Hyperphantasia Edition to Feature AI Innovations
Director Alex Proyas will serve as a lead judge at the OMNI International AI Film Festival’s Hyperphantasia edition, set to premiere in Sydney in July 2026. This edition follows screenings in China, Japan, India, and the United States. The festival challenges filmmakers to create works with 90% AI-generated visual content, inspired by hyperphantasia, a condition known for producing exceptionally vivid mental imagery.
Proyas, renowned for his work on films like ‘I, Robot’, is expected to bring his expertise in technology and storytelling to the judging panel. His involvement highlights the festival’s focus on the intersection of human imagination and artificial intelligence. The festival, presented by Envato, a Shutterstock subsidiary, aims to advance the cultural conversation around AI cinema.
Global Submissions and New Awards
Filmmakers worldwide are invited to submit AI-generated films between one minute and four hours in length by 9th June 2026. The festival anticipates over 8,000 entries, with cash prizes offered for categories like Best Picture, Best Visuals, Best Score, Best Script, and the new OMNI Golden and Silver AI Performance awards. These awards are the first of their kind to recognise outstanding AI performances.
Travis Rice, Founder of OMNI International AI Film Festival, expressed, “Hyperphantasia is a challenge as much as it is a theme. We are asking creators to work at the edge of what they can imagine and then go further. The films that rise to the top will change how people think, and how these creators are working with emerging tools to create a new form of cinema.”
Since its founding in 2024, the OMNI International AI Film Festival has built a global community of storytellers experimenting with generative imagery. Previous jury members have included Disney animator Yan Chen. George Miller, known for directing ‘Mad Max’, participated in the previous edition.
The festival’s theme, inspired by hyperphantasia, challenges creators to push the boundaries of imagination and generative filmmaking. More information on submissions and details about the festival can be found on the official website of OMNI International AI Film Festival.
