Peter Chan Backs Theatrical Features While Rejecting AI-Generated Content
Speaking at the Singapore International Film Festival, filmmaker Peter Chan Ho-sun said he expects to use AI tools but not AI-generated content. He argued that full-length features will remain viable despite the growth of short-form and vertical dramas, at least for his lifetime. He also told aspiring filmmakers that cinema is facing a hard period but is not disappearing into short-form entertainment.
Peter Chan Ho-sun, known for directing “Comrades: Almost a Love Story” and “The Warlords,” addressed an In Conversation session at the Singapore International Film Festival. Asked by an attendee whether he had ever questioned entering filmmaking, he told aspiring directors that the industry is in an especially difficult stretch but he does not see cinema being replaced by short-form entertainment.
Chan said he will likely employ artificial intelligence as a production tool, though he rules out using AI-created material. He also predicted that two-hour features can continue to compete with short-form and vertical dramas, at least during his lifetime.
Chan’s stance may reassure traditional filmmakers and cinema operators who rely on feature-length releases, while offering a cautious signal to artists about using AI as a tool rather than a substitute. Audiences could benefit if distinctive human-made films remain available, though younger viewers accustomed to vertical dramas may see less change. Aspiring filmmakers may weigh his warning about a difficult period against his confidence that the medium persists.