Hong Kong SAR — Lingnan University has unveiled CineSim, the world’s first film production simulation software developed and successfully commercialised by a university team. Led by Dr. Tobby Kan Shiu-tao, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries, the project took two years to complete and received HK$800,000 in funding from the University Grants Committee.
Built on the principle of educational equity, CineSim allows students and creators to learn film production, lighting, and cinematography in a fully simulated environment—removing the need for costly equipment and traditional film sets. The software has already earned international recognition, including a Bronze Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva and a Silver Award at the 5th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions.
At the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2026, judges praised CineSim’s integration of theory and practice, noting its ability to export outputs for teaching and pre-visualisation. The panel highlighted its cost-effective model, which enables instructors to recreate scenes from classic films and television dramas for interactive analysis.
Dr. Kan expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying the team worked tirelessly from concept to refinement to create an interactive teaching tool that “removes geographical and resource constraints through the Internet, and empowers learners worldwide.”
Powered by Unreal Engine 5 and immersive VR technologies, CineSim offers 15 preset 3D scenes—including Hong Kong-themed settings such as cha chaan tengs and public housing estates. Users can experiment with composition, lighting, camera movement, and storyboarding, while advanced features allow AI-generated model imports for expanded creativity.
The system was tested by 200 Lingnan students during development and is now available free to Lingnan staff, students, and secondary schools. Internationally, CineSim is distributed via Steam, with a VR version slated for release later this year.
Dr. Kan emphasized that CineSim lowers barriers to entry for film production, supporting the sustainable growth of Hong Kong’s film industry. Schools with limited resources can now offer filmmaking courses, while industry professionals can use the tool for pre-production simulation and shot planning.
Lingnan University has been steadily building its reputation in education technology innovation. At the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva last month, the institution won a record 14 awards, more than doubling its previous year’s tally. It also secured 14 awards at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival in 2025, cementing its leadership in advancing the “Liberal Arts plus Technology” strategy across Asia.
