Shanghai is accelerating the integration of film and technology by building a comprehensive AI-powered production ecosystem centred on the Shanghai Science and Technology Film City in Songjiang District.

Home to more than 8,000 film and television enterprises, the hub brings together computing power, data resources, AI models and real-world applications to support every stage of content creation.

During this year's Shanghai International Film Festival, industry participants demonstrated how virtual production tools can generate complex scenes, such as actors flying through digital worlds, in just 10 minutes using green screens and AI-assisted workflows.

AI is also reshaping content development by streamlining visual effects production and shortening timelines for short drama projects. Companies based at the AI Creation Ecosystem Center can now complete productions exceeding 100 minutes within two months.

The centre has attracted more than 50 companies over the past year and secured over 50 million yuan in commercial projects, supported by policies focused on computing resources, funding and talent development.