores, selections are then balanced across factors such as emotion, country of origin, and thematic diversity, ensuring a rich, representative showcase for the Film Festival.

Stage Two – Final Jury & Awards
In the second stage, a panel of distinguished judges, an international consortium of leaders from academia and the film industry, reviews the nominated films. This panel brings diverse perspectives at the intersection of technology and storytelling. Importantly, judges evaluate films blind, without knowing whether a film was produced traditionally or with AI. They vote on which films most powerfully trigger the intended audience emotion.

The film receiving the highest number of votes in each emotion  wins that emotion's award. Among all category winners, the film with the highest overall vote receives the festival’s top honor: the Sparknify Humanity Award.

Question 3

What if my traditionally produced film includes some AI-generated scenes?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, films that combine traditional production with AI-generated scenes are not eligible for submission in either category and will be disqualified. The Human-made and AI-generated categories are designed to examine two fundamentally different creative processes. Allowing hybrid works would blur that boundary, making it difficult to evaluate films consistently and to fairly assess the role of authorship, intent, and technique. For the purpose of this festival, we ask filmmakers to commit clearly to one creative methodology per submission, so each category can be judged on equal and well-defined terms.

Question 4

Are works-in-progress or previously screened films allowed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Both works-in-progress and previously screened films are eligible for submission. For works-in-progress, we recommend clearly labeling the film as work-in-progress at the time of submission so the jury can take its current stage into consideration during evaluation.

Question 5

Do I need professional production quality to be selected?

Accepted Answer

No. Professional production quality is not a requirement. What matters most is emotional truth, clarity of intent, and the ability to move an audience. Some of the most powerful films in history were created with limited resources, imperfect visuals, or unconventional techniques—but they endured because they made people feel something. This festival values cinema as a language, not a budget. A raw, honest idea expressed with conviction often resonates more deeply than polished visuals without emotional weight. Whether made with a phone, a laptop, or a full studio pipeline, a film succeeds here if it meaningfully connects with viewers and triggers a genuine emotional response.

Question 6

Is there an entry fee to submit my film?

Accepted Answer

Early birds submit free. Regular entry fee starts at just $5 but will increase gradually as the deadline approaches. Final submissions close on August 31, 2026.

Due to the strong response and high submission volume last year, we are introducing an entry fee for the 2026 edition of the festival. This fee allows us to maintain the quality of submissions, expand the cash prize pool, and support festival operations.

Please note that all entry fees are non-refundable. No refunds will be issued if a submission is withdrawn or disqualified.

Film Submission Form

FAQ

How do I select the right emotion for my film?

How are films evaluated?

What if my traditionally produced film includes some AI-generated scenes?

Are works-in-progress or previously screened films allowed?

Do I need professional production quality to be selected?

Is there an entry fee to submit my film?

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