Michał Stekla
Hollywood standard finally comes to TCL. One of the last major TV manufacturers that had so far resisted this feature will implement Filmmaker Mode in its miniLED LCD models in 2025.
Cinema mode without gimmicks!
Introduced by Hollywood in 2019, Filmmaker Mode has one job: to show the film exactly how the director intended. Accurate colour reproduction, faithful brightness in SDR and HDR, and the disabling of all artificial image enhancements, like motion smoothing or artificial sharpness - these are its main tasks. While it resembles the previous "Film" or "Cinema" modes, its advantage is the standardisation that aims to ensure users no longer have to guess which mode actually reflects the creator's intent.
TCL Models with Filmmaker Mode
In 2025, this mode will debut in TCL televisions:
Europe: C6K, C7K, C8K, C9K, X11K
North America: QM6K, QM7K, QM8K, X11K
Initially, the feature will support content in SDR and HDR10. However, TCL notes that the mode is primarily designed for viewing in dark rooms – therefore, the classic “Film” mode will still be available as an alternative for bright rooms.
It is worth noting one thing – even Filmmaker Mode, although it is based on standardisation, does not provide the same effect as true image calibration. Each individual television may vary slightly, and only precise calibration can extract the maximum potential from the panel. You can find out more about this process in our article:
Automation and Dolby Vision on the Horizon
New TCL televisions will support automatic switching to Filmmaker Mode in compatible applications, such as Prime Video. The manufacturer also plans to introduce a similar feature for the IMAX Enhanced mode.
Furthermore, the second half of 2025 will bring an update that adds support for Filmmaker Mode in the Dolby Vision standard. TCL is even considering replacing the current “Dolby Vision Dark” mode – a decision is expected in the coming months.
What about 2024?
Although the introduction of Filmmaker Mode for the 2024 models has not been confirmed yet, TCL is not ruling out that possibility. However, the new line for 2025 – which is just debuting in stores – will definitely be the first with official support for this mode.
TCL TVs with Filmmaker Mode (2025)
Model | Features | USA | UE |
|---|---|---|---|
TCL X11K | 4K LCD, miniLED (10,368, 14,112 zones), Google TV 12.0 | (85", 98") | (85", 98") |
TCL C9K | 4K LCD, miniLED (2160–5148 zones), Google TV 12.0 | (65", 75", 85") | (65", 75", 85") |
TCL C8K | 4K LCD, miniLED (1344–3000 zones), Precision Dimming, Google TV 12.0 | (65", 75", 85", 98") | (65", 75", 85", 98") |
TCL C7K | 4K LCD, miniLED (336–2880 zones), Precision Dimming, Google TV 12.0 | (50", 55", 65", 75", 85", 98", 115") | (50", 55", 65", 75", 85", 98", 115") |
TCL QM7K | 4K LCD, miniLED (336–2880 zones), Precision Dimming, Google TV 12.0 | (55", 65", 75", 85", 98", 115") | (55", 65", 75", 85", 98", 115") |
TCL C6K | 4K LCD, miniLED (180–512 zones), Dolby Vision, Precision Dimming, Google TV 12.0 | (50", 55", 65", 75", 85", 98") | (50", 55", 65", 75", 85", 98") |
TCL QM6K | 4K LCD, miniLED (180–512 zones), Precision Dimming, Google TV 12.0 | (50") | (55", 65", 75", 85") |
*number of zones depends on the TV size
