China’s First 8K Space Film Beyond the Blue Star Set for Release！
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Window to the Blue Planet, China’s first 8K live-action space film, inspired by the Shenzhou-13 mission, blends stunning visuals with emotional storytelling and is set for nationwide release on September 5, 2025.
On August 19, China unveiled the release trailer for Window to the Blue Planet, the country’s first 8K live-action space film, announcing its nationwide theatrical debut on September 5, 2025. This marks the first film to carry the China Central Television (CCTV) Film Channel logo and hit national cinemas.
Based on the Shenzhou-13 mission’s six-month orbit, the film features astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu as “space cinematographers,” capturing key scenes inside China’s Tiangong space station. Directed by Zhu Yiran with the CCTV Documentary Center team, it invites audiences on an extraordinary journey infused with Chinese space aesthetics.
Pioneering Live-Action Space Filmmaking
Window to the Blue Planet is a historic milestone, being China’s first film to conduct large-scale live-action shooting in space. Using domestically developed 8K ultra-high-definition cameras with “8K, 50fps, full-frame” specifications, the production team overcame challenges like rocket vibrations, space environment testing, and onboard power and storage limitations. In collaboration with China’s space research teams, the equipment was delivered to the space station via the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft in 2021, laying the groundwork for this cinematic feat.
Audiences will witness unprecedented cosmic vistas and intimate glimpses of astronaut life on the big screen. Narrated through Wang Yaping’s perspective, the film blends awe-inspiring visuals with heartfelt human stories, weaving technological exploration with emotional resonance for a uniquely compelling experience.
A Fusion of Vision, Art, and Technology
Director Zhu Yiran stated, “The birth of this space film is a fusion of vision, art, and technology. Without China’s 30-plus years of manned spaceflight advancements, this work wouldn’t exist.” The production process doubled as a scientific endeavor, requiring groundbreaking collaboration between Earth and space. The film garnered international attention at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market. The Hollywood Reporter praised it as “opening a new frontier for Chinese cinema.” During its Italian screening, journalist Alessandra Spalletta noted, “It’s not just a space film but an emotional journey bridging Earth and the cosmos.”
Honoring China’s Space Dreams
“If one day, the scene you’ve dreamed of appears before your eyes…” Wang Yaping’s voiceover in the trailer fulfills the anticipation sparked by earlier teasers, echoing the Chinese nation’s aspiration to reach for the stars. Beyond documenting Shenzhou-13’s epic mission, the film celebrates China’s aerospace triumphs in the new era.
To deliver an immersive experience, Window to the Blue Planet will be released in multiple formats, including CINITY 4K 50fps, CINITY LED, IMAX, CGS China Giant Screen, and 4DX, ensuring audiences feel the “Chinese altitude” with stunning clarity and romance.
This cinematic ode to China’s space ambitions premieres on September 5, 2025, in theaters nationwide. Join us to gaze at the stars and see the “blue planet” through its window.
Source: CCTV News WeChat Official Account
