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ON3FILMS · SEASON 1 · GLOBAL CALL
BUILD THE
FUTURE.One film can spark a movement.
What future are we building?
Imagine humanity at its best. Show us a future worth building, and the human choice that makes it possible.
Submissions are open. Submit by 15 October 2026, 23:59 Bangkok time.
Film submission timing
60 SEC-3 MINOriginal short film$3,000Guaranteed awards15 OCT 202623:59 BangkokGLOBALOpen call
01 / THE SEASON 1 CREATIVE BRIEF
The future begins
with a choice.
We know the world we have. We can feel the signal of something better. ON3FILMS invites creators to cross that threshold and show us what comes next.
Build the Future is a call to propose a future worth living in. Technology and AI may transform the world of your film. Human possibility is its protagonist.
HumanityCourageImaginationStoryCraft
Let a new possibility break through.
Follow someone brave enough to act.
THE WORLDS AHEAD / YOURS TO IMAGINE
AFTER THE THRESHOLD
Show us a world
we want to help build.
01 / BELONGINGA city where no one is left outside.
What changed when people chose to include everyone?
02 / REPAIRA planet given room to heal.
What breakthrough became possible when care led?
03 / POSSIBILITYA life opened by a new idea.
Who had the courage to begin?
These are starting points, not categories. Your future can look entirely different. Give us a person to follow and a reason to believe.
Watch the creative reference ↗
THE HUMAN MOMENTEvery future begins
Every future begins
with someone.
One person notices. One person chooses. Others join. Make us feel the moment your world begins to change.
Tell that story →02 / PRIZE & AWARDS
Great stories.
Meaningful rewards.
The guaranteed Season 1 base pool is USD 3,000. Any future partner-supported awards will be announced separately and will not reduce these four awards.
Grand Prize
$1,500The jury's strongest film across story, direction, and craft.
Best Story
$750For the film with the clearest voice and emotional impact.
Best AI Craft
$500For purposeful, transparent, and well-directed use of AI.
Audience Choice
$250Chosen separately by the public from the Season 1 finalists.
03 / HOW IT WORKS
From possibility
to premiere.
Eight clear steps. One original film. Your ownership stays with you throughout.
- 01
Read the brief
Explore Build the Future. Choose the future your film proposes, the change that made it possible, and the person who begins.
- 02
Create
Direct an original AI-powered short film between 60 seconds and 3 minutes that gives the audience a reason to care.
- 03
Use AI meaningfully
AI can support the production, but your story, direction, edit, and judgment lead.
- 04
Disclose your workflow
Tell us which tools you used and how they contributed to the finished film.
Check the entry requirements → - 05
Submit
Send your film and supporting details before 15 October, 23:59 Bangkok time.
- 06
Eligibility review
We check duration, access, rights, disclosures, and entry requirements.
- 07
Jury & finalists
The independent jury scores eligible films; Audience Choice runs separately.
- 08
Winners
The awards date will be announced after submissions close; winners are celebrated and the films remain part of the ON3FILMS archive.
04 / WHAT WE MEAN BY AI FILMMAKING
AI can change the stack.
You still direct the film.
AI may support visual generation, animation, VFX, voice, sound, previsualization, or other production steps. The entrant remains responsible for the concept, direction, edit, permissions, and honest disclosure of the workflow.
- Use generative tools meaningfully—not decoratively.
- Keep records of tools, source material, and human decisions.
- Secure rights for music, voices, likenesses, footage, and collaborators.
- Put the story before the spectacle.
05 / CONFIRMED JURY
Creative judgment.
Independent outcome.
Meet the four confirmed Season 1 judges. Sponsors cannot influence the Grand Prize or any core jury award.
Meet the jury and read the jury philosophy →
announced.More creative perspectives coming soon
announced.More creative perspectives coming soon
06 / AI FILM JUDGING CRITERIA
Story leads
the score.
The core jury uses a transparent 100-point rubric. Audience Choice is a separate public award and does not alter the jury result.
Story & emotional impact
Clarity, meaning, structure, and what stays with the audience.
Originality & voice
A distinctive point of view rather than a familiar visual exercise.
Execution & craft
Direction, edit, image, sound, performance, and overall finish.
AI integration & transparency
Meaningful use of generative tools with an honest workflow disclosure.
Rights & technical
Eligibility, permissions, delivery requirements, and responsible production.
JURY INDEPENDENCE
Judges disclose conflicts. Sponsors may support the property, but they do not control core eligibility, scoring, or winners.
07 / SEASON 1 TIMELINE
One season.
Every date clear.
All deadlines use Bangkok time (ICT / UTC+7). The optional Demo Day is not confirmed unless separately funded and announced.
Submit your film
The submission form is live. Send your film and supporting details today.
Submissions close
23:59 Bangkok time (ICT / UTC+7). Late entries cannot be accepted.
Eligibility & jury
Entries are screened, verified, and evaluated by the independent jury.
Finalists & audience choice
Finalists are revealed and public voting opens for Audience Choice.
Winners revealed
Season 1 awards and winning creator stories are announced.
Optional Demo Day
Only if separately funded and formally announced.
08 / CREATOR RESOURCES
Build the world.
Show the thinking.
Start with the future you want the audience to believe in, then make the creative decisions that bring it to life.
Begin with the human choice
Ask what future is worth building, what made it possible, and who had the courage to begin.
Build a transparent workflow
Keep notes on prompts, iterations, human decisions, source material, and final editorial choices.
Clear every creative ingredient
Confirm permissions for music, voices, likenesses, footage, images, collaborators, and third-party tools.
Use the stack with purpose
Choose tools because they solve a production problem—not because they can generate the loudest frame.
09 / BUILD IN PUBLIC
The work starts
before the premiere.
During Season 1, opted-in creators may share story intentions, process notes, and workflow diaries. Participation creates no jury preference; it simply helps audiences understand how new filmmaking practice is evolving.
Volunteer for a creator diary ↗10 / PARTNERS
HOSTED & OWNED BY
Partnership means action,
not permission to place a logo.
Confirmed partners are recognized for what they contribute. AION3 remains visibly above every commercial and ecosystem lane.
Presenting Partner
The single largest sponsor position after AION3, with lead billing, the largest partner logo, an agreed category lane, and launch-to-awards integration.
Major Partners
A limited second tier for award, technology, production, or media partners delivering a substantial creator benefit or campaign activation.
Supporting Partners
The broadest tier and main logo field for tools, education, community, media, credits, access, hardware, services, and distribution support.
CONFIRMED SUPPORTING PARTNERS
DTC Group
Connecting The Dots
Visualize Media Innovation
DTC GroupConnecting The DotsVisualize Media Innovation
11 / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Know before
you submit.
Read every entrant question →What is the Season 1 theme?+
Build the Future. Show a future worth living in, the breakthrough or human choice that made it possible, and the person who had the courage to begin. This creative brief guides the story; the published judging rubric and eligibility rules remain the same.
Who can enter?+
Season 1 is open worldwide to individuals and teams. Entrants must be 18 or older, or participate with verified consent from a parent or legal guardian where permitted by law.
What counts as AI filmmaking?+
Generative AI must make a meaningful contribution to one or more production steps, such as visual development, animation, VFX, voice, sound, or previsualization. The entrant remains responsible for the concept, direction, edit, rights, and disclosure.
Can the film include live action?+
Yes. Live action, animation, hybrid work, and fully generated approaches are welcome as long as the film is original, rights-cleared, and AI plays a meaningful disclosed role.
What language can I use?+
Films may use any language. English subtitles are strongly recommended for dialogue that is not in English so the international jury and audience can follow the story.
Who owns my film?+
You do. Entrants retain ownership. ON3FILMS receives only the limited, non-exclusive rights needed to administer, screen, archive, and promote the competition. Any separate commercial use requires a new agreement.
One film can spark a movement.