Korea AI Cinema Festival

Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival (KACF)
Official Submission Rules & Terms

Before submitting your film, please read the following Rules & Terms carefully.
By submitting a work to the Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival (KACF), the submitter fully agrees to all terms and conditions outlined below.

1. Submission Requirements

KACF accepts submissions exclusively through online screeners.
Physical media such as DVDs, USB drives, hard copies, or other offline materials will not be accepted under any circumstances.

All films not presented in English must include English subtitles.
Submissions without English subtitles may be disqualified from the screening and evaluation process.

Filmmakers may submit multiple projects.
Each project may also be entered into more than one category, provided that it meets the requirements of each selected category.

The submitter is solely responsible for ensuring that all submitted materials are complete, accurate, and accessible throughout the evaluation period.

2. Eligibility and Rights Responsibility

By submitting a work to KACF, the submitter confirms that they hold all necessary rights, permissions, and clearances required for the submission, screening, and promotional use of the work.

This includes, but is not limited to, rights related to images, video footage, music, sound, voice, scripts, performances, trademarks, copyrighted materials, and any AI-generated or AI-assisted elements included in the work.

The submitter is solely responsible for any legal claims, disputes, or liabilities arising from the submitted work.
KACF shall not be held responsible for any copyright, ownership, licensing, or rights-related issues involving submitted works.

3. Selection and Evaluation Process

All submitted films are reviewed through a fair and independent evaluation process.
Entries are assessed based on artistic quality, technical execution, creativity, originality, storytelling, and the meaningful use of artificial intelligence.

Films selected as Official Selection will be included as part of the official program of the Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival (KACF).

The KACF Organizing Committee reserves the right to refuse the selection or screening of any film that does not align with the festival’s vision, standards, values, or operational requirements.

All official communications regarding submissions, selections, screenings, and festival-related matters will be conducted via email only.

4. Official Selection and Festival Screening

If a film is selected as an Official Selection, the filmmaker will be notified individually via email.
Official Selection results may also be announced through KACF’s official social media channels, website, or other official communication platforms.

Official Selection means that the film has been chosen as an official screening work of the Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival (KACF).

Films selected as Official Selection may be screened as part of the official festival program at cinemas, theaters, screening halls, cultural venues, or similar venues designated by the KACF Organizing Committee for official festival operations.

All official screenings and main programs take place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, unless otherwise announced by the festival.

Festival screenings are organized solely for festival, cultural, and non-commercial purposes.
Such screenings do not constitute a commercial theatrical release, commercial distribution, or commercial exploitation of the work.

The screening schedule, program section, number of screenings, screening format, and venue assignment are determined at the sole discretion of the KACF Organizing Committee in accordance with festival operations and programming policies.

In cases where a film’s running time makes a full screening impractical within the festival program schedule, KACF may, while respecting the nature and integrity of the work, present the film through alternative screening formats such as a trailer, excerpt, selected footage, or program highlight.

In such cases, the film shall remain fully recognized as an Official Selection and an official screening work of the Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival (KACF).

5. Theatrical Screening Value of Official Selection

KACF places strong value on presenting AI films through real theatrical screenings.

The 2nd Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival screened a total of 110 AI films over two days at the large theater of the Seoul Cinema Center in Chungmuro, the heart of cinema in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Based on publicly confirmed screening numbers among AI film festivals in Korea, KACF presented the largest number of AI films in a theatrical setting.

This demonstrates that KACF is not limited to online submissions and selections.
For filmmakers, Official Selection at KACF means that their work may be introduced to audiences in Korea through an actual cinema screen as part of the festival’s official program.

Seeing an AI-created film projected on a large theater screen and presented to audiences as a cinematic work is a meaningful opportunity for participating directors.
KACF will continue to provide AI filmmakers with a real stage where their works can be seen, experienced, and appreciated by audiences.

6. Screening Permission

By submitting a film to KACF, the submitter grants the Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival and its Organizing Committee the right to screen the submitted work as part of the festival’s official program if the work is selected.

This screening permission applies to festival screenings, official programs, special screenings, online festival-related programs, or other non-commercial festival activities organized or approved by KACF.

The submitter understands and agrees that no screening fee, licensing fee, rental fee, or other payment will be provided by KACF for festival screenings, unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties.

7. Promotional Use

By submitting a film to KACF, the submitter grants the festival the right to use the film’s title, synopsis, director’s name, still images, poster, trailer, excerpts, and other submitted promotional materials for festival-related promotional purposes.

Such promotional use may include, but is not limited to, KACF’s official website, social media channels, press releases, program books, catalogs, posters, trailers, screening schedules, award announcements, and other festival-related materials.

KACF will use submitted promotional materials solely for festival-related promotion, publicity, documentation, and archival purposes.

8. Submission Fees and Refund Policy

Submission fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the evaluation.

If a filmmaker withdraws a submission after payment, the submission fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Incorrect category selection, missing materials, inaccessible screeners, subtitle issues, or failure to comply with submission requirements are the sole responsibility of the submitter.

KACF assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred during production, submission, translation, subtitling, file preparation, or material delivery.

9. Official Laurels and Promotional Recognition

Films selected as Official Selection may use the official KACF logo and laurels for promotional purposes.

Award-winning films may use the corresponding KACF award laurels and titles in accordance with the official results announced by the festival.

Any misuse, modification, or false representation of KACF laurels, awards, or official selection status is strictly prohibited.

10. Awards Structure

Each competition category will present a Gold Award.

Among all Gold Award recipients, one film will be selected to receive the festival’s highest honor:

KACF Best Picture of the Year

The Best Picture of the Year represents the official top film of KACF for that edition.

The festival reserves the right to adjust, add, combine, or withhold awards depending on the number, quality, and eligibility of submissions.

11. Communication Policy

To ensure fair and efficient festival operations, KACF limits communication by phone.

All inquiries, announcements, notifications, and official notices will be handled exclusively via email.

Filmmakers are responsible for providing a valid email address and checking their email regularly, including spam or junk folders.

KACF is not responsible for missed communications due to incorrect email addresses, email filtering, or failure to check email messages.

12. Festival Schedule

The Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival (KACF) is held once per year.

The official schedule, screening program, award announcements, and detailed festival information will be announced through KACF’s official social media channels, website, or other official communication platforms once confirmed.

All dates, venues, programs, and schedules are subject to change depending on festival operations, venue circumstances, or other unavoidable factors.

13. Amendments to the Rules

KACF reserves the right to modify, update, or amend these Rules & Terms without prior notice.

Any revised rules take effect immediately upon publication through the festival’s official platform or submission page.

Filmmakers are responsible for reviewing the most current version of the Rules & Terms before submitting their works.

14. Final Agreement

By submitting a work to the Korea Artificial Intelligence Cinema Festival (KACF), the submitter acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to all Rules & Terms stated above.

Submission to KACF constitutes full acceptance of these Rules & Terms.