Five-Person Crew Completes AI Feature Film in 48 Days for Under $70K

Chinese AI-generated feature film *Flames of Dachen* was produced by a core team of just five people in 48 days, at a total cost of less than 500,000 yuan (approximately $69,000). The 120-minute film, built entirely on an AI-based production workflow powered by the domestic Seedance 2.0 large model, tells the story of 227 young volunteers who reclaimed Dachen Island in 1956. Released on August 9 across major Chinese streaming platforms iQiyi, Youku, and Tencent Video, it drew more than 1.45 million views within its first three days.

The production was the subject of a Beijing seminar on August 24, where filmmakers and scholars debated its artistic and industrial implications. Chief producer Wang Zhengduo cited three core technical hurdles: reconstructing historical settings, maintaining visual consistency across a feature-length runtime, and managing compliance and risk control. Industry observers described the film as a milestone for AI-driven narrative cinema, while noting the team deliberately avoided shortcuts — confronting the challenges of achieving realism rather than relying on AI to simplify the creative process.