AI takes center stage at Hainan film festival

The Lenovo AI Film Season, a highlighted sector of the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival, recently kicked off in Sanya, South China's Hainan province, and will run through Thursday.

The five-day event features a total of 18 activities, ranging from master classes to art salons. A total of 13 awards were selected from 38 nominated works, short-listed from a pool of 2,852 submissions from 56 countries and regions. The winners are from multiple countries including France, Colombia and the United Kingdom.

Jointly initiated by the Today Art Museum's AI Art Innovation Alliance and Lenovo Group, the event aims to build an authoritative ecosystem that seamlessly connects academia, technology, creative practice, and cultural dissemination, according to the organizers.

Presided over by director Lu Chuan, the jury panel consists of four members: filmmaker Jerry Ye, digital art scholar Fei Jun, Chinese American curator and critic Victoria Lu, and Zhang Baoquan, chairman of Antaeus Group. The event has also drawn other celebrated industry insiders, such as veteran filmmaker Wang Hongwei — known for being a pivotal member in multiple programs cultivating young talent — who serves as the event's art consultant.

Charles Wang, vice-president of Lenovo Group, said that as a co-organizer, Lenovo is positioning its AI PC and workstation lineup as "the super engine for creators". He added that the company will continue to expand its ecosystem through its "AI Pioneer Creator Program", leveraging both technology and platforms to empower creators to produce works beyond imagination.

Many of the participants shared their views on how artificial intelligence will reshape the art of cinema. Director Lu said, "AI returns me to the fearless, liberated creative state of my youth — empowering artists to confront their own souls and make the films they truly want to make."

Filmmaker Ye said, "AI is coming at us like a rising tide. Under such a wave, what matters even more are strong ideas and compelling stories — the wings that allow technology to truly take flight."