Terms and conditions

Draft. These terms summarise the award brief and will be replaced by the Organizer’s final terms before registration opens on 24 September 2026.

1. The award

The 1 Billion AI Film Award (the “Award”) is hosted by the 1 Billion Followers Summit (the “Organizer”) and powered by Seedance. Entry is free. Nothing is ever charged to register, create or submit.

2. Eligibility

• Open to creators and filmmakers worldwide.
• Applicants must be at least 16 years old at the time of submission.
• One submission per individual: one original film of five to seven minutes.
• The work must be original and created specifically for the Award.
• You must own, or have obtained, all rights to the content you submit. Submissions must not infringe any third-party intellectual property.

3. Format

• One film, 5 to 7 minutes long. 7 minutes is the maximum.
• Horizontal format (16:9).
• Any language. English subtitles are mandatory.

4. Seedance requirement

Seedance must be used as part of the creative production process and must be the primary video-generation tool. At least 70% of the final film must be generated using Seedance. All submissions are evaluated against this threshold.

Other AI tools may be used for supporting elements (image generation, voice, music, sound, VFX, upscaling, editing). Traditional editing, compositing, sound, colour, VFX, typography and finishing tools are permitted. Original live-action footage may supplement the film provided the 70% Seedance threshold still holds.

5. Responsible AI

Responsible AI use is a mandatory condition of eligibility and is not scored. Applicants must:

• disclose the principal AI models and tools used, and explain how AI contributed to the work;
• hold rights to all uploaded reference material;
• not replicate a real person’s likeness or voice without authorisation;
• not present AI-generated material as authentic footage of real events.

Judges may request project files, prompts, generation history and source assets.

6. Judging

Submissions are scored out of 100: Storytelling 30%, AI Integration 30%, Creativity & Aesthetic 20%, Technical Execution 20%. A Top 10 shortlist will be announced and opened to public voting; the Top 5 will premiere at the 1 Billion Followers Summit. Judging decisions are final and at the Organizer’s sole discretion. There is no appeals process.

7. Ownership and licence

The applicant retains full ownership and copyright of their film. By submitting, the applicant grants the Organizer a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual and irrevocable licence to display, screen, share, archive and promote the film for the purposes of judging, Summit screenings and affiliate events, archival documentation, and marketing and promotion of the Award and the Summit.

8. The prize

The grand prize is awarded to one winning creator at the 1 Billion Followers Summit. It is paid by bank transfer within 60 days of the announcement, subject to eligibility and identity verification. The winner is responsible for all taxes that apply to them.

9. Content standards

Submissions must not be illegal, defamatory, obscene or hateful; must not promote violence, discrimination or harm; and must not violate the laws of the United Arab Emirates or public morality standards. The Organizer may disqualify any submission that breaches these standards.

10. Personal data

Personal data is processed as described in the Privacy notice.

11. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates. The courts of Dubai have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute.