Cutting-edge filmmaking technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) have become one of the highlights of the ongoing 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair that opened in south China tech hub Shenzhen on Thursday. At a booth showcasing AI-powered animatronics for filmmaking, AI animal models are wowing visitors in an exhibition area dedicated to AI products, the first of its kind since the fair initiated its first edition. Designed for filmmaking, the robots, including a cute "dog" snoring while sleeping at the exhibition and a "giant panda" making different facial expressions while interacting with visitors, are interactive actors developed by bionic special effects technology. They are capable of imitating the facial expressions of human beings like staring and sticking out tongue. The robot giant panda on display is powered by a technology that can capture human facial expressions and then translate the collected data into signals to help the "giant panda" make similar actions. "We need our robots to have some 'self-consciousness' to interact with people. So in terms of AI technology, we hope to add some facial recognition algorithms that enable us to train AI models through facial motion capture. This technology can also be applied to film making, it will make the robot animals look more natural when interacting with human actors," said Wang Ke, exhibitor from the developer of the robot giant panda. Other products showcased at the exhibition proved that AI technology has a great potential in fully participating in every process of movie production and it is playing an increasing important role in assisting filmmakers. A smart dubbing system developed by China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) is able to translate the character's lines into any languages while preserving their emotions and tones. "When we try to promote our films overseas, in other languages, among audiences in a whole different country, we should provide them with the best immersive experience (with this technology)," said Ma Ping, head of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute under CFGC. Powered by AI, a showcased movie production assistance system helps directors turn their imagination into real images. Another movie character preview system on display can produce videos that simulate actor's live performance in real time Screen writing is also expected to get assistance from AI, with the showcased "Yingpu" AI large model to help writers in creating, evaluating, and improving scripts. The model is scheduled to be opened to the film industry in August this year and by that time, movie institutes, practitioners, and even amateurs can use it to collect materials more efficiently and get strong assistance in creating logically coherent and cinematically viable scripts. SHOTLIST: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - May 23, 2025 1. Venue of 21th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair; booths, visitors; 2. Various of robot dog, giant panda on display; 3. Various of robot giant panda imitating human being's facial expressions; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Ke, exhibitor (ending with shots 5-6): "We need our robots to have some 'self-consciousness' to interact with people. So in terms of AI technology, we hope to add some facial recognition algorithms that enable us to train AI models through facial motion capture. This technology can also be applied to film making, it will make the robot animals look more natural when interacting with human actors."; 5. Various of robot giant panda on display; 6. Various of visitors taking photo of robot giant panda; 7. Various of visitor trying AI-powered movie production assistance system; 8. Various of visitor trying AI-powered movie character preview system; 9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Ma Ping, head, Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, China Film Group Corporation: "When we try to promote our films overseas, in other languages, among audiences in a whole different country, we should provide them with the best immersive experience (with this technology)."; 10. Exhibitor showing AI-powered movie production system; 11. Various of AI-powered screenwriting system on display. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]