At this year’s Hong Kong FilMart, the “Golden Rooster Roundtable: Reshaping Filmmaking & Market Landscapes in the Age of Digital Intelligence” panel explored how Chinese cinema is evolving in the age of digital intelligence.
The March 17 program – organized by the China Film Assn., China Film Co-production Corp. and Xiamen Film Administration, with co-organizer Xiamen Film Festival Co. – opened with an introduction to the Golden Rooster Film Awards in Xiamen, followed by an overview of structural opportunities in the Chinese mainland film market and avenues for global collaboration.
Data from 2025 highlighted the market’s resilience and vitality, with the Chinese mainland maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest box office market, generating approximately $7.4 billion.
The 2026 year-to-date revenue stands at $1.58 billion, down 52.9% from the same period in 2025, but still some $350 million ahead of North America.
In terms of market share, local films accounted for nearly 80% of the box office in 2025, while 106 imported films – a five-year high – represented just over 20% of the market, according to the data presented at the event.
Audience composition is shifting: women now make up 60% of ticket buyers, and viewers over 25 account for 85%. Emerging tier city consumers are driving growth, with box office increases of 26.2%, 29.9%, and 31.7% in third-, fourth-, and fifth-tier cities, respectively.
Technology, particularly AI, was the roundtable’s hot topic. Renowned director Lu Chuan described AI as a “partner” in filmmaking rather than a mere tool. By accelerating digitization, lowering costs and expanding creative freedom, AI allows filmmakers to visualize concepts faster and experiment more boldly. Yet, Lu emphasized that AI cannot replace the human touch: actors’ performances, unique interpretations and emotional depth remain irreplaceable.
Executive producer Kinnie Cheung added that AI is most effective in early concept planning and post-production. It is helpful for assisting with camera placement to multilingual voice integration, for example. “AI cannot replace actors,” she said. “When an actor gets a role, they make sure that the role comes to life.”
Zhou Jianmin of Huaguoshan Media highlighted AI’s impact on animation and 3D production, enabling Chinese software to compete on international standards, opening creative possibilities and stretching production budgets further. He stressed that empathy cannot be replaced, and it is this feeling from movies that keeps audiences coming to theaters. AI engineer Fong Shuai of the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute noted that commercial AI tools are proliferating, but meaningful integration requires customization and fine-tuning to meet filmmakers’ specific needs.
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