“We are experiencing a historic revolution in film. AI is not here to replace us, but to expand our horizons. It is not only a pen in our hands, but also a partner that can carry our souls to farther places and make ‘impossible’ creations possible.” On December 7, director Lu Chuan shared his observations on the AI film era at the opening ceremony of the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival·Lenovo AI Film Season.
Director Lu Chuan
This year's AI Film Festival, with the core concept of "AI technology as the blade, art and humanities as the soul," is dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence can reshape cinematic aesthetics and the creative ecosystem. Over five days, a packed schedule will feature 18 themed events across five dimensions: creation, research, exhibition, discussion, and performance, fostering an in-depth dialogue that spans technology, art, and industry.
The revolutionary impact of AI on the film industry has become an important topic that cannot be ignored, sparking heated discussions within the industry at every film festival.
At the Golden Coconut Forum held earlier, film industry professionals also discussed the impact of AI on the entire industry chain. Director Dong Runnian revealed that he has watched many AI works, which are already quite impressive, and predicted that "industrial-grade AI feature films can be produced within three years." He believes that "we should not think too much, but take immediate action and have the determination and desire to break through. When everyone uses AI, it will also promote the technology to mature faster."
This prediction was echoed by Sun Zhonghuai, Vice President of Tencent and Chairman of Tencent Online Video, who believes that "film and television creation will usher in a new renaissance." "Although there isn't a single AI feature film that truly reaches industrial standards yet, explorers in different directions have already emerged. We predict that the next 12 months will be a crucial window for the emergence of AI feature films."
Huang Qunfei, deputy general manager of China Film Distribution Corporation, said that AI can reshape the entire industry chain. "AI can save production costs. In the future, everyone can become a director, and one person can become a film crew. It will break the limitations of distribution and change the nature of watching movies. You can shoot whatever you want to watch. Cinemas will face huge challenges. The future is immeasurable, and anything is possible."
If the forum was a platform for guests to share their observations and perspectives, then the AI Film Festival is a vivid example of collaboration between the industry and creative sectors. Jointly initiated by the Today Art Museum AI Art Innovation Alliance (AIAIA) and Lenovo Group, the AI Film Festival aims to build an authoritative ecosystem that spans academia, technology, creation, and dissemination. With 33 institutions participating, it signifies that AI-driven film creation is moving from individual exploration to a systematic industry-wide collaborative effort.
This year's AI Film Festival partnered with Quark, a core product of Alibaba's To C business, to establish an official submission platform. The platform comprised three judging categories: general, targeted, and special, attracting 2,852 entries from 56 countries and regions worldwide. After several rounds of rigorous selection, 38 films and 10 local teams were nominated.
Opening ceremony
At the opening ceremony, the winners across multiple categories, including narrative, visual effects, and experimental film, were announced one by one, with 13 creators from China, France, Colombia, the UK, and other countries achieving outstanding results. This cross-border list testifies to the resonance and synergy of AI-generated video creation worldwide.
Lu Rongzhi
AIAIA Vice President Lu Rongzhi stated, "We are trying to establish a new artistic coordinate for the era of carbon-silicon symbiosis. In this coordinate, humans are not objects to be replaced, but the subjects of creation. AI is not a threat, but can dance a duet with us. The true value of AI films is not technology, but allowing more talents to be seen and more souls to be activated."
