Beyond Vision 2026: A Creators & Content Accelerator with a $100,000 Award Pool

Beyond a screening: develop the people and the production

Updated October 15, 2026. This article now reflects the current BVAIFF programme and Beyond Vision page, replacing the earlier festival-only description and award information.

Beyond Vision is a Creators & Content Accelerator: a creative and storytelling programme for content creators, AI talent, filmmakers, directors, independent studios, VFX studios, film production companies, performers and multidisciplinary production teams.

The ambition is broader than collecting finished clips. It is to help creative people develop a concept, demonstrate a viable production approach and bring a selected project through a staged production process. Human storytelling, performance, direction and craft remain central, with AI used as part of the production pipeline.

The programme combines concept submissions, curator evaluation, conditional technical support and a published $100,000 USD total award pool. Participation is not an automatic promise of funding, a studio contract, employment or guaranteed distribution.

Who the accelerator is for

You do not have to approach Beyond Vision as a solo filmmaker. The programme welcomes different creative disciplines and team structures:

• Content creators and AI talent developing distinctive visual stories, shorts, brand work or repeatable creative formats.
• Directors, writers and producers with a narrative, treatment, screenplay or production concept.
• Independent studios and film production companies assembling human performance, practical production and generative techniques.
• VFX studios and post-production teams integrating AI-assisted effects, virtual environments, compositing or other production craft.
• Actors, performers, animators, editors and other specialists contributing within a project team.
• Agencies and commercial-content teams developing eligible advertising or campaign work.

Individuals, teams and eligible legal entities can participate globally, subject to the published eligibility rules. Participants must be at least 18 or the applicable age of majority. Restricted-jurisdiction and organizer-related exclusions apply.

A team must appoint an authorized Team Captain. Under the participation rules, a selected team's award is allocated to that representative; the team is responsible for its own internal award distribution, contributor agreements and credits.

Four award categories, different creative disciplines

The current programme uses four main categories. Applicants choose a category and a corresponding subcategory in the submission form.

Grand Prize category: Best Concept & Films

This category is for more developed film and concept-led work. The published category guidance requires an original screenplay, at least 20% AI-generated content, and at least one real human actor, described by the programme as a “Human Anchor.”

That requirement puts performance and authorship inside the production—not outside it. Generative visuals should support the story, rather than replace the need for coherent direction and a purposeful creative contribution.

Best AI Short

Short-form storytelling, experimentation and other eligible short works belong here. The current minimum AI-generated proportion is 50%. Select the appropriate subcategory and show how the creative decisions serve the work.

Best AI VFX

This category focuses on effects and generative techniques integrated into production, including live action. Behind-the-scenes workflow documentation is required by the category card, making process and integration part of the submission.

For a VFX studio or production team, the opportunity is to demonstrate more than a striking final frame: explain the problem, the contribution and how the result was achieved.

Best Commercials

Commercial work has its own category, with a current minimum of 75% AI-generated content. Eligible work should respect the applicable brand, product, performer, music and other third-party rights.

Do not assume that a reference to a real brand, a familiar face or a recognizable soundtrack is cleared for advertising use.

Current subcategories

• BEST CONCEPT & FILMS: Narrative Film; Documentary; Animation; Experimental Film; Series / Pilot Concept.
• BEST AI SHORT: Narrative Short; Documentary Short; Animated Short; Experimental Short; Music Video.
• BEST AI VFX: Live-Action Integration; Virtual Environments; Character & Creature Effects; Compositing & Cleanup; Motion Graphics.
• BEST COMMERCIALS: Brand Film; Product Advertisement; Social / Vertical Campaign; Fashion & Beauty; Public Service Announcement; Entertainment Promo.

Runtime, resolution, aspect ratio and delivery requirements vary by category and format. The programme FAQ currently requires content to be produced using the VeyoLabs Studio platform. Check the category guidance and official participation rules, and confirm any unclear format-specific requirement with the organizer before production.

The $100,000 award pool—what it actually includes

The published pool contains $48,500 in gross cash and $51,500 in non-cash credits and tools. It is not $100,000 entirely in cash.

Grand Prize — Best Concept & Films — $50,000

$25,000 gross cash + $25,000 credits & tools.

Best AI Short — $20,000

$10,000 gross cash + $10,000 credits & tools.

Best AI VFX — $15,000

$7,500 gross cash + $7,500 credits & tools.

Best Commercials — $12,000

$6,000 gross cash + $6,000 credits & tools.

Six additional finalist allocations

Six additional finalists ranked 5th–10th overall receive Studio Access and $500 in production credits each ($3,000 combined). This is one overall finalist allocation, not six awards per category. Studio Access is an additional unpriced benefit.

These finalist allocations are already included in the $100,000 total, not added on top.

One main award package is allocated to one winning project in each category. Selection slots are shortlisted projects, not additional full-prize winners. The six finalist awards go to distinct projects other than the four main award winners.

This distinction matters: a category's advertised selection slots are a shortlist, not a promise that each selected project receives the entire category award package.

All cash figures are gross. Payment to a legal entity requires a valid invoice; applicable tax withholding may apply to individuals. Credits and tools are non-cash allocations, with no cash redemption. Unpriced Studio Access must not be added to the monetary value of the pool.

A production-first, stage-gate process

The programme terms describe four phases:

1. Concept submission. Submit the proposal. No credits are awarded simply for entering.
2. Initial technical allocation. Selected projects may receive limited Stage 1 credits specifically to produce the first 30% of the project as a proof of concept.
3. Greenlight review. The proof of concept is evaluated. If approved, the creator receives the Stage 2 allocation described by the programme as the full production budget. If rejected, the co-production ceases.
4. Final delivery. Complete and submit the final work in accordance with the agreed scope and applicable programme requirements.

Technical production allocations and the final award pool are different concepts. An application, a shortlist place or an initial allocation should not be described as a final award or an unconditional production commitment.

Selection is made by a Curator Evaluation Committee on storytelling quality, visual aesthetics, technical fidelity and creative use of AI. It is merit-based, not random selection.

Current submission windows

The programme FAQ lists two windows:

• Window I: March 20, 2026–November 15, 2026.
• Window II: December 1, 2026–March 20, 2027.

Check the programme page for the current status and any official changes before submitting. Submitted materials cannot be edited after the applicable deadline.

No purchase or payment is required to participate or be selected. A paid plan or Pro subscription is not a condition of entry.

Co-production, rights and responsibilities

Beyond Vision's programme-specific terms describe a co-production arrangement in which the creator contributes creative capital and the organizer contributes technical capital.

The published terms set out an 80% creator / 20% organizer ownership and commercial-revenue split, alongside promotional-use provisions. These are material programme terms to read before accepting—not a universal rule for everything someone creates on VeyoLabs.

Review the official participation agreement, including the scope of rights, promotional licenses, technical-budget restrictions, delivery obligations and team authority. This article is an overview and does not replace that agreement.

Applicants must have the necessary rights and permissions for their contributions, including music, scripts, footage, brands, performances, likenesses and voices where relevant. Keep source records and releases available.

A prompt history, export archive or production certificate can document parts of a workflow. It does not itself establish copyright ownership, performer consent, legal clearance or insurance coverage.

How to prepare and submit

1. Choose the category and subcategory that fit the project.
2. Develop a clear concept and logline. Explain what the story or commercial idea is, who it is for and what makes the approach distinctive.
3. Identify the creative contributors. For teams, agree the authorized captain, responsibilities, credits and internal arrangements.
4. Prepare the supporting links. The current form includes portfolio or screener material, a script or treatment link, team credits and project information.
5. Check the production and rights requirements. Confirm the applicable technical specifications, human-performance requirements, AI proportion and permissions.
6. Read the programme terms and submit through the official form. Wait for the organizer's evaluation and next-stage instructions rather than assuming an automatic allocation.

Open the BVAIFF submission form, review the programme rules, or contact VeyoLabs for clarification.

For creators, studios and production teams—not only finished films

Beyond Vision is a route for creative people and teams to propose, develop and demonstrate work: a filmmaker with a screenplay, an AI creator with a short, a VFX studio with an integrated production approach, or a commercial-content team with an original campaign.

The strongest starting point is a clear creative intention, a credible production approach and a team that understands its responsibilities. The tools matter—but the people, story and decisions are what give the work a reason to exist.