China's first AI-produced theatrical film sets October 23 release

Bona Film Group announced that Sanxingdui: Future Past, China's first hyper-realistic theatrical film made with AI throughout production, will hit cinemas on October 23, 2026. The 100-minute film has secured an official screening license and features entirely original digital characters rather than replicas of real actors.

• Theatrical release in China set for October 23, 2026, with a 100-minute runtime
• Production took two years, using over 1.2 million source images and more than 100 full-film iterations
• AI handled image generation and content production, while a 100+ person team made creative decisions
• The plot blends the ancient Sanxingdui civilization with futuristic sci-fi and the theme of AI dependence