Global AI Short Film Competition Awards Winners in Shanghai

AI isn't just editing films – it's helping write and even design them.

That creative shift took center stage in Shanghai at the Global AI Short Film Creation Competition, organized by iQiyi International, Google, and ByteDance's Volcano Engine. Filmmakers from more than 30 countries and regions showcased stories built with – and about – artificial intelligence, pushing the boundaries of what cinema can achieve.

The competition, themed "Beyond Tools, Toward Teammates," invited over 2,400 creators to explore how AI can enrich the entire filmmaking process, from concept and character design to scene layout and production. All entries feature Chinese and English subtitles and are available for viewing on the iQiyi International platform.

The judging panel included a diverse group of academics and professionals from the international entertainment business.

The first prize was awarded to "Happy Land," which is based on wartime stories about children. The film juxtaposes beautiful scenery with the brutality of war, delivering a heartbreaking denunciation of violent behavior.

"AI has made it possible to turn many of my bold and imaginative ideas into reality," the film's director Chen Youxue said.

Pan Yu, the creator of the second-prize winner "Alaya," illustrates a battle of wits between humans and AI using a deck of playing cards.

In Pan's eyes, AI perceives the world in its own way. Its randomness, though uncontrollable, also gives it a sense of spirit. The coexistence of humans and AI is like the subtle intertwining of two worlds. As AI becomes more human-like, it also pushes humanity to surpass its limits.

From content conception and creation to production and distribution, AI has already been integrated into every stage of the content life cycle. These tools assist creators in generating concept posters, character designs, and scene layouts, while also producing diverse videos and graphic materials driven by narrative insights and audience behavior.

Many creators of the competition believed that AI is truly transforming and reshaping every facet of the creative process, but the technology itself is neutral, and the stories told through it can still be full of warmth and reflection.