Chinese developed film projection system gains traction in cinema industry

CINITY LED, a China-developed high-end cinema system, performed strong in the market in 2025, with a significant growth in audience numbers and new recognition from the global film industry.

A cinema in Sichuan Province's Chengdu is drawing moviegoers from out of town to make a trip to the city just to enjoy movies on China's first curved CINITY LED screen.

"The screen is enormous, with very clear images. The colors are incredibly vibrant, and every detail, compared with other cinemas, looks far more vivid," said Luo Yantong, a moviegoer.

"I came from Zigong City just to have an experience of this theater. The colors on the screen are very bright, plus it's a curved screen, so the viewing experience is absolutely fantastic," said Qiu Qihui, another viewer.

The CINITY LED system provides a viewing experience with smoother, clearer images and higher brightness compared with traditional systems. When watching a movie in CINITY LED theaters, many viewers say they noticed more details that were unseen on traditional screens.

"The LED viewing experience really brings out the true colors and details in the images, so all the details filmmakers want to show the audience can be authentically conveyed to them," said Bian Wei, general manager of CINITY.

CINITY theaters achieved remarkable box office results during this year's Spring Festival period, with multiple data hitting new highs. Between Chinese New Year's Eve and the seventh day of the New Year, ticket sales at CINITY theaters rose by 82.6 percent, with attendance up by 80.2 percent, and the average number of viewers per screening increasing by 73.3 percent. CINITY theaters now boost an average of 107 viewers per screening, more than doubling the attendance at regular theaters.

These impressive figures indicate that the Chinese audiences are recognizing and favoring the domestic film projection system, highlighting China's ongoing innovations in the film technology sector.

Traditional film projection systems typically offer 2K resolution and 24 frames per second, but with the widespread application of digital technology, audience expectations for higher-quality visuals have grown. CINITY's film system, launched in August 2019, combines seven cutting-edge film projection technologies: 4K, 3D, high brightness, high frame rates, high dynamic range (HDR), wide color gamut, and immersive sound.

In 2023, CINITY introduced the CINITY LED system, a groundbreaking 4K, 120-frame LED cinema projection system, the first of its kind in the world.

"LED technology is revolutionary compared with traditional projection systems. Traditional films rely on a beam of light projected onto a screen, whereas LED lights each individual pixel, significantly improving light efficiency. The uniformity is excellent, and the contrast ratio has hit a quite high level," Bian said.

During this year's Spring Festival, the CINITY LED CFL-10, featuring a 10-meter LED screen, earned the latest CTP1.4.1 certification from the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI), becoming the world's first LED cinema projection system to receive this certification.

It is also the only high dynamic range LED projection system globally recognized by the organization, giving China a leading position in setting a new global standard for professional LED systems.

CINITY LED is also titled to its own film mastering process. The company opened its Los Angeles mastering center in January, making CINITY LED the only brand in the world that presents exclusive LED mastering version movies.

"Since its inception, cinema technology has adhered to a global standard, allowing films produced in one country to be shown on equipment in any other countries. However, in the course of technological development, special high-format versions of films have emerged. What is the significance here? First of all, you need to have the recognition of the film production side. Their approval of making this version of yours means they see it as something unique or better that offers the most authentic movie-watching experience. It is also more appealing to audiences and expands a film's influence and reach," Bian said.

Chinese developed film projection system gains traction in cinema industry

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media