China will restore 100 kung fu movies using AI

The China Film Foundation has announced the launch of a massive project to restore 100 iconic martial arts films. The $14 million initiative was presented at the Shanghai International Film Festival and involves the use of artificial intelligence to restore classic films.

Such films as “Fist of Fury”, “Big Boss”, “Once Upon a Time in China” and “Drunken Master” will undergo restoration. The organizers promise improved image and sound quality while preserving the original plot. The main characters of the project will be the stars of Chinese cinema: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

The Kung Fu Heritage Project has been called a “long-term commitment” to revitalizing the national cultural heritage. According to Zhang Qilin, chairman of the foundation, these films have become a symbol of the vitality of the Chinese people and the country’s calling card in the world.

The event also included the premiere of a new movie, A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Frontier, created entirely using AI. Algorithms were used at all stages – from the script to the final rendering of the animation.

The use of AI in the film industry remains a topic of international discussion. In July 2024, Hollywood went on strike over concerns about technology replacing live labor.

In October of the same year, Nicolas Cage urged actors to fight the use of AI and EBDR to manipulate their image, warning of the risks of losing creative control.