Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key focus at the Gold Coconut Main Forum in south China's Hainan Province on Thursday, with insiders discussing the transformative power the technology will have on filmmaking and movie marketing. The forum is taking place as part of the ongoing 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) in the island's Sanya City. For the first time, the festival has held a special AI film section, including the showcasing of AI-generated films. Speakers at the forum agreed that professionals across the film industry must prepare to adapt as AI rapidly becomes a new driving force in the movie business. As AI tools become more integrated into production, the distribution side is also preparing for major change. The HIIFF, the year's final major film festival, runs in Sanya from December 3 to 9, featuring a series of forums, awards ceremonies, film screenings, and the Chinese premiere of "Avatar: Fire and Ash." Shotlist: Sanya City, Hainan Province, south China - Recent: 1. Various of signs of Hainan Island International Film Festival; Sanya City, Hainan Province, south China - Dec 4, 2025 2. Gold Coconut Main Forum in progress; 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Sun Zhonghuai, Vice President of Tencent, also Chairman of Tencent Online Video (ending with shot 4): "Filmmakers must learn to use AI to push creative boundaries, enhance efficiency, and improve visual expression. AI doesn't just reshape production -- it also streamlines many repetitive and time-consuming tasks in traditional workflows."; 4. Various of attendees; 5. Forum in progress; 6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Dong Runnian, director (ending with shot 7): "AI makes creativity more accessible, and I think it's important we realize that. It allows not only professionals but also ordinary people to produce what they want to express. Given the pace of technological change, we could see industrial-level AI-generated feature films within three years. For creators, the question isn't whether to embrace AI, but how quickly we act."; 7. Various of AI-generated scenarios; 8. Various of attendees; 9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Huang Qunfei, Deputy General Mmanager, Huaxia Film Distribution (partially overlaid with shot 10): "AI will inevitably reshape the entire film industry. Cinemas and every other link in the distribution chain must adapt. By strengthening the cinema's social and emotional value -- something home entertainment can't replace, we can continue attracting younger audiences." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 10. Various of press, attendees [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; Sanya City, Hainan Province, south China - Recent 11. Various of signs of Hainan Island International Film Festival. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]