iQiyi has launched a global competition inviting content creators to explore the integration of artificial intelligence into short-form storytelling. Titled “Beyond Tools, Toward Teammates,” the initiative challenges participants to use designated generative models to produce films in which at least 70% of the content is AI-generated.
Participants can choose between Google’s Veo 3 and Volcano Engine’s Seedance 1.0 Pro, with both tools made available for free through partnerships with Google and ByteDance. Submissions are open until September 30, with finalists to be announced in mid-October and winners in November 2025.
Films submitted must run under five minutes and will be judged on creativity, technical application, artistic execution, and thematic clarity. The selection process involves a preliminary review by iQiyi’s content operations team, followed by evaluation from a panel of academic and industry experts. The company has not yet disclosed the final list of judges.
The top prize is USD 3,000, with additional awards recognizing narrative strength and creative use of AI. Selected entries will also be featured on iQiyi’s international platforms.
In a statement, Liu Wenfeng, president of iQiyi’s infrastructure and intelligent content distribution business group, said the competition is “aimed at empowering creativity through technology and reshaping industries through innovation.”
The short film initiative builds on iQiyi’s broader efforts to embed AI into production workflows. In 2019, it introduced ZoomAI, a deep learning tool that restores and enhances archival footage to high resolution. According to the company, ZoomAI has significantly improved video processing efficiency and contributed to renewed viewership for classic titles.
Another proprietary tool, iQDubbing, has been in use since January 2021. It enables a single voice actor to dub multiple characters in different languages using AI-generated voice synthesis, streamlining post-production and reducing localization costs.
Both ZoomAI and iQDubbing predate the release of ChatGPT in 2022, which is widely regarded as the start of the current AI era, highlighting iQiyi’s early recognition of AI’s potential in creative production.
As generative AI gains traction across industries, iQiyi’s initiatives illustrate how such tools might reshape creative work. The company’s latest competition offers a public view into these developments, inviting creators worldwide to experiment with new forms of storytelling built in collaboration with machines.