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Sparknify Humanity Award: L’Acquario (The Aquarium) by Gianluca Zonta of Italy Vincenzo is on his first date with Sara, he asks for help from an application based on AI, which suggests what to say. A love story is born and they organize a blind date for their best friends, advising them both to use AI.​ About the Sparknify Humanity Award Cash Prize: US$3000​ Honors the film — whether traditionally shot by humans or creatively generated by AI — that most profoundly captures the essence of humanity. As artificial intelligence transforms film production, it presents significant existential challenges to both filmmakers and society, prompting us to reconsider what truly defines our human experience. This award embodies the spirit of highlighting and protecting the uniquely human qualities in storytelling, urging traditional filmmakers to embrace narratives only humans can create. Simultaneously, it celebrates AI generated films as powerful demonstrations of technological innovation, creativity, and imagination. We honor visionary creators on both sides: filmmakers committed to expressing authentic human narratives, and AI artists striving to surpass the Turing Test by exploring human truths. Ultimately, the Sparknify Humanity Award inspires all creators — human or machine — to learn, observe, and deepen their understanding of what humanity truly means in the age of AI.

Best AI Generated Award: The Monkey With Its Tongue Out by Sebastian Arriagada of Chile A filmmaker’s encounter with a spider monkey sparks reflections on who truly controls whom in the age of data. Blending real and AI-generated images, the film blurs the line between the biological and digital. Set against echoes of Chile’s dictatorship and a poet’s cage performance, it asks: when algorithms study us, what will we reveal? About the Best AI Generated Award Honors generative AI filmmakers who demonstrate exceptional skill and creativity in harnessing AI technologies. This award is presented to the creator whose film showcases the highest level of technical excellence, effectively pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve in filmmaking. The winning film stands apart by captivating audiences through a memorable narrative, visuals, or artistic style, clearly demonstrating AI’s remarkable capabilities and potential to revolutionize cinematic storytelling. Vincenzo is on his first date with Sara, he asks for help from an application based on AI, which suggests what to say. A love story is born and they organize a blind date for their best friends, advising them both to use AI.​

Best Picture Award: Movimentos Migratórios (Migratory Movements) by Rogério Cathalá of Brazil Pedro Paniagua recently migrated to Brazil and faces a daily challenge for survival. He plans to bring his family when he adapts to the new country. When a swallow falls into his house, he finds himself torn between the routine of searching for a job and trying to save the bird. Every place he goes, he encounters difficulties that reflect his own status as an immigrant. Pedro persists in his promise to save the bird as a mission that proves transformative.​ About Best Picture Award Best Picture Award honors filmmakers who excel in using traditional filmmaking methods and equipment to produce a film of outstanding quality. This prestigious award celebrates the highest achievements in storytelling, visual effects, cinematography, setting, and overall artistic vision. The winning film captivates audiences through compelling narratives, immersive scenery, remarkable performances, and seamless integration of visual and sound elements. Each nominated film embodies the craftsmanship, creativity, and attention to detail that define truly exceptional cinema.

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The Writer’s Horror

By Sergiy Pudich

Ukraine/Tailand

 

Pi in the Sky

By Petra Molnar

United Kingdom

 

Migratory Movements

Rogério  Cathalá

Brazil

 

The Monkey With Its Tongue Out

Sebastian Arriagada

Chile

Endling

Endre Andor Lengyel

Hungary

The Living Room

Mariam Mouzoul

Morocco

 

Silentium

Roméo Lefèvre

French

 

The Aquarium

Gianluca Zonta

Italian

 

Partner

Johnny Su

Taiwan

Heal

Manuel Larios

Peru

#Beachfile

Carles Bigorra

Spain

 

Dark, Light, Yellow

Fran Gas

Spain

AI Love You, AI Don't Love You

Akari Sōma

Japan


Meet me in Chinatown

Jerry Hsiao & Anna Sophie Loewenberg

USA

The Sparknify Film Committee nominated the above films from submissions received around the world. Each submission was first evaluated based on basic qualification criteria, such as meeting the required length, resolution standards, and applying fundamental techniques in either traditional filmmaking or AI generation. Films were also assessed for their basic quality, narrative clarity, and aesthetic merit. After this initial screening, selections were balanced across a range of factors, including genre, country of origin, and thematic diversity, to ensure a rich and representative showcase for the 2025 Human vs. AI Film Festival.

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Sparknify is incredibly grateful to Midpen Media Center, a major sponsor of the Human vs. AI Film Festival. From hosting our press conference to capturing interviews on event day, their support has been essential in making this event meaning and possible. Midpen is currently fundraising for the new mural on their building — a Tribute to the Horse in Motion, depicting Stanford’s iconic horses that marked the dawn of motion pictures. Please consider donating to support this public art project and help Midpen continue serving the community — just as they’ve supported us in bringing this festival to life.

In 1896, the Lumière brothers premiered the first publicly screened film in Paris, Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (French: L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat), which is considered the beginning of cinematic history. At the time, audiences were startled by the large image of the train approaching on the screen that they thought it would break through the screen and crash into them. People were captivated by the images on the screen, overwhelmed by the impact they conveyed.

 

A century later, the emergence of AI technology has rewritten the rules of narrative and filming, which are no longer solely the domain of humans. The continuous imagery generated by AI brings a level of impact comparable to the shock experienced by audiences a hundred years ago, challenging human imagination and consciousness. The question arises: are humans and AI in competition or can they collaborate? The possibility of AI achieving consciousness seems imminent, raising the question of whether humanity is exclusively defined by its unique traits. As humanity stands at the singularity of an AI-driven paradigm shift, entering a new epoch, how can humans preserve their humanity? And how will AI achieve the qualities of humanity? 

 

The overarching theme is Humans vs. AI: Can AI truly replace humans, and what path will humanity take? “Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?” These fundamental questions may no longer belong solely to humans but perhaps also to AI.

Human or AI? 

You may choose to create either a human-produced film or an AI-generated film, with a duration of 1 to 15 minutes, while following the respective rules below.

 

Human-Produced Films

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As AI reshapes film production, it brings existential challenges to both the industry and humanity. More than ever, it is crucial to celebrate the unique storytelling and creativity that define us as humans. We seek visionary creators dedicated to safeguarding humanity for a flourishing future.

​​​​​

Length:

 

1 to 15 minutes (including credits)

 

Equipment and Tools:

 

Use conventional video cameras and lighting equipment for filming, with computer editing software permitted for post-production. All narrations and dialogue must be authentic recordings of human voices. The use of AI-generative tools at any stage of production is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification. While the use of images or video from CAD or 3D modeling software is allowed, it is strongly discouraged.

 

AI-Generated Films

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AI-generated films showcase the innovation of AI technology, transforming storytelling and reshaping creativity. We celebrate this progress and seek visionary creators who excel in using these tools to craft narratives that not only pass the Turing Test but to capture the essence of humanity.

Length:

 

1 to 15 minutes (including credits)

 

Equipment and Tools:

 

The entire film must be created using AI-generative tools. Computer editing software is allowed for post-production. Narrations and dialogue preferred to be AI-generated from scripts generated by AI. The use of images or videos from CAD or 3D modeling software is not permitted. Most of visual and audio elements must align with the film’s AI-generated origin, ensuring the work remains a true showcase of AI capabilities.

Awards

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Sparknify Humanity Award 

US$3000​

Honors the film — whether traditionally shot by humans or creatively generated by AI — that most profoundly captures the essence of humanity. As artificial intelligence transforms film production, it presents significant existential challenges to both filmmakers and society, prompting us to reconsider what truly defines our human experience. This award embodies the spirit of highlighting and protecting the uniquely human qualities in storytelling, urging traditional filmmakers to embrace narratives only humans can create. Simultaneously, it celebrates AI generated films as powerful demonstrations of technological innovation, creativity, and imagination. We honor visionary creators on both sides: filmmakers committed to expressing authentic human narratives, and AI artists striving to surpass the Turing Test by exploring human truths. Ultimately, the Sparknify Humanity Award inspires all creators — human or machine — to learn, observe, and deepen their understanding of what humanity truly means in the age of AI.

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Best Picture Award

Honors filmmakers who excel in using traditional filmmaking methods and equipment to produce a film of outstanding quality. This prestigious award celebrates the highest achievements in storytelling, visual effects, cinematography, setting, and overall artistic vision. The winning film captivates audiences through compelling narratives, immersive scenery, remarkable performances, and seamless integration of visual and sound elements. Each nominated film embodies the craftsmanship, creativity, and attention to detail that define truly exceptional cinema.

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Best AI-Generated Award

Honors generative AI filmmakers who demonstrate exceptional skill and creativity in harnessing AI technologies. This award is presented to the creator whose film showcases the highest level of technical excellence, effectively pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve in filmmaking. The winning film stands apart by captivating audiences through a memorable narrative, visuals, or artistic style, clearly demonstrating AI’s remarkable capabilities and potential to revolutionize cinematic storytelling.

Judges

The judging panel is composed of an international consortium of key figures from academia and the film industry, bringing together diverse perspectives at the intersection of technology and storytelling.

Aaron Lo

Pixar

Aaron Lo

Technical Director

Brian Yang

408 Films

Brian Yang

Film and TV producer

Dariush Derakhshani

Dariush Derakhshani

VFX & Animation Supervisor & Producer

Joseph Erb

UC Santa Cruz

Joseph Erb

Associate Professor of Film & Digital Media

Larissa Schwartz

University of Colorado Boulder

Larissa Schwartz

Professor of Generative AI

Lynn Peng

MFSA Studios

Lynn Peng

Screen writer & Independant producer

Vanessa Born

Vanessa Born

Actress, Producer, and Writer

Anton Kaes

UC Berkeley

Anton Kaes

Professor of Film & Media

Cheng Xu

The Asian Art Museum

Cheng Xu

Assistant Curator

Gautam Chopra

Boston College

Gautam Chopra

Faculty in Art, Art History, and Film

Kenji Lui

Cinespot

Kenji Lui

Chief Editor

Lingo Hsieh

The VOICE Creative

Lingo Hsieh

Director and Screenwriter

Rachel Silveria

De Anza College

Rachel Silveria

Professor in the Film & Television

Yaloo Lim

California Institute of the Arts

Yaloo Lim

Faculty in Experimental Animation

Bill Nichols

San Francisco State University

Bill Nichols

Professor Emeritus of Cinema

Dan Chi Huang

Plus One Studio

Dan Chi Huang

Director, Producer, and Writer

Jan Krawitz

Stanford

Jan Krawitz

Professor Emerita of Documentary Film

Lana Shapoval

Lana Shapoval

Filmmaker

Luke Shen

CinemaAnyways

Luke Shen

Producer, Director, and Columnist

Rosa Park

San Francisco State University

Rosa Park

Associate Professor of Cinema

Calling All Film Creators

 

The submission deadline is April 15, 2025, and entries are welcome from film creators worldwide. But if you have a great film, we offer expedited review option for late submission until April 25, 2025. Finalists will be announced on May 1, 2025.

Interested in submitting your work next year? Join the Sparknify Creator Network to stay informed about future festival opportunities, calls for submissions, and updates from the Human vs. AI creative community.

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Screening

The film screenings of the nominated films will be held on May 17, 2025, at Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale, California, USA, concluding with an awards ceremony after the final screening.

Human vs. AI Film Festival Award Gala
Human vs. AI Film Festival Award Gala
0 DAYS TO THE EVENT
May 17, 2025, 5:00 PM
Sunnyvale
An unforgettable evening where the world’s top creatives gather to find out if AI can tell the most human story of all
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