OpenArt × NYU: Music Video Hackathon | Hybrid
Want to try AI Videos but stuck on the learning curve? Want to make a longer video but don’t have a paid membership? Don’t want to jump across five platforms to finish one edit?
This hackathon is for you! Come use OpenArt’s one-tap AI Music Video feature—with free credits provided to participants—so you can turn a track into a finished music video in hours. No prior AI experience required.
Your Work on Times Square
The Best Overall winner will have their video featured on the Times Square Billboard as part of OpenArt’s OMVA global campaign — bringing your NYU project to one of the most iconic screens in the world.
This is your chance to showcase your work publicly, beyond campus and across the global creative AI community.
What This is
Hosted by GenART NYU, in collaboration with Gen Audio NYU and sponsored by OpenArt.ai, this hybrid hackathon welcomes filmmakers, digital artists, producers, and AI-curious beginners to test tools, share ideas, and push style and story—together.
You’ll get a short guest talk, a hands-on workflow workshop, focused creation time, a same-day screening, and real exposure opportunities (official reposts). Join solo or bring up to 2 friends (teams of up to 3).
Why Join
AI-first & beginner-friendly: One-tap AI Music Video inside OpenArt — no editing background required.
Free OpenArt credits: Every participant gets free one month credits for at least 3 full AI music video.
Fast, end-to-end workflow: Learn → build → submit → screen — all in half a day.
Real visibility: $500 prize pool, and OpenArt official features (~500K reach), and a chance to be featured on the Times Square Billboard.
Panel Talk with King Willonius, Byron Miller, Issa Sissoko, and Chloe Fang:
King Willonius — TIME 100 Most Influential in AI; producer of the viral AI track *“BBL Drizzy.”
Byron Miller — EVP of Atlantic Music Group; founder of Miller Tech Talk, bridging entertainment and tech.
Issa Sissoko — Creative Director at Wonder Studios; AI film producer and director exploring storytelling through generative tools.
Chloe Fang — President of the MIT Sloan AI Club and Head of BD & Partnerships at OpenArt AI; focuses on the intersection of business, media, and AI innovation.
Together, they’ll share insights on AI-driven creativity, music–visual storytelling, and how emerging tools are reshaping the creative process.
Hybrid support: On-site help at 370 Jay Street and live online tutoring for remote participants.
What you’ll make
A short AI-driven music video that pairs your chosen track with visuals generated via OpenArt Music Video. Your track can be original, AI-generated (e.g., Suno), or properly licensed (e.g., TikTok / Epidemic Sound).
How to participate (5 quick steps)
Register (solo or team of up to 3).
Pick your music: your own, AI-generated (e.g., Suno), or licensed (e.g., TikTok / Epidemic Sound).
Create with OpenArt Music Video (openart.ai/music-video).
Upload to the OpenArt contest page (link sent after registration) and download your final file.
Post on TikTok/IG/YouTube with #OpenArtMVA #OpenArtNYU, then submit your final file + post link via the GenART form.
❗️For more detailed Guideline please reference to the Submission Guideline and Music Usage Guide.
Eligibility & content standards
Open to all NYU students and invited global creators.
Teams: up to 3 members; solo entries welcome.
Content: follow NYU community standards and copyright law.
No explicit, violent, or infringing content.
Ownership: You retain ownership; you permit OpenArt to repost/feature with credit.
Judging & awards
Judging criteria (equal weight):
Creativity & originality
Technical execution (sync, edit quality, production value)
Storytelling & emotional impact
Effective use of OpenArt’s AI Music Video feature
Prize pool: $500
FAQs
Q1. Can I join the workshop online?
A. Yes! We’ll share a Zoom webinar link before the event on Sat, Nov 8 (workshop starts 1:30 PM ET).
Q2. How do I participate online?
A. We’ll provide both a Zoom webinar (recommended for Q&A). During the creation sprint, you can also get help via our Discord mentorship channel.
Q3. What must I do to attend in person?
A. If you are not an NYU student, please remember to bring a photo ID with your name on it and present it to the security guard at the entrance — they’ll let you in after verifying your name.
Q4. Anything I should do before the event?
A. Make sure you’ve registered and can log in to OpenArt.
We’ll grant free OpenArt credits on Nov 5 so you can start creating ahead of time — giving you a few extra days to experiment and refine your work.
That said, we strongly encourage everyone to join the Nov 8 hackathon in person for the full workshop, panel, and networking experience.
Q5. When does the competition start, and what’s the submission deadline?
A. The event begins Sat, Nov 8 at 1:00 PM ET.
1:00–1:30 PM – Check-in and coffee
1:30–2:30 PM – Panel talk
2:30–5:00 PM – Workshop + creation sprint
5:00 PM ET – Submission deadline
Winners will be announced on Sun, Nov 9, at 12:00 PM ET via GenART channels.
Q6. Do I have to use OpenArt? Can I use AI music tools?
A. Your final video must be created using OpenArt’s AI Music Video feature.
For audio, you may use:
TikTok music (follow TikTok’s usage rules)
AI-generated music (e.g., Suno) with proper rights
Your own original tracks
Or licensed tracks from our music partner, Epicdemic Sound. Please make sure you have the rights to all music you include.
More details could be referenced through this doc Submission Guideline and Music Usage Guide.
Q7. When do I get my OpenArt credits, and how long do they last?
A. Free OpenArt credits will be distributed on November 5, allowing you to begin creating in advance.
Credits will stay active through the hackathon weekend, so you can finalize and submit by 5:00 PM ET on Nov 8.
Q8. Can I do some post-processing after generating a video in OpenArt's music video feature?
A. Yes, after finish exporting your video in the OpenArt's music video feature, feel free to improt it to After Effect, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or whatever post process tool you like to use.
Q9. What are the prizes?
A. The total prize pool is $500, divided as follows:
🥇 Best Overall Music Video — $200
🎨 Best Visual Creativity — $150
🎧 Best Sound–Visual Integration — $150
Select works may also be featured on OpenArt’s official channels (~500K reach).
Winners announced: Nov 9th, 12:00 PM ET.
Q10. Can I have multiple submissions?
A. Yes! you can submit multiple videos, just make sure to submit them indivisually using the submission form. More details about the submission requirement will be out in our following email blasts.
Q11. What if I still have questions?
A. Join our Discord or email us anytime. We’ll monitor Zoom Q&A during the panel/workshop and have mentors available on Discord throughout the creation sprint to help with questions and troubleshooting.
🚀 Sign up now to reserve your spot and get event updates!