The Vibe Shift
Director Jia Zhangke is ready to hit the road. After the 10th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival wraps up on September 30, the filmmaker is diving straight into location scouting for his latest project, Mamma Dunhuang.
Real talk: this movie is giving epic journey. The film follows a woman driving from Dunhuang, an iconic Silk Road hub in western China, all the way to the eastern coast. Jia tells Variety that the story is all about that contrast between the landlocked west and the vast ocean.
The AI Take
Here is the tea: the film’s lead character, played by award-winning actress Zhao Tao, actually uses AI to help her on her journey. But don’t get it twisted—Jia is keeping AI completely out of the actual filmmaking process. “I will not use AI in making ‘Mamma Dunhuang,’” he told Variety. It is purely for the plot, no cap.
Pingyao’s Evolution
Jia also reflected on his Pingyao film festival. Even though it is only 10 years old, he notes that the cinematic landscape has changed drastically. He is keeping the festival lean—only 51 films this year—to ensure each title gets the spotlight it deserves.
Even though the festival is held in a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, which makes expanding infrastructure a total headache, they are still trying to figure out how to add more theater space. As for the tech world? Jia says the festival remains “prudent” but inclusive, choosing to observe and discuss AI rather than hide from it.
Why it matters
As AI continues to dominate headlines in the creative industry, Jia’s firm boundary between using AI as a storytelling tool versus a production shortcut sets a clear example for how established auteurs are navigating the future of cinema.
