Michał Stekla
Hollywood standard finally comes to TCL. One of the last major TV manufacturers that has so far resisted this feature will implement Filmmaker Mode in its miniLED LCD models in 2025.
Cinema mode without frills!
Introduced by Hollywood in 2019, Filmmaker Mode has one task: to show the film exactly as the director intended. Accurate color reproduction, faithful brightness in SDR and HDR, and the removal of all artificial image enhancements, such as motion smoothing or artificial sharpness - these are its main functions. While it resembles previous modes like "Film" or "Cinema," its advantage is the standardization which means that the user no longer has to guess which mode truly reflects the creator's vision.
TCL Models with Filmmaker Mode
In 2025, this mode will appear for the first time 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 emphasizes that the mode is mainly intended 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 based on standardization, does not provide the same effect as true picture calibration. Each television unit may differ slightly, and only precise calibration can extract the maximum potential from the panel. You can find 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 apps, such as Prime Video. The manufacturer also plans to introduce a similar feature for the IMAX Enhanced mode.
Moreover, 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 the year 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 (2,160–5,148 zones), Google TV 12.0 | (65", 75", 85") | (65", 75", 85") |
TCL C8K | 4K LCD, miniLED (1,344–3,000 zones), Precision Dimming, Google TV 12.0 | (65", 75", 85", 98") | (65", 75", 85", 98") |
TCL C7K | 4K LCD, miniLED (336–2,880 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 (336–2,880 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") |
*the number of zones depends on the diagonal size of the TV
