International
Mumbai wins early access screening of ‘The Beekeeper’ at PVR Juhu
Mumbai: The spotlight is on Mumbai as it emerges triumphant in a nationwide voting contest for PVR INOX’s early access show of The Beekeeper, granting its residents the privilege of an early encounter with Jason Statham in David Ayer’s adrenaline-packed thriller. Movie enthusiasts in Mumbai will be the first in the world to witness Jason Statham’s return as Adam Clay on the grand cinematic canvas. The exclusive screening is set to premiere on Wednesday, 17 January 2024, at 5:00 pm, hosted at PVR Juhu, Mumbai. In a delightful bonus, each ticket purchased will come with a complimentary popcorn tub, and patrons stand a chance to win exciting movie merchandise. Bobby Deol, who captivated the audience globally with his most recent outing ‘Animal’, will also attend the early access screening of ‘The Beekeeper.’ Patrons can book the tickets for this special screening on the PVR app or website.
PVR INOX Ltd co-CEO Gautam Dutta expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are absolutely thrilled to bring the Early Access Screening of ‘The Beekeeper’ to the vibrant city of Mumbai, and to have none other than Bobby Deol attending the premiere is an absolute delight. This cinematic masterpiece promises an exhilarating experience from start to finish. We take immense pleasure in extending this opportunity to our patrons to be among the first to watch the much anticipated ‘The Beekeeper’ on the expansive big screen. At PVR INOX, we are committed to delivering unforgettable cinematic moments, and this screening underscores that commitment. We anticipate an enjoyable experience and hope our audience relishes this advance showing to the fullest!”
Directed by David Ayer, ‘The Beekeeper’ follows Jason Statham’s character, Adam Clay, on a relentless quest for retribution after his covert ties to the formidable “Beekeepers” organization are exposed. The movie, written by Kurt Wimmer, boasts an ensemble cast including Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, and Josh Hutcherson, among others. Having premiered at the illustrious 2022 Cannes festival, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 19, 2024 in India and will also be screened across IMAX, 4DX, MX4D, and Screen X cinema formats at PVR INOX cinemas. The Beekeeper will be released and distributed in India by PVR INOX Pictures, the motion picture arm of PVR INOX Ltd.
For further information on the location and timing of The Beekeeper early access show, visit: https://www.pvrcinemas.com/ or the PVR app.
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.
