According to the national film script outline approval announcement issued by the National Film Administration in early July 2026, Jia Zhangke’s newly penned film, ‘Mother of Dunhuang,’ has been officially given the green light. The narrative centers around a solitary mother residing in Dunhuang, who turns to AI to combat her loneliness, delve into the world, and embark on a transformative journey across China. Boasting a stellar cast including Zhao Tao and Liao Fan, the film is slated for release in 2027, with principal photography set to commence this winter. It will also continue its fruitful collaboration with the renowned French company MK2. Experts opine that by intertwining the theme of a solitary mother with the realm of artificial intelligence, the film delves into pertinent societal issues concerning the pervasive infiltration of technology into our daily lives. Moreover, during this year’s Spring Festival, Jia Zhangke unveiled a short film titled ‘Director Jia’s Dance,’ crafted utilizing ByteDance’s cutting-edge AI video generation model, Seedance 2.0. He underscored that the crux lies in how technology is harnessed and employed.