2026 Ningbo Youth AI Film Festival
Submissions Open Now
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SCHEDULE

  1. June 12, 2026Opening Ceremony
  2. August 30, 2026Submissions Deadline
  3. During the Festival (TBD)Global AIGC Creation Workshops & Masterclasses
  4. During the Festival (TBD)AIGC Touring Exhibition — University & Public Screenings
  5. Late October 2026AI Film Night & Closing Ceremony

CATEGORIES

Impression Yongcheng · AI Short Films & Dramas

Impression Yongcheng

AI Short Films & Dramas

Encourages the use of AI to create in-depth narratives centered on Ningbo's landscapes, customs, local culture, products, and refined aesthetics. AI-powered reinterpretation of cultural heritage such as the Grand Canal, the Maritime Silk Road, and Eastern Zhejiang academic traditions is highly encouraged.

Horizontal or vertical · 2–30 min

Animated Heritage · AI Animation & Intangible Heritage

Animated Heritage

AI Animation & Intangible Heritage

Focuses on AI in animation production and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage (e.g. restoration of ancient texts at Tianyi Pavilion, gold-painted lacquerware).

Episodes 60–300s · Shorts 5–90s

Future Soundscape · AI Music Videos

Future Soundscape

AI Music Videos

AI-generated music combined with AI-generated visual imagery. Incorporating Ningbo elements or contemporary youth attitudes is encouraged.

Minimum 2 min

Youth Vision · Open Exploration

Youth Vision

Open Exploration

A completely open creative space with no thematic restrictions.

Short-form 15–90s · Shorts 2 min+

JUDGES

Simon Weaving

Simon Weaving

Associate Professor, University of Nottingham Ningbo China

A filmmaker, festival director, and film critic. He serves as Joint Administrator of the ARRI Asia Virtual Production Studio and leads the XR and Immersive Digital Media research stream within the International Studies Programme (ISP), focusing on generative digital assets, virtual narrative construction, and AI-driven immersive film creation.

Zhu Feng

Zhu Feng

Associate Professor, School of Theater, Film and Television, Communication University of China

Dedicated to integrating AI into film and television pedagogy. He teaches the pioneering course “Frontiers of AIGC and Digital Art,” and has supervised AI and XR works that have won over 30 professional awards both domestically and internationally.

Qiu Sheng

Qiu Sheng

Film Director · Jury, 2026 Shanghai International Film Festival

His AI work For Example, My Father's Son won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Artistic Contribution at the 2025 Shanghai International Film Festival, and A Dollar Story won Best Action Short Film at the Cannes World AI Film Festival. His debut feature Suburban Birds won Best Feature Film at the FIRST International Film Festival, Best Film at Novos Cinemas (Spain), and the NETPAC Award at the Macau International Film Festival.

Sang-wook Lee

Sang-wook Lee

Head of AI-XR Contents Team, MBC C&I · Director of MBC AI Content Lab

He leads the AI Contents Lab at MBC C&I as an AI drama and film producer. He actively integrates advanced generative AI technology into broadcasting and film production pipelines, pioneering new storytelling horizons through the deep fusion of technology and narrative. He currently oversees next-generation new media content planning and tech-fusion projects aimed at global markets with leading domestic and international partners.

GUEST PROGRAMMER

Jiang Ella

Jiang Ella

Film Curator | Head of OMNI China

With over a decade of experience across film, art, media, and technology spanning the UK, China, and Australia, Ella brings a truly global perspective to our team. She is currently Head of OMNI China, where she focuses on the convergence of AIGC, film, and emerging media — connecting international creators with China's cultural ecosystem and film industry. Formerly Art Director at CRI Online and Vice President of LENS, she has led cross-border projects across the UK, China, and Australia.

FINAL NOMINEES LIST

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Organizers & Partners

宁波市微电影协会 · Ningbo Short Film AssociationUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaShort Film ConferenceIOKM AI Film Festival

© 2026 Ningbo Youth AI Film Festival · 宁波青年AI影像节