MEGA 2026 honours young creators exploring new forms of storytelling

From a supernatural reimagining of the late-Tang poet Yu Xuanji to an immersive interpretation of Hermann Hesse’s “Demian”, winning works at the 6th Media, Exhibition, Graphics, and Arts (MEGA) International Creative Media Festival show how emerging creators are combining cultural narratives with AI, virtual production, and spatial media to explore identity and self-discovery.

Hosted by the Academy of Film and Creative Technology (AFCT) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), MEGA is an annual international festival that connects young creators, universities, and industry organisations through awards, exhibitions, and industry exchange across film, AI, digital art, and immersive media.

A record of 2,014 submissions from 10 countries and regions, representing 189 universities and organisations, were received by this year’s MEGA – a 45.5% increase on the previous year. Nearly one-third of the student entries, 473 out of 1,479 works, were submitted to the AI and immersive media categories.

A dedicated immersive media category was introduced this year, following the opening of XJTLU’s Dome Immersive Cinema. Premiered in 2025, the 338.8-square-metre LED is the world’s first fully integrated dome cinema facility at a university.

“The Tale of the Peony” by Yuqing Liu from the University of Hong Kong won Best AI Short Film. Inspired by Yu Xuanji, a poet of the late Tang dynasty, the film reimagines her story using Chinese supernatural tales.
The team used AI to generate keyframe animation for a visual world inspired by the texture of traditional Chinese rice paper. They then manually selected and refined the keyframes in post-production.

“We did not want to treat AI simply as a tool for reducing costs or improving efficiency,” Liu said. “We wanted to use it as a new medium and explore its visual and artistic potential. The script, visual direction, and aesthetic decisions always remained in the hands of the creators.”

The Tale of the Peony

Siyi Zhang from Beijing Film Academy, China, received the Best Immersive Media Short Film Director award for “Demian”. Based on Hermann Hesse’s novel with the same title, the film follows Sinclair’s journey towards self-realisation under the guidance of the mysterious Demian.

Presented as an experimental short film, “Demian” is a narrative-led immersive stage installation that combines projection mapping, AI-generated visuals, LED virtual production, and an interactive set constructed from elastic bands.

“What distinguishes immersive expression is its sense of presence,” Zhang said. “We wanted the images and sound to create a surrounding experience that would draw viewers more deeply into the character’s emotions. MEGA’s recognition has also given us greater confidence to continue exploring this direction.”

Demian

The winners were announced on 29 September 2026 at the Suzhou International Expo Centre, where MEGA made its debut as a part of the 15th Suzhou Cultural and Creative Design Industry Trade Expo. The exhibition, running until 2 October 2026, brings selected winning works and AFCT student projects to members of the public and industry professionals.

“Today’s creative ecosystem is no longer a monologue confined to a single discipline, medium or culture, but a symphony across fields, media and cultures,” said Professor Qian Liu, Dean of AFCT.

Professor Liu added that MEGA’s aim is to evolve from an annual festival into a year-round creative ecosystem that connects universities, young creators, and industry partners, helping more creative work move beyond campus and strengthening Suzhou’s links with global creative networks.

Professor Liu

By Wenzhen Li
Edited by Vionna Fiducia Theja