Under the Queen's Umbrella

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM presented new possibilities for content creation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, reaffirming its pioneering role in AI content industry.

As part of TIFF, the industry conference “PERSPECTIVES: Unlocking New Possibilities for Storytelling with AI” took place on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre. CJ ENM was invited as a globally outstanding AI content company and Seungwoo Kim, AI creator of CJ ENM’s <Cat Biggie>— a short-form animation series created entirely with AI—joined the panel to unfold CJ ENM’s case studies on applying generative AI in filmmaking, integrating it in legacy workflows, and unlocking new creative opportunities. Notable examples include <Cat Biggie> and <M Hotel>, CJ ENM’s AI short film that won Best AI Film at both the 2024 Cannes World Film Festival and the 2024 New York AMT Film Festival.

The session brought together industry leaders and creators across film, media, AI and technology, including Nikola Todorovic, co-founder of Wonder Dynamics; Christina Lee Storm, co-founder of Playbook PLBK; Ángel Manuel Soto, a Puerto Rican filmmaker, alongside Seungwoo Kim from CJ ENM. The conversation was moderated by Don Allen Stevenson III, an author, educator, and creative technologist specializing in generative AI for storytelling, design, and production.

“Through various AI projects, I have experienced how AI can unlock new creative possibilities—from visualizing surreal environments to giving creators more accessible entry points into content production,” said Kim. “While technology is critical in AI content, true differentiation ultimately lies in creative competitiveness. Based on the experience CJ ENM has accumulated over the past 30 years, we are taking bold steps to position ourselves as a global top AI studio.”

By joining the conversation at the TIFF, CJ ENM underscored its role in shaping how AI will transform storytelling. Since its release in July, <Cat Biggie> has garnered global attention and surpassed 10 million cumulative views. Following <Cat Biggie>, CJ ENM is developing AI-driven series and films that capture Korea's unique cultural sensibilities through its continued research into content-specialized AI technologies.

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM has been honored with top recognition at the ContentAsia Awards 2025, including a Gold Award for "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" and a Silver Award for "I-LAND2."

The ContentAsia Awards, now in its sixth year, honor excellence in premium video content and talent across the Asia-Pacific region. The 2025 ceremony was held on September 4 in Taipei, Taiwan, where CJ ENM secured two major awards, further affirming its position as a global creative force delivering premium Korean content to international audiences.

The awarded titles are "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" (available globally on Disney+), which won the Gold Award in the Best Drama Series in Asia for a Regional or International Market category, and "I-LAND2," which won the Silver Award in the Best Original Reality Programme Made in Asia category.

Shining as the Best Drama Series winner, "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" is a drama set in 1950s Korea, produced by Korea's Leading Scripted TV Studio, Studio Dragon. It follows a gifted young vocalist on her journey to become the leading performer of gukgeuk—Korean female classical opera—told through a distinctly female perspective. The series was also previously nominated at the 2025 Banff Rockie Awards.

Taking home the Silver Award for Best Original Reality Programme category is global K-POP girl group debut project "I-LAND2," marking another achievement for CJ ENM’s top music channel Mnet. This ambitious reality competition series follows 24 talented female contestants through intensive training and missions as they compete to debut as a next-generation global girl group izna, produced by TEDDY. The win celebrates the show’s innovative production, cinematic scale, and compelling narrative. "I-LAND2" was previously nominated at the Asian Television Awards, while the first season earned a nomination at the International Emmy Awards.

"CJ ENM is setting new standards in the global content market with powerful, diverse, and authentic Korean stories that resonate worldwide. Even as the industry undergoes global shifts, CJ ENM continues to push creative boundaries and champion Korean voices across genres. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and spotlight the talent driving Korean content onto the world stage," said Janine Stein, President of the ContentAsia Awards.

Jangho Seo, EVP of Content Business Division at CJ ENM, said “We’re deeply honored by this recognition from the ContentAsia Awards. This achievement highlights not only the excellence of our productions but also our strategic commitment to leading the global content industry. The award validates our capacity to deliver unique Korean content that engages audiences worldwide. As we continue to elevate Korean content, CJ ENM remains dedicated to producing premium content, expanding genre variety, and broadening our international distribution footprint.”

- CJ ENM Enters Indian Market With K-Drama Slate via Amazon’s MX Player

Leading Entertainment Company CJ ENM is further strengthening its global footprint through an expanded partnership with Amazon, now extending to India via Amazon MX Player, Amazon’s free streaming service. The move comes after Amazon’s acquisition of MX Player, marking the first official content package deal between CJ ENM and the newly integrated Indian AVOD ecosystem.

The new agreement includes a package of 18 drama series from CJ ENM—many of which have already found success in global markets—that will now be made available to Indian audiences. As part of the effort to connect more deeply with local viewers, the titles will be dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, completely free to stream.

Leading the lineup is Lovely Runner, the recent hit series that created a K-pop romance buzz, set to release on September 8, 2025. Following that, a collection of fan-favorite romance titles—My Lovely Liar, Twinkling Watermelon, Wedding Impossible, and Delightfully Deceitful—will be rolled out gradually over four quarters starting from the same date. With these already well-received titles, CJ ENM is set to captivate viewers in India.

This partnership is particularly meaningful as it not only signals a deepening relationship between CJ ENM and Amazon MX Player, but also marks a new phase in CJ ENM’s strategy to engage global audiences through localized content strategies.

Commenting on the partnership, Amogh Dusad, Director and Head of Content, Amazon MX Player, stated, “The demand for global content, especially Korean dramas, has grown exponentially in India. Through this partnership, we’re bringing 18 premium K-dramas — including recent blockbusters — to Indian audiences on AVOD, many of them for the very first time. With international stories now available in localized languages, we’re excited to make these compelling shows accessible to viewers completely free.”

Also marking it as a significant milestone in expanding the reach of Korean content in India’s free streaming market, Sebastian Kim, VP of the International Content Business at CJ ENM said, “This launch is very meaningful as we continue to reach new audiences around the world.” He added, “The shows have already proven their strength in story, cast, and production, and I believe they will strongly connect with Indian viewers through our new partnership with MX Player.”