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.
Poster designed by Jiajian Min with AI.
Global AI Film Hack @ MIT
2026 TIMELINE
March 15
Registration Starts
Individual Hacker Registration,
Official Announcements at CINEQUEST, SXSW 2026
March 22 - April 10
Global Hackathon
Hackathon Discord Group Starts, Build Your Team,
Free Partner Credits to Hackers, Online Workshops
April 10
Submission Deadline
Submission Deadline 11:59pm EST
Submission Forms will be sent to Registered Hackers in Discord and Email.
April 18,19
Summit & Festival @ MIT
AI Filmmaking Summit, Exhibition, Demo, Career Fair,
Judging, Finalist Screening, Award Ceremony
World Premiere of Finalist Films
May - December
Global Screening and Incubation!
Winning and Nominated Films will have the opportunites to be screened around the world with our partner events, with potential for long-term IP incubation and development.
Film ● Micro Drama ● Music Video ● Interactive & Immersive
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Step 1
Get into Discord, Claim Free Credits, Build Teams, Product QA
Step 2
Submit Your Work by April 10 11:59pm EST.
Submission link will be released on April 1.
Step 3
Join us at MIT on April 18, 19 for Summit & Festival!
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
PARTICIPATION RULES
1. Participants must be at least 18 years old to join our hackathon. There are no restrictions based on nationality, profession, or educational background.
2. You may form your own team or find teammates through our Discord channel. Each team may have 1 to 5 members, and every team member must be officially registered.
3. The hackathon will take place virtually worldwide from Sunday, March 22 to Sunday, April 10. Onsite participation in the MIT Festival & Summit on April 18–19 is strongly encouraged, so participants can fully benefit from activities such as the Masterclass, Summit, Career Fair, Demo, Screening, and Award Ceremony.
4. Each team may create and submit multiple works across different tracks, such as a short film and a music video. However, each work must be submitted separately.
5. To be eligible for a partnership award, participants must use the creative partner’s product and provide feedback on it. Each partnership award includes one winner and three nominees. Partnership Tracks are non-exclusive and do not require separate registration. Teams may win both Main Track awards and multiple Partnership Awards.
SUBMISSION RULES
1. Theme Relevance
Your film should explore the 2026 theme “Open Your Eyes”.
2. AI Relevance
Your film should incorporate at least one AI tool or model from our Creative Partners. Free Credits will be provided.
3. Originality
Your film should be created specifically for this hackathon and not previously submitted in other events, film festivals, or competitions.
4. Content
Your film is appropriate for the general public, and does not contain inappropriate or unlawful materials.
5. Copyright
Your team has all rights necessary to submit the Film, including without limitation, the title or rights in any content, trademarks, artwork, text, and/or music featured in the Film Submission.
6. Acknowledgment
Your film should include a credit for the “2026 Global AI Film Hack @ MIT ” and logo at the end of the film (see below), as well as text credits to all the AI tools and models you use.
7. Publicity
By submission, you grant the Global AI Film Hack @ MIT and its partners the right and license to use, distribute, and publicly display the film and related information for use in research and marketing, without any additional approval or consideration.
8. Overdue
The submission process requires detailed information and takes about 20 minutes. Please plan accordingly. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.
9. Visuals
Film Posters and key images are required for submission.
10. Language
Films must be in English or include English subtitles.
11. Length and Format
For Short Film, XR, Interactive Film, 3–8 minutes long.
For MicroDrama, 5 episodes, each under 2 minutes, vertical format.
For Music Video, 3-5 minutes long.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
April. 10. 2026 Friday 11:59 ET
More detailed submission information will be released for registered participants through discord and email early April, 2026.
Global AI Film Hack @ MIT