24 Jul 2026
The call for submissions for the sixth MEGA International Creative Media Festival has concluded. Open to creators in China and overseas from 1 April to 30 June 2026, this year’s festival received 2,014 submissions from 10 countries and regions.
The figure represents a 45.5% increase from the 1,384 submissions received for the fifth edition and marks the first time that the total has exceeded 2,000.
Organised by the Academy of Film and Creative Technology at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, MEGA is an annual international platform that connects young creators, universities, educational institutions, and industry organisations.
Focusing on film and television production, artificial intelligence, digital art, and immersive media, the festival provides opportunities for young creators to showcase their work, exchange professional knowledge, and connect with industry resources through competitions, screenings, professional exchanges, and industry engagement.
Student Category receives 1,479 submissions as emerging formats gain momentum
This year’s call for submissions featured a Student Category and a Professional Category.
The Student Category received 1,479 entries, comprising 1,006 film and television works, 377 AI works and 96 immersive media works. Following the completion of the Academy’s Dome Immersive Cinema, MEGA introduced the Immersive Media category for the first time this year, expanding the range of formats included in the competition and providing a platform for works created for dome-based and other immersive environments. AI and immersive media submissions accounted for nearly one-third of the Student Category, reflecting how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual production and immersive media are expanding the creative approaches and possibilities available to young creators.
The Professional Category received 535 submissions from film, television, cultural and technology organisations, including Sichuan Yuanheng Lizhen Film and Television Culture Media Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Twilight Film and Television Innovation Co., Ltd., and Hubei Red Star Media.
189 institutions participate from 10 countries and regions
The sixth MEGA attracted submissions from 189 universities and educational institutions across the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions of China, as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
A total of 165 participating institutions were from the Chinese mainland. These included comprehensive universities such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University and Tongji University, as well as specialist institutions in film, media and the arts, including Communication University of China, China Academy of Art, Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, Shanghai Theatre Academy and Shanghai Vancouver Film School.
Participating institutions from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions of China included the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Commercial Vocational High School, and Chihlee University of Technology.
Participating institutions from other countries included New York University Tisch School of the Arts, the American Film Institute, the London Film School, University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins, the University of St Andrews, the University of Sydney, Musashino Art University, Chung-Ang University, Hanyang University and LASALLE College of the Arts.
The participation of comprehensive universities, specialist film and arts institutions, international creative education providers and industry organisations reflects MEGA’s continued appeal across youth creativity, creative education and the cultural and technology sectors.
The 5th MEGA Event
Judging begins, with shortlisted entries to be announced
The sixth MEGA International Creative Media Festival has now entered the judging stage. The organisers will conduct a professional assessment of the submissions in accordance with the criteria established for each category and discipline.
The shortlist and details of subsequent festival activities will be announced following the completion of the judging process.
By Wenzhen Li
24 Jul 2026