An experimental lab focused on the practical integration of artificial intelligence into film production was launched by the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) on Wednesday.

At the launch event held at the Wisdom Library in Lingang, Shanghai, four production teams were announced for the AI Backlot project. Each team comprises both traditional filmmakers and AI super-creators. During the 43-day open call, the SIFF organizing committee received applications from almost 500 creators from seven countries and regions.

Over the next month, these teams will collaborate to produce short films while documenting their creative journey — from conception to completion. Under the guidance of supervisory and academic observation panels, the teams will meticulously record workflows, role assignments, key decisions and budgeting. These records will be compiled into a reference sample in an attempt to address core industry concerns regarding AI tools, creator agency and the future of content production.

As part of the 28th SIFF, the AI Backlot unit will be open to industry guests and the public on the 4th floor of the Shanghai Film Art Center, on June 14 and 15. The supervisory panel, academic observers and the four teams will select 10 to 15 key topics based on real-world insights from the production process and engage with the audience through workshops.

The initiative has been jointly organized by SIFF and Hailuo AI, a leading multimodal AI platform owned by MiniMax, which will provide technical support. The event is supported by industry partner Shanghai Lingang, with the School of Theater, Film and Television at the Communication University of China serving as the academic advisor.