Physix Frontier · News Briefing Card (IT Home · Nov 7, 2026)

Zhang Yimou on AI at Golden Rooster: short-video output hits tens of billions, film faces major

KEY FACTS

Zhang Yimou attended a dialogue event at the Golden Rooster and International Film Festival, part of the 39th Golden Rooster Awards.
Zhang Yimou said AI short-video output has reached several tens of billions of yuan, and he worries whether audiences will still go to theaters.
Zhang Yimou admitted he does not know what to do when AI fully surpasses humans in five or ten years.
Zhang Yimou advised young directors to learn and accumulate experience, and to tell the stories they feel most deeply about.
On November 5, the National Radio and Television Administration reiterated support for live-action micro-dramas and regulation of AI micro-dramas.

KEY DATA

several tens of billions of yuanAI short-video output

39thGolden Rooster Awards edition

PHYSIX OBSERVATION

Zhang Yimou's anxiety is not about the technology itself but about audience diversion: AI short videos with output worth tens of billions of yuan have already captured attention, and the theatrical model is under pressure. The National Radio and Television Administration's statement of supporting live-action and regulating AI shows regulators want to hold the line on content quality. For creators, tools will only get cheaper; what is scarce is real experience and emotion, and that is the barrier that will be hard to replace in the short term.

Source: IT Home report