How can cinema not only survive but flourish in the digital age, where artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the rules? This unprecedented challenge to the century-long art form has sparked a heated debate at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of world cinema. Today, this art form - deeply intertwined with technological progress - faces a new crisis: the lowering of barriers by artificial intelligence and fierce competition for audiences from short-form video platforms.

Yet, as many industry veterans and devoted cinephiles argue, the soul of cinema lies in its human stories—a realm that AI has yet to master. So, how should filmmakers stay true to their craft while adapting to the times? The answer may lie in China Daily's exclusive video report.