Against the backdrop of the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence, cinema is undergoing a profound transformation. On the one hand, artiffcial intelligence has precipitated an ontological crisis for cinema. Foundational concepts central to classical film theory and aesthetics— such as indexicality, authorship, and Kracauer’s notion of the redemption of physical reality—require critical re-examination. On the other hand, AI is opening possibilities for audiovisual innovation and media convergence. Human-machine collaboration has expanded the boundaries of creative practice and cinematic expression, while AI-driven production tools have signiffcantly enhanced the capacity to visualize and materialize imagination. As cinema increasingly shifts from an art of representation toward the creation of generated worlds, new modes of spectatorship, production, and cultural consumption continue to emerge. The creative potential embedded in this historic transformation remains to be explored and realized by fflmmakers, scholars and industry practitioners alike.