# AI Could Make Filmmaking Costlier Than the 35mm Era, Korean Pioneers Warn at Taiwan Creative Content Fest

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ai-could-make-filmmaking-costlier-than-the-35mm-era-korean-pioneers-warn-at-taiwan-creative-content-fest/
- Published: 2026-11-08T00:27:50+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T01:25:40+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/markets-festivals/ai-films-costlier-35mm-era-korean-pioneers-warn-1236942217/
- Topics: AI, Asia, Business, Companies, Entertainment, Film, Technology, World

## Key points

- AI tool fees could outweigh savings on feature films.
- Repeated revisions can multiply re-rendering costs.
- Korean producers see hybrid shoots as a practical approach.

## Summary

Korean AI film-makers have warned that generative AI could make feature films more expensive than shooting on 35mm if the cost of AI tools rises and productions require repeated revisions. At Taiwan Creative Content Fest, they argued that careful planning and a hybrid approach with live-action performers will be important to keeping costs under control.

Studio Meta-K’s Kim Kwang-jib estimated that AI tool fees for a 100-minute film could currently exceed KRW500 million, or about US$366,000, and could reach KRW5 billion if token prices rose tenfold. He said Asian features often cost KRW3 billion to KRW5 billion, while repeated re-renders can add substantially to budgets. MBC C&I’s Lee Sang-wook said its 139-minute AI feature “Raphael” took about 16 months to make, with some shots requiring around 10 artists for a day; it is due in Korean cinemas on 25 November. Kim said AI has cut costs sharply for some advertising, but he expects feature productions to combine generated material with live-action scenes.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.