AI short film explodes
The number of short film users in China has exceeded 800 million, while the market size exceeded 100 billion yuan (about 14.91 billion USD) in 2025. The information was announced by Mr. Wang Xiaoluong - Director of the Online Audiovisual Program Management Department of the State Radio and Television Administration of China - at a press conference on September 17 organized by the Information Office of the State Council of China.
According to Mr. Wang Xiaoluong, in the first 8 months of this year, China released about 430,000 short films, 13 times the total number of short films for the whole year of 2025. Among them, works created by AI account for more than 90%.
AI (artificial intelligence) is being widely applied in many creative and production stages, contributing to promoting the development speed of the market.
AI helps manufacturers shorten time, reduce costs and expand creativity. Stages that previously required outdoor filming, setting construction or long post-production time can now be done faster thanks to technology.
However, the explosion of AI short films also entails many issues related to content quality, image rights, voice usage rights and copyright. Since the beginning of the year, Chinese management agencies have removed 68,000 violating short films across the network and directed the handling of more than 1,200 violating accounts. More than 90% of the content being handled is AI films.
Faced with this trend, Chinese management agencies emphasize that AI development must go hand in hand with content control. Mr. Wang Xiaoliang affirmed that AI is a tool, while humans are still creative subjects, and at the same time requested that AI films be labeled.
Platforms must also control the entire process, especially in the use of personal images and voices, ensuring appropriate permission.
Strengthen support for live-action filming
While AI is increasingly popular, real-life movies are still identified as the leading force in creating high-quality works.
The China National Radio and Television Administration said it will allocate financial resources to support this film genre, guide platforms to open a separate area for live-action films and help quality works have markets and generate revenue.
The management agency also aims to promote short films in 3 directions: high quality, popularization and internationalization. This year, China strives to release about 1,000 excellent short films, focusing on topics such as mainstream values, the spirit of the times, local culture, life and international media.
In the direction of popularization, ordinary people are also encouraged to participate in production. Mr. Wang Xiaoluong cited farmers in Qingdao, Shandong province, who have incorporated stories from life and fields into short films.
Meanwhile, AI is seen as a new driving force for Chinese short films to expand to the international market. The outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for the first time includes short films in the group of new cultural types that need to be promoted.
The explosion of short films is opening up great opportunities for China's digital content industry, but at the same time poses a balanced problem between production speed, technological innovation and creative quality.
