Tony Leung Says AI Is Changing Film’s Creative Landscape as He Takes the Helm of Shanghai’s Golden Goblet Jury

Tony Leung, the Hong Kong actor widely recognized for his work with directors including Wong Kar-wai, arrived in Shanghai to chair the Golden Goblet awards jury, and used the occasion to discuss how rapid advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping the film industry’s creative boundaries. In interviews conducted during the festival period, Leung described AI as a new force that filmmakers and audiences are still learning to understand, and he framed the moment as a test of whether human creativity can remain central to storytelling.

Leung’s comments focused on the tension between technological capability and artistic intent. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leung said AI poses a threat to creativity, while also implying that the industry will need to find ways to preserve originality in an environment where tools can accelerate production and change how scripts and images are generated. His remarks tied the issue to the broader future of film, rather than to any single studio or country.

The actor also addressed audience habits, particularly among younger viewers. The report said Leung discussed the need to keep young audiences in theaters, suggesting that moviegoing has to offer something distinct from home viewing and other digital alternatives. He pointed to the role of programming and the kind of experiences films provide, as the industry adapts to changing consumption patterns.

Leung’s remarks also looked back at his own career trajectory. The Hollywood Reporter said he described a late-career shift toward European arthouse cinema, characterizing the move as part of his hopes for what film can continue to be. In the report’s framing, the decision illustrated that mainstream visibility does not have to define an artist’s future, and it underscored the continued international reach of auteur-driven projects.

As chair of the Golden Goblet competition jury, Leung is positioned to influence which films receive top recognition at Shanghai’s major international event. The Golden Goblet is widely regarded as one of the festival’s high-profile competition prizes, and the jury’s leadership can shape which styles and storytelling approaches gain formal attention during the awards cycle.

Leung’s festival presence comes as the industry debates how to handle AI in creative workflows, from development to post-production. His comments align with a broader public conversation about authorship and the meaning of originality when machine-generated or machine-assisted elements become easier to produce and harder to distinguish from purely human-made material.

The next steps will be the jury’s official deliberations and announcement of Golden Goblet winners, alongside the festival’s programming and industry discussions. Leung’s role as jury chair makes his public statements part of the context in which filmmakers and distributors will present their work for consideration this year.

While his remarks did not single out particular companies or regulations, they put a personal, craft-centered perspective on the AI debate in front of a film audience. The practical impact will be measured not only by how audiences interpret his warnings, but by how the jury’s selections reflect the qualities he says cinema must protect.