International
Nissan and Sony Pictures team up for ‘Gran Turismo’ movie campaign in India
Mumbai: Gran Turismo, the most popular racing video games in the world released under the Sony Play station banner since 1997. Sony Pictures Entertainment India in collaboration with Nissan Motors, have joined hands for a unique marketing partnership for ‘Gran Turismo’ a film highly awaited by movie enthusiasts and gamers. The film, which premieres in India on 25 August 2023, showcases the remarkable true story of a group of underdogs who dared to challenge the elite world of motorsports, forever changing the landscape of racing.
In 2008, Nissan introduced the ground-breaking GT Academy, a gamer-to-racer competition that shattered conventions by transforming video game racers into real-world racing champions. Teaming up with Sony PlayStation, this audacious partnership defied expectations and paved the way for aspiring talents worldwide to live out their dreams on the track.
Nissan Motors India Pvt Ltd (NMIPL) director – marketing, product & customer experience Mohan Wilson said, “’Gran Turismo’ captures the essence of Nissan’s ‘dare to do what others don’t’ spirit, where boldness knows no limits. It is a perfect connect with today’s bold and ambitious young generation in India who thrive on the mindset of outdoing expectations and go beyond what seems to be possible to fulfill their aspirations. We believe that by sharing this remarkable story together with Sony we inspire others to chase their dreams fearlessly in a time when Nissan is also embarking on a new journey for the brand in India.
Gran Turismo is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer (Archie Madekwe), a failed former racecar driver (David Harbour), and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom). Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world. Gran Turismo is an inspiring, thrilling, and action-packed story that proves that nothing is impossible when you’re fuelled from within.
The film not only celebrates the legacy of GT Academy but also underscores Nissan’s mindset of a progressive challenger but also Nissan’s legacy and passion in motorsports. It shines a spotlight on Nissan’s bold “dare to do” DNA, showcasing how the brand empowers young talents achieve aspirations and believe in themselves.
Directed by Neill Blomkamp, the ensemble cast includes David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner, and Djimon Hounsou. Sony Pictures Entertainment India releases ‘Gran Turismo’ in theatres on 25 August in English and Hindi.
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.
