China's First AI Feature Film 'Sanxingdui: Future Past' Crosses One Million RMB
China's first AI-generated theatrical feature film, 'Sanxingdui: Future Past', has surpassed 1.16 million RMB in box office revenue following its release on October 23. The 100-minute film is the first AI-driven production to receive an official national public screening license in the country. This milestone marks a significant step for generative AI in media production, showcasing the feasibility of scaling AI tools to create full-length theatrical content with traditional professional oversight. It serves as an important industry case study for how studios can integrate artificial intelligence into standard film-making pipelines. The film was developed over two years using Bona's proprietary 'Boka Movie Cloud Studio' platform, resulting in over 1.2 million base images and dozens of full-movie iterations. While AI handled generation and execution, human creators directed the creative conception, script, and aesthetic judgment.
## BACKGROUND
Sanxingdui is a major archaeological site in China known for its mysterious Bronze Age culture, which provides the thematic backdrop for the film's science fiction plot. Generative AI in filmmaking refers to tools that use machine learning models to synthesize video, audio, and visual assets based on text or image prompts.