TLDR: Chinese streaming giant iQiyi, in collaboration with technology leaders Google and ByteDance, has successfully concluded its first Global AI Short Film Creation Competition. The event, which saw 11 awards presented, celebrated groundbreaking achievements in AI-driven creative content and highlighted the evolving role of artificial intelligence as a collaborative partner in filmmaking.
Shanghai, China – Chinese streaming platform iQiyi has announced the successful conclusion of its inaugural Global AI Short Film Creation Competition, presenting 11 awards to filmmakers who pushed the boundaries of AI-driven storytelling. The competition, themed ‘Beyond Tools, Toward Teammates’ and also known as ‘Coexist with AI,’ brought together over 2,400 creators from more than 30 countries and regions, showcasing the immense potential of artificial intelligence in the cinematic arts.
Organized by iQiyi International, the initiative was supported by major technology partners Google, providing its Veo 3 generative AI model, and ByteDance’s Volcano Engine, offering its Seedance 1.0 Pro. These tools were made available free of charge to participants, enabling them to produce films where at least 70% of the content was AI-generated.
The competition officially opened for registrations on July 15, 2025, with submissions closing on September 30. Finalists were announced in mid-October, followed by expert jury evaluations on October 30, culminating in the announcement of the winners in mid-November 2025.
Judging criteria for the short films, which were required to be under five minutes in length, included Creativity (40%), Technical Application (30%), Artistic Expression (20%), and Thematic Clarity (10%). Additional factors such as video production quality, emotional impact, and originality were also considered by a diverse panel of academics and industry professionals.
Among the distinguished winners, ‘Happy Land’ secured the coveted First Prize, earning its director, Chen Youxue, USD 3,000 along with a certificate and trophy. Chen Youxue remarked, “AI has made it possible to turn many of my bold and imaginative ideas into reality,” underscoring the transformative power of AI in realizing ambitious creative visions.
The Second Prize, accompanied by USD 1,500, was awarded to ‘Alaya,’ created by Pan Yu. Pan described ‘Alaya’ as an exploration of the intricate battle of wits between humans and AI, stating, “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.” Three creators received this award.
Five Third Prizes of USD 600 each were also distributed, alongside two Special Awards of USD 800 for ‘Best Creative Award’ and ‘Best Narrative Award.’
Also Read:
- Google Photos Unveils Six Advanced AI Features, Powered by Nano Banana
- China Dominates Global Generative AI Patent Landscape (2014-2023), Outpacing US Sixfold
Liu Wenfeng, President of iQiyi’s infrastructure and intelligent content distribution business group, emphasized the competition’s broader objective: “aimed at empowering creativity through technology and reshaping industries through innovation.” This initiative aligns with iQiyi’s ongoing commitment to integrating AI across its operations. The company has previously launched AI-driven tools like ZoomAI in 2019 for restoring archival footage and iQDubbing in January 2021 for AI-generated voice synthesis. Furthermore, iQiyi’s ‘Image Workshop’ produced 100,000 images in the first quarter of 2025 alone, demonstrating AI’s significant role in content planning, production, and marketing workflows.
