Korea AI Content Awards

1. Organization
The 2026 Korea AI Content Awards is hosted by Gyeonggi-do and organized by the Gyeonggi Content Agency.

2. Purpose
The 2026 Korea AI Content Awards aims to support content creation utilizing generative AI and to explore creative pathways and possibilities for mutual growth in the AI era.

3. Overview of the Event
3.1 Date & Time: Scheduled for mid-October 2026 (exact date to be announced)
3.2 Venue: Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea (exact location to be announced)
3.3 Key Details: Film screenings (including theater and affiliated screenings), Guest Visit (GV), Industry Forum, Showcase, and more.

4. Eligibility
4.1 Who Can Apply
- All creators of at least 18 years of age (no restrictions on nationality and gender);
- Notwithstanding the above, only finalists and award winners may be invited to official events held in Korea; accordingly, contestants shall be free of the grounds for disqualification of entry into and stay in Korea.

4.2 Type of Participation
- Entries may be submitted individually or as a team;
- For team submissions, all rights to the submitted work must be legitimately held by the team;
- The team representative holds all award-related rights, including receipt of the certificate of merit and prize money. Any distribution of rights or prize money within the team is the sole responsibility of its members and must be settled by mutual agreement. The Awards organizers bear no responsibility for, and shall not be held liable in, any disputes arising between or among team members regarding such matters.

5. Competition Categories
- Medium-length Film: 30 to under 60 minutes (any genre)
- Short Film: Under 30 minutes (any genre)
- Nam June Paik Special Award: No restrictions on length (any genre)
※ Works that interpret and represent Nam June Paik without directly incorporating his portrait or images of his works

6. Submission and Registration
6.1 Period of Submission: June 1, 2026 – July 12, 2026, by 11:59 PM (KST)

6.2 Requirements for Works Using Generative AI
Submitted works must be films produced through the substantial use of generative AI technology;
- Substantial use refers to a level that directly influences the core expressive elements of the work (e.g., visuals, sound/music, narrative, direction), and simple auxiliary uses such as subtitle generation or noise removal do not qualify;
- Generative AI technology must be applied throughout the entire work or used in at least two of the following areas: image generation, sound/music generation, dialogue/narration generation, editing, or special effects;
- Upon submission, entrants must describe the AI technologies used, the areas of application, and the methods of implementation;
- The entrant bears full copyright and legal responsibility related to the use of generative AI. Any false statements may result in disqualification or cancellation of the award.

6.3 Basic requirements
- Mid-length Film Competition: works with a running time of 30 minutes or more and under 60 minutes;
- Short Film Competition: works with a running time of under 30 minutes;
- Nam June Paik Special Award: no restrictions on length or duration;
- A premiere at the Awards is not mandatory, but will be viewed favorably during the judging process;
- The work must have been completed between January 1, 2025, and July 12, 2026;
- There is no limit on the number of submissions for the Mid-length Film Competition;
- For the Short Film Competition, each applicant may submit up to one entry as an individual and one entry as part of a team;
- For Nam June Paik Special Award, regardless of whether the submission is made as an individual or as part of a team, each applicant may submit only one entry.

6.4 Prohibition on Direct Use (Nam June Paik Special Award Section)
All submissions must respect the copyright and moral rights of Nam June Paik, and must be expressed through the entrant’s own original visual language rather than directly incorporating the artist's portrait or original works. Any of the following actions shall be considered “direct use” and may result in disqualification from the selection process:
1) Using individually identifiable data of Nam June Paik — including photos, videos, or voice recordings from his lifetime — as direct training input for generative AI, or presenting such material unchanged in the final output;
2) Substantially replicating the visual structure, arrangement, color, or compositional elements of a specific work by Nam June Paik in a manner that results in a visual reproduction.

6.5 Methods of Submission
Entrants must submit their work through platforms designated by the organizing institution, such as FilmFreeway or Google Forms. Any disadvantages arising from omitted or incorrectly entered information in the submitted documents shall be the sole responsibility of the entrant.

6.6 Video Submission Guidelines
- For evaluation purposes, videos must be submitted via a URL accessible through online video platforms such as YouTube;
- To ensure image security, submitted works must be uploaded with restricted public access. The provided link must be accessible to judges and organizing staff, and if password-protected, the password must be included in the submission;
- Submitted works must remain accessible for viewing until the conclusion of the Awards;
- Submitted works must be in Full HD resolution or higher (16:9 aspect ratio recommended);
- The screening copy and the final festival print must be identical in content. No edits are permitted after the submission deadline;
- If the work contains narration or dialogue, English subtitles must be included in the screening copy.

7. Obligation to Ensure AI Transparency
7.1 Obligation to Label AI-Generated Works
In accordance with the purpose of this Awards and the spirit of the “Korea AI Basic Act,” all submissions that make use of generative AI must clearly indicate that they were created by AI.

7.2 Method of Labeling AI-Generated Works
The labeling of AI-generated works must be provided at a level that is easily recognizable to general users, and at least one of the following methods must be applied:
1) Displaying an identifiable logo or watermark within the video;
2) Inserting subtitles or a notice at the beginning or end of the video indicating the use of AI (minimum duration of 3 seconds).

7.3 Deepfake-Generated Works
When providing images or videos of real-life individuals or content that could be confused with reality (including deepfakes), a clear notice or visible label must be displayed throughout the entire playback to ensure users clearly understand. However, in cases where adjustments to the method of marking are necessary for artistic or creative works under Article 7.4, exceptions may be applied with adjusted implementation.

7.4 Exceptions to Labeling Obligations
Notwithstanding Articles 7.1 and 7.3, if adjustments to labeling methods are unavoidable for artistic or creative expression, the form of labeling may be modified in a limited manner, provided it does not interfere with the appreciation of the work. In such cases, invisible watermarks or meta-data must be used to maintain technical transparency, and the application of “Exceptions to Labeling Obligations” must be explicitly stated at the time of submission.

8. Creative Contribution Verification and Copyright Assurance
8.1 Inclusion of Human Creative Contribution
The Awards will judge and honor only those works that embody human ideas and emotions. Works will be excluded from assessment if they consist solely of outputs generated through prompt input without further planning, modification, editing, or iterative creative processes, or if they involve only technical or mechanical alterations to the generated results. Such works will be deemed to lack creative contribution.

8.2 Evidence of the Creative Process
Entrants must submit evidence materials that can demonstrate the “controllability and predictability by humans” in relation to AI-generated outputs, as follows.
1) Production Log: (to be included in the submission form) Specifications of AI technologies applied in each stage, details of the creator’s involvement and adjustments, and confirmation of compliance with copyright and ethical standards;
2) Evidence of the Production Process: (to be submitted upon advancing to the finals) Attach screenshots that verify prompts and generated outputs for key scenes, including prompts and results used for main characters/backgrounds, captures of editing processes such as in-painting/out-painting, timelines showing placement of AI sources within video editing tools, as well as timelapse or recorded footage of the production process.

8.3 Criteria for Assessing Controllability and Predictability
The controllability and predictability referenced in 8.2 shall be determined by comprehensively considering the following factors:
- Whether prompt design and generation conditions allow for the repeated creation of identical or similar results;
- Whether deliberate intervention by the creator — such as selecting, modifying, or restructuring outputs — was carried out during the generation process;
- Whether the creator’s judgment and decision-making were reflected in the transformation, editing, or post-processing of the generated results;
- Whether supporting materials were provided that can explain the causal relationship between the generation process and the outputs;
- The interpretation and application of these regulations shall be determined by the judging panel designated by the organizers.

8.4 Securing Copyright and Licenses
- Before submitting in the Awards, entrants must lawfully secure copyright, portrait rights, and all other intellectual property rights for every element used in their submissions — including video, images, audio, and text;
- Entrants must guarantee that their creative contributions, such as prompt design, modifications, and editing, establish their substantive control and ownership of copyright (or legitimate usage rights) for the submitted work;
- Entrants are encouraged to register their works with the Korea Copyright Commission to ensure copyright protection, and may submit supporting documentation at the time of registration;
- Entrants must adhere to the usage policies and licensing agreements of any generative AI tools or services used in production, ensuring that only legally created outputs are included in their submissions;
- Works that include results derived from unlawful sources or data that may infringe upon rights will be disqualified from evaluation and screening. If an award has already been conferred, it will be rescinded and the prize money must be returned;
- Entrants must faithfully comply with requests to submit contracts or supporting documentation related to rights clearance;
- If copyright or rights infringement is suspected, the Awards organizers may request a clarification from the entrant, who must submit relevant supporting documents within seven days of the request;
- In the event of disputes arising from copyright, portrait rights, or other rights infringements related to the submitted work, all legal responsibility rests with the entrant. If the Awards organizers suffer damages as a result, the entrant must provide compensation;
- The Awards organizer is not obligated to individually verify the rights status of submitted works.

9. Selection of Works and Awards Ceremony
9.1 Evaluation Criteria
<Main Competition Section>
The judging panel will comprehensively consider artistic merit, originality, the level of AI technology utilization, and the degree of human creative contribution. Based on these criteria, approximately 18 works will be shortlisted for screening (finalists), from which 9 winning entries will be selected. The number of selected works may be adjusted depending on the overall quality and the results of the jury’s evaluation.

<Nam June Paik Special Award Section>
- The judging panel will select approximately two winning works based on a comprehensive evaluation of media experimentation, artistic continuity and innovation, the level of AI technology employed, and the extent of creative contribution. However, the final number of selected works may vary depending on the quality of submissions and the results of the evaluation;
- To protect the rights associated with the portrait and works of the late Nam June Paik, submissions under evaluation must not directly reference or incorporate them. Even if such elements emerge during the generative AI process—regardless of the creator’s intent—the judging panel reserves the discretion to exclude the work from consideration.

9.2 Judging Schedule and Announcement
- The jury will commence evaluation after the submission deadline. Notification will be given solely to those whose works are selected. If the entrant cannot be reached or fails to respond within the specified timeframe, the selection may be canceled;
- Details of the evaluation process and scoring distribution will not be made public.

9.3 Awards and Prize Money
<Medium-length Film Competition>
- 1st Place (1 work): KRW 20,000,000
- 2nd Place (1 work): KRW 10,000,000
- 3rd Place (1 work): KRW 5,000,000
- Finalists receive screening fees (included in prize for award winners)
- Approximately 18 finalists and 9 award-winning works will be selected across both mid-length and short categories

<Short Film Competition>
- 1st Place (1 work): KRW 8,000,000
- 2nd Place (2 works): KRW 5,000,000 each
- 3rd Place (3 works): KRW 2,000,000 each
- Finalists receive screening fees (included in prize for award winners)
- Approximately 18 finalists and 9 award-winning works will be selected across both mid-length and short categories

<Nam June Paik Special Award>
- 1st Place (1 work): KRW 8,000,000
- 2nd Place (1 work): KRW 3,000,000

※ In the case of team submissions, the designated representative will hold the rights to the award (including the certificate and prize money).
※ All applicable regulations, including those related to the payment of taxes on prize money, shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Korea. In the case of international recipients, tax rates may be modified based on the provisions of tax treaties between Korea and the entrant’s home country.

9.4 Withdrawal from Submission and Cancellation of Selection
- Once a work has been selected, it cannot be withdrawn from submission;
- If any information submitted at the time of entry is later found to be inaccurate or inconsistent with the facts, the judging panel may, at its discretion, revoke the work’s selection;
- If the entrant, or any party associated with the selected work, violates applicable laws or engages in conduct that seriously undermines public trust, or if the work contains elements such as political propaganda, obscenity, firearms or weapons, violence, blasphemy, defamation, slander, abuse, hate speech, or other similar content, or includes security threats such as trojans or viruses, the judging panel may, following deliberation, revoke the selection. In such cases, eligibility for the award may be nullified, and any prize money already granted may be reclaimed;
- Entrants may raise objections to the judging results or to the cancellation of a selection. Such objections must be submitted within 7 days of the announcement, either by email or through the method designated by the organizers;
- Any objections submitted will be reviewed by the Awards Secretariat and the judging panel through a reconsideration process, and the result will be communicated individually within 14 days from the date of submission. However, in cases involving serious violations — such as breaches of law, submission of false information, or clear copyright infringement — cancellation takes immediate effect regardless of any objection, and remains subject to the final decision of the Awards organizers.

10. Regulations and Guidelines for Selected Works
10.1 Submission of Selected Works
Upon selection of a work, the entrant must submit the required materials online, in accordance with the method designated by the Awards organizers, within the deadline specified by the organizers.
- Screening file and link (screening specifications will be provided upon selection);
- Basic information about the work;
- Script (English mandatory, Korean optional);
- Synopsis and creator’s biography (English mandatory, Korean optional);
- Creator’s profile photo, film stills, poster, etc,;
- Documentation of the production process.

10.2 AI Technology Verification Procedure
- During the selection process, the Awards organizers will review the application of AI technology and, if necessary, may request additional supporting materials regarding its use. Supporting materials may include: prompt input records for key scenes and segments, video recordings or screenshots documenting the creation, modification, and editing of major scenes, or layered work files showing the production process;
- Should any breach be identified during the AI technology review, or if verification cannot be confirmed, the entry may be disqualified or its award canceled. The Awards organizers do not intervene in disputes arising from these circumstances and assumes no liability regarding such outcomes.

10.3 Documents to Be Submitted for Selected Works
Entrants whose works have been selected must submit a copy of their identification card (for international entrants, a passport copy) and a copy of their bank account details within seven days of receiving the selection notice. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in cancellation of the selection.

10.4 Scope of Use of Selected Works and Materials
- Screening details may vary depending on the conditions of the venue, and will be individually communicated to the entrant;
- Materials submitted by entrants may be used as promotional assets for the Awards, including catalogs and various publicity channels (publications, websites, social media, outdoor advertisements, and other media). Submitted works and accompanying materials may also be edited for use in promotional video production;
- Works chosen for the Awards may be exhibited through cinema screenings (curated series, special programs, or event‑related showings), television transmission, OTT platforms, and special event presentations. By submitting, entrants are deemed to have agreed to such utilization. Those who do not consent may be disqualified or have their selection canceled;
- Selected entries may be used for non‑commercial screenings or promotional purposes in events hosted by Gyeonggi-do and the Gyeonggi Content Agency, and across diverse media platforms, subject to prior authorization from the copyright owner;
- Selected works may also be screened at events in collaboration with the Awards’ organizing partners;
- The Awards are authorized to use only those audiovisual works submitted directly by the copyright owner. If separate copyright attribution is required for videos, images, or texts, the entrant must clearly indicate this at the time of submission;
- For the purposes outlined above, the organizers may perform technical edits within the necessary scope, including adding subtitles, adjusting aspect ratios, and converting resolution or format;
- The Awards organizers will archive digital copies of selected works internally to preserve records of the event and maintain the identity of future editions;
- Refusal to consent to the Awards’ policy on the use of submitted materials may result in disqualification or cancellation of any award;
- All submitted materials are considered non‑returnable once the submission deadline has passed.

10.5 Screening Format Requirements
Final selected works must be resubmitted in the designated screening format.
- Video must be submitted at a minimum resolution of FHD (1920×1080), with 4K (3840×2160) resolution recommended;
- The standard frame rate is 24fps;
- Two versions of the video must be submitted: a clean version and a subtitled version, each separately encoded;
- Separate subtitle files in both Korean and English must also be provided, using standard formats such as “.srt” or “.smi.”;
- Further details will be provided by the designated coordinator following the selection process.

10.6 Screening Schedule
The date, time, and venue for the screening of selected works will be determined by the Awards organizers.

10.7 Subtitles
All selected works must include English subtitles. If the content or technical quality of the subtitles is found insufficient, restrictions may be imposed on the screening.

10.8 Korean Subtitles
For works without Korean dialogue, the Awards organizers will produce Korean subtitles for screening and operational purposes. These subtitles will be under the usage rights of the Awards organizers and will not be separately provided to the entrants.

10.9 Official Invitation for Selected Works
Works selected for screening are formally invited to the Awards event, and participants must ensure they can travel to and remain in Korea for the duration of the event.

11. Miscellaneous Provisions
11.1 General Regulations
- By completing the online submission form directly, whether as domestic distributor, agency, or producer, entrants are deemed to have fully understood and agreed to all submission regulations;
- All of the above provisions shall become effective immediately upon completion of submission, once the entrant submits (registers) the work through the platforms designated by the organizing institution—FilmFreeway and Google Forms;
- The Awards shall reserve the right to make decisions on matters not specified in these regulations, in accordance with internal judgment and operational policies;
- The Awards comply with the Personal Information Protection Act of the Republic of Korea. By participating, entrants consent to the collection and use of their personal information (such as name, contact details, email address, and affiliation) by the organizers. The collected information will be used for purposes including submission confirmation, evaluation and notification of results, and communication regarding upcoming events. Personal information of general entrants will be deleted within one year following the end of the Awards. For selected entrants, information may be stored for a maximum of three years to support performance tracking and communication about similar initiatives. In principle, such data will not be shared with third parties, but may be entrusted when required for the smooth operation of the event;
- Materials and attachments (such as works, synopses, etc.) related to non-selected entries will be destroyed within three months from the date of the announcement of results. However, a minimum amount of personal information necessary for administrative processing and record management may be retained separately, in accordance with the stated period and purpose.

11.2 Disclaimer
If the proper implementation of certain provisions of these regulations becomes difficult due to force majeure, such as natural disasters, the spread of infectious diseases, or social crises, the relevant matters may be adjusted through mutual consultation between the Awards organizers and the entrants. In such cases, the organizers shall promptly announce the circumstances and make every reasonable effort to provide appropriate alternatives so as to minimize any disadvantage to the entrants.

11.3 Dispute Resolution
- In the event of any dispute between the entrants and the organizers in connection with the Awards, both parties shall endeavor to resolve the matter amicably through mutual consultation;
- If no agreement is reached, the dispute shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Korea, and the competent court shall be the court having jurisdiction over Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, where the organizers are located.

12. Inquiries
- kcaia@gcon.or.kr