International
Imax welcomes China’s move to import Hollywood films
MUMBAI: Imax has welcomed China’s move to import more Hollywood films after recent deal signed by the Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping and Hollywood studios.
Imax is one of the key beneficiaries of the loosening of policy on foreign media by China.”We are pleased that the new agreement highlights Imax and allows for even greater flexibility to bring Imax films into China within a structure that fosters more growth and collaboration,” Imax CEO Richard Gelfond said in a statement.
Toronto-based Imax has taken 15 years to slowly build its presence in China, where it currently has in all 217 theatres.
“We believe this significant development will help us further our network expansion efforts and enable Imax to continue providing Chinese consumers with great films from both Hollywood and China,” Gelfond added.
The Canadian-based exhibitor has had box office success in China with local language titles like Aftershock and Flying Swords of Dragon Gate.
International
Utopai Studios unveils 4K three-minute video generation for PAI platform
New Story Agent and editing tools aim to streamline AI-led filmmaking workflows
MUMBAI: Utopai Studios has announced a major upgrade to its PAI storytelling AI platform, introducing what it claims is an industry-first capability to generate three-minute videos in 4K resolution, alongside enhancements to its Story Agent feature.
The update, rolling out from April 15, expands the platform’s capabilities across the filmmaking process, from early concept development to post-production. The company said the new features are designed to help filmmakers maintain continuity across characters, scenes and visual styles, a key challenge in AI-driven storytelling.
At the heart of the release is a next-generation model that enables more structured narrative development, allowing creators to move more seamlessly from idea to execution. With tools such as multi-shot sequencing and multi-turn editing, the platform aims to give both studios and independent creators greater control over complex storytelling workflows.
Commenting on the launch, Utopai Studios co-founder and CTO Jie Yang said, “The next phase of AI in media will not be defined by isolated tools, but by systems that can carry story, continuity and collaboration across the full creative process.” He added that the update is a step towards enabling more practical, end-to-end narrative development at a professional level.
Echoing this, Utopai Studios co-founder and chief scientific officer Zijian He said, “Generative video is opening the door to a new production model, where creative ambition is less constrained by traditional cost and complexity.” He noted that the platform combines multimodal models with iterative editing to give creators more speed, control and consistency.
The company said PAI is already being used in professional film and television productions, particularly in Hollywood, for tasks such as pre-visualisation, scene design and post-production refinements. The latest update adds features including improved voice options, character consistency, unlimited editing and more flexible asset management.
Utopai also emphasised that its models are not trained on copyrighted material, positioning the platform as a cleaner alternative for creators and rights holders navigating the evolving AI landscape.
As AI continues to reshape content creation, Utopai’s latest push signals a shift from standalone tools to integrated systems, aiming to make high-quality filmmaking faster, more flexible and increasingly accessible.
