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HKUST 2nd AI Film Festival Concludes Successfully Showcasing Global Excellence in AI Creativity
Visionary Dialogues on AI Filmmaking Inspire Next Generation of Creative Talent
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has successfully concluded its 2nd AI Film Festival (AIFF), held recently at the Shaw Auditorium. As one of the key events celebrating HKUST’s 35th anniversary, the two-day Festival brought together industry leaders, filmmakers, scholars, students, and members of the public to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining cinematic creativity and production.
This year’s AIFF saw an overwhelming global response, with over 1,300 submissions—almost double that of last year—from nearly 80 countries and regions. Following a rigorous evaluation by an international jury, a number of outstanding works were recognized across key award categories*. The Best Film Award was presented to The Afterlife of Aphrodite by Gabriela Cardona WALTHER, a Mexican filmmaker whose work seamlessly blends personal memory and mythology to explore themes of identity, femininity, and transformation. The Best Debut AI Film Award went to NeoNature by Javier Gracia ALCAINE, a Spanish AI content creator who captures the beauty of natural world through cinematic, ultra-realistic wildlife documentaries with immersive storytelling.
In addition to these remarkable overseas works, local talent also shone at this year’s Festival. Hong Kong-based AI filmmaker KA TAM earned the Best Technical Innovation Award for Project J, a sci-fi action piece that demonstrates the pioneering use of AI in crafting a dystopian narrative set in a technologically controlled future. The Best Human AI Collaboration Award was presented to Ash Boat by OUYANG Mengke, a postgraduate student from HKUST’s Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC). Her evocative short film explores the complexities of human grief, memory, and emotion through the story of a teenage girl assigned an AI guardian in a near-future society.
The Festival was graced by distinguished guests, including Ms. Edith SHIH, Vice Chairperson of the HKUST Council; Mr. Kevin WANG Xikai, Station Chief of the Hong Kong Reporter Station, National Radio and Television Administration; Prof. QU Huamin, Dean of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) at HKUST; Prof. FU Hongbo, Acting head of AMC at HKUST, as well as other academic and industry representatives. Acclaimed local film director Mr. Stanley TONG also delivered a keynote speech, sharing insights into how AI offers new opportunities for Chinese film development by reducing trial‑and‑error costs and accelerating visual innovation, while underscoring that storytelling, human emotion, and cultural depth remain the irreplaceable core of filmmaking.
Alongside the screenings of shortlisted films, the Festival featured three thematic panels examining key issues in AI filmmaking. The panel titled “Future · AI Film · Production Technology” featuring Prof. RAO Anyi, Assistant Professor of AMC; Mr. Feynman LI, General Manager of the AI Content Creative Department at Tencent Online Video; Ms. Eddy CHEN, Chinese AI artist; as well as other industry representatives, addressed both the opportunities and challenges in areas such as creative control, visual consistency, and production efficiency, while also discussing how AI is accelerating content creation and empowering smaller creative teams.
Building on this discussion, the panel titled “Reshaping Light and Shadow: Film Aesthetics and Authorship in the AI Era,” featuring local film director and HKUST alumnus Mr. KA Sing-Fung; local film producer Ms. TO Chi-Long; Korean film director Prof. Chul HEO; and other academic representatives, explored how AI is reshaping cinematic aesthetics and authorship, highlighting the importance of integrating tools, performance, and storytelling while preserving creative originality. Another panel titled “Cultural Memories and Digital Heritage,” featuring Dr. Vennes CHENG, Lecturer of AMC; Mr. HO Rui-An, Singaporean artist and writer; and other experts, examined how AI can reconstruct and reinterpret historical materials while emphasizing ethical considerations in balancing preservation, interpretation, and authenticity.
Beyond the screenings and discussions, this year’s Festival introduced an exhibition gallery showcasing AI film materials and selected student projects from AMC in an immersive, installation-based format, featuring works such as interactive robotic arms and a facial-capture device. To further enhance real-world impact, AIFF also strengthened its industry engagement through strategic collaborations with leading AI enterprises, including Tencent, Kling, TapNow, and MiniMax, effectively bridging academic innovation with professional AI filmmaking practices.
As part of its commitment to nurturing future talent, HKUST further enriched its educational outreach for this year’s AIFF. A series of workshops and a 36-hour AI film hackathon for secondary school students were introduced in March to deepen their understanding of AI generated content and to empower the next generation of innovators. The winning student work premiered during the Festival’s opening screening, reinforcing the event’s role as a platform where education, industry, and creative practice meaningfully converge.
Prof. Qu Huamin, Dean of AIS at HKUST, said, “The HKUST AIFF is more than a celebration of digital creativity; it also bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world practice, driving the development of art and technology in academia and industry. This flagship initiative demonstrates AIS’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation and social impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, while nurturing versatile talent in our rapidly evolving world.”
Prof. Fu Hongbo, Acting Head of AMC at HKUST, expressed his gratitude for the contributions of AMC student teams who were actively involved in planning and organizing the AIFF. “At HKUST, we see AI film as a unique meeting point where creators, researchers, industry partners, and students unite to explore new possibilities in storytelling. This year’s AIFF continues to grow not only in scale but also in ambition. Through these efforts, we hope to foster a sustainable and dynamic ecosystem for AI‑driven creative practice.”
Having established Hong Kong’s first Division of Arts and Machine Creativity in 2024, HKUST continues to demonstrate its dedication to promoting AI integration in the creative industries and advancing art tech education and research through AIFF.
*The full list of awardees, together with their winning works, is available here.
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Through DaaS, enterprise customers can access drone equipment, trained personnel, mission execution, data collection and project deliverables without purchasing and maintaining a complete in-house drone system. The model extends ZenaTech’s business beyond equipment sales and enables the company to generate recurring service revenue from customers’ operational requirements.
ZenaTech reported revenue of CAD 8.4 million for the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 640% from CAD 1.13 million in the same period of 2025. DaaS contributed approximately CAD 7.8 million, accounting for around 93% of quarterly revenue.
In 2025, the company generated annual revenue of CAD 12.9 million, up 558% from approximately CAD 2 million in 2024. DaaS contributed approximately CAD 10.1 million during its first full year of operations, representing around 78% of total annual revenue.
Acquisitions Support Service Network Expansion
ZenaTech has expanded its DaaS operations through a combination of internal technology development and acquisitions. The acquired businesses bring existing customers, professional teams and local operating capabilities, while ZenaTech gradually introduces drones, automated data collection and AI-supported analytics into selected workflows.
In 2025, the company completed 20 acquisitions, including 19 businesses providing engineering data, facility inspection and related professional services, as well as one enterprise software company.
By June 2026, ZenaTech had completed its 24th DaaS-related acquisition and expanded its services into property cleaning, facility inspection and maintenance.
Through its ZenaDrone subsidiary, ZenaTech has also developed drone products for indoor and outdoor operations. The IQ Quad supports site data collection, engineering imagery and 3D modelling, while the IQ Nano uses barcode and RFID scanning to support inventory records, shelf inspections and indoor data collection.
The company’s reported revenue growth, acquisition activity and DaaS contribution provide investors following the AI and drone sectors with measurable indicators of how its technologies are being integrated into commercial operations and converted into service revenue.
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About ZenaTech
ZenaTech (Nasdaq: ZENA) is a technology company specialising in AI-powered drones, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS solutions and related technologies. Through its ZenaDrone subsidiary, the company develops drone products and software for commercial applications including engineering data collection, agriculture, warehouse management, facility inspection and property maintenance. ZenaTech combines its technology capabilities with a growing professional service network to support the adoption of drone-based solutions across a range of operational environments.
Media OutReach
A Defining Milestone for Gene Solutions: SPOT-MAS Multi-Cancer Screening Test Receives U.S. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation
The proposed indications for use describe SPOT-MAS 10 as a qualitative in vitro diagnostic test performed on plasma derived from a single direct-draw venous whole blood specimen. The test analyzes circulating cell-free DNA methylation and fragmentomic signatures using a machine-learning-based algorithm to detect a cancer-associated signal. It is intended for use as an adjunctive screening test in asymptomatic adults aged 40 years and older to assist in detecting cancers within the scope of the assay. These include five common cancers — breast, lung, liver, colorectal and gastric cancers — and five aggressive, less common cancers that currently lack standard screening methods — ovarian, pancreatic, esophageal, endometrial and head & neck cancers.
SPOT-MAS has been developed through years of rigorous scientific research and clinical development. In March 2025, SPOT-MAS became the first multi-cancer screening blood test in Asia to complete a large prospective cohort validation, with the K-DETEK study evaluating more than 9,000 asymptomatic participants and demonstrating strong performance, including high specificity and the ability to identify cancer-associated signals across multiple cancer types.
Since then, SPOT-MAS has been used in more than 100,000 individuals in real-world practice, with consistent performance observed beyond controlled study settings. Real-world data were presented at ESMO Asia 2025 and were featured at ASCO Breakthrough 2026 in Singapore.
The platform is built on a multi-omic approach— integrating genetics, epigenetics, and fragmentomics — together with AI-driven analysis, large-scale prospective validation, growing real-world evidence and focus on cancer types with high clinical relevance in the regions where the test is deployed.
For the United States, Breakthrough Device Designation provides Gene Solutions with a prioritized channel of engagement with the FDA as the company advances its U.S. development and validation plans.
Looking ahead, Gene Solutions will continue to collaborate with academic, clinical, laboratory, commercial and strategic partners to support responsible adoption of SPOT-MAS in accordance with local regulations, clinical guidelines and best practices.
Important Regulatory Notice: SPOT-MAS 10 has received U.S. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. Breakthrough Device Designation is not FDA approval, clearance or marketing authorization. The device remains subject to applicable FDA regulatory review requirements, and the designation does not guarantee future FDA approval, clearance or authorization.
For more information, visit https://spotmas.com.hk
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Source: Gene Solutions Hong Kong Limited.
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Media OutReach
St Francis Methodist School International Shares 2023–2024 WACE Outcomes and Student Journeys
Overview of the WACE Curriculum at SFMS
SFMS International is among a small number of institutions in Singapore offering the WACE curriculum and has delivered this programme for over 23 years. The WACE is a recognised senior secondary qualification awarded by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Western Australia. It prepares students for university admission both locally and internationally.
SFMS is also currently the only school in Singapore offering a Senior High Preparatory Pathway (WACE) for students in Years 9–10. This introduces students to the structure and expectations of the curriculum earlier, building familiarity with subject content and assessment formats before progressing to the senior years. Additionally, subject selection in Years 11A and 12A is structured to meet university entry requirements and reflect students’ academic interests.
Academic Outcomes and University Placements
In 2023, 8 out of 12 WACE graduates from SFMS International achieved ATAR scores above 90, meeting the eligibility criteria for universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The cohort’s top scorer, Wang Dawei, recorded an ATAR of 96.15 and enrolled at NTU to study Business and International Trading. In addition to local placements, graduates were admitted to international universities such as the University of Melbourne and Fudan University in China.
In 2024, 2 out of 8 graduates also attained ATAR scores above 90. The highest scorer, Youn Chae-Won, achieved an ATAR of 95.3. Her university placement is currently pending.
Student Journeys and Holistic Development
Students in the WACE programme at SFMS International engage in both academic and co-curricular activities as part of their overall learning experience. Recent graduates have taken part in service learning, subject specialisation, and personal reflection throughout their time in the pre-university programme.
Youn Chae-Won, the 2024 valedictorian, joined SFMS International from Korea in 2021. Over time, she adjusted to a new academic environment and explored subjects such as accounting, which influenced her interest in finance-related pathways. She also took part in various aspects of school life, including a service learning trip to Bintan in 2023, where students supported local sanitation efforts. Her involvement in both academic and co-curricular settings marked a broad engagement with school life during her time at SFMS.
Andrew Zhuang, who enrolled in SFMS International in 2019, pursued subjects such as Business Management, Accounting, and English as an Additional Language (EALD). Beyond academics, he was involved in community fundraising and joined the same Bintan service trip. He also attended weekly chapel sessions and received support from peers and teachers during a period of health-related absence.
These outcomes reflect the ongoing role of the WACE programme at SFMS International in supporting students through both academic pathways and broader educational experiences. Under the leadership of Principal Mr Lee Hak Boon, the school continues to emphasise academic planning, subject selection, and student wellbeing as part of its overall approach to pre-university education.
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About St Francis Methodist School International
Established in 1960, St Francis Methodist School International (SFMS) is an educational institution in Singapore that offers primary, secondary, and pre-university programmes. The school provides several academic pathways, including the International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge IGCSE, and the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), preparing students for further studies in local and overseas institutions.
