Baidu AI Film Hackathon: Creator-Led Innovation Shines

Sanya, China – Ten creative teams recently participated in a "72-hour AI Micro-film Hackathon" in Sanya, part of the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival's inaugural "AI Film Season." The event challenged participants to produce two AI micro-films within 24 and 36 hours, respectively.

Baidu APP served as the exclusive registration channel for the hackathon, attracting 105 teams globally in under two weeks. This response highlights Baidu's efforts in cultivating an AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) ecosystem. Among the 10 teams selected for the on-site creation phase, several had previously won awards in AI competitions, including Liu Zichang, a gold medalist from the first Baidu AIGC Future Creation League.

Hackathon Structure and Outcomes

The hackathon was structured in two rounds. The initial 24-hour competition required teams to create a film based on three keywords: "refrigerator, messenger, Action." Following an 8-hour break, the top four teams merged with selected teams from the bottom six, while the remaining two formed an alliance. These five new four-person teams then competed in a 36-hour final round centered on the theme of "World Cup."

At the "AI Film Season" closing ceremony on December 11, the "Public Funded Moon Trip" team won the Hackathon Jury's Choice with their work, "WORLD CUP 2026." Other teams, including Z1 Soul Sheep, KDHD, and Pink A, received the Hot AI Pioneer Award for their films "Letter from Earth," "Champion," and "The Best Time," respectively. Participants described the experience as mentally and physically demanding, yet also valued the collaborative environment.

Award-Winning Works

"World Cup 2026" adopted a mockumentary style, portraying an absurd reality where FIFA develops an AIGC game after splitting with EA. The film depicted game characters exhibiting human-like behaviors and emotions, such as players vomiting on the field or expressing frustration when the game is paused. A key moment involved characters like Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Baggio finding catharsis through the game, reliving past glories or overcoming regrets. The film concluded with a humorous twist: two Chinese boys playing the game, with China leading Brazil 2-1, prompting a character to question the game's "realism." The team behind "World Cup 2026" integrated various visual styles, including news broadcasts, interviews, and game footage, demonstrating strong narrative and technical execution within the 36-hour timeframe.

Team members indicated that they revised their script with 24 hours remaining, aiming for a universally resonant theme rather than one appealing only to hardcore football fans. They explored the idea of using games to compensate for real-life regrets. The film’s game footage, intentionally rendered with a lower-quality, PS3-era aesthetic, created a visual distinction between the "game/nostalgia" and "reality/physics" narrative spaces.

In contrast, "The Best Time" by the "Pink A" team presented a World Cup narrative in the style of a Taiwanese New Wave film, focusing on themes of regret and normalcy, where dreams do not always materialize. The "Z1 Soul Sheep" team's "Letter from Earth" took a more abstract approach, elevating football imagery to represent human civilization, using symbolic montages to connect a football to the Voyager 1 Golden Record.

The Future of AI Creation

The hackathon aimed to demonstrate that while AI technology advances rapidly, human storytellers remain essential. Fan Jinshuai, Head of Baidu Hotspot Operations Department and Baijiahao Content Operations Department, stated at the closing ceremony that AI can enhance creation, but the core of creativity is irreplaceable.

Baidu APP is developing a comprehensive support system for creators, offering technical guidance, traffic support, and monetization opportunities. Over the past year, new AIGC content within the Baidu APP ecosystem has increased by 194% year-on-year. In August, Baidu APP launched the "AI Galaxy Program" for AIGC video creators, committing significant traffic resources and cash subsidies.

The second season of the Baidu AIGC Future Creation League has expanded its scope. It partnered with the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival to showcase works and opened access to intellectual property, including award-winning novels from the Cixin Liu-co-founded Cold Lake Science Fiction Literature Award and Qi Baishi's art. In the "AI × Sci-Fi" track, creators used AI to build on existing novel IPs. For the "AI × National Style" track, Baidu APP collaborated with the Beijing Academy of Painting, authorizing 50 of Qi Baishi's masterpieces for creators to develop new IPs.

Baidu APP has also established the "Golden Comic Award" for AI comics and short dramas. It has authorized secondary creation for S-level IPs like "Tomb Raider" and partnered with the Communication University of China (AI Origin Academy) to produce "Fengshen: Daji's Dual Souls," a 30-episode AI-produced comic drama scheduled for the 2026 Spring Festival.

Baidu APP aims to bridge the gap between content creation and commercial monetization through initiatives like "Baidu Commercial AIGC Preferred Star," connecting creators with brand demands. According to information reviewed by toolmesh.ai, this ongoing effort seeks to foster a sustainable ecosystem where creators can achieve financial viability.