Filmmaker Mode is currently a manual option but that changes now for owners of LG 2020 and 2021 TVs with Amazon Prime Video where movies can automatically trigger it.

Automatic Filmmaker Mode
When Hollywood directors, TV makers and the UHD Alliance joined forces in 2019 to create Filmmaker Mode for TVs, designed to preserve the creator's intent, they said that it could potentially be activated automatically for movies and TV shows.

It took a while to get there but Amazon and LG are finally ready to take the first step. Starting this week, a software update will enable all LG 4K and 8K LCD and OLED TVs from 2020 and 2021 (with webOS 5.0 or 6.0) to automatically engage Filmmaker Mode. How does it work?

- "LG and Amazon now take that vision a step further with Prime Video content embedded with a signal that automatically triggers Filmmaker Mode on 4K and 8K UHD LG TV models running webOS 5.0 and webOS 6.0.  This ability for compatible TVs to detect and adjust settings to Filmmaker Mode without the need for the viewer to change the setting manually is an industry first and paves the way for future TVs to better support streaming services without imposing additional steps on viewers," the companies explained.


 Filmmaker Mode finally supports auto-switching

Amazon is the first content provider to embed in the signal the metadata required for Filmmaker Mode auto-switching. There is no word on when other streaming services will follow. Filmmaker Mode works with content in SDR and HDR10 but not Dolby Vision.

Filmmaker Mode deactivates enhancement systems like motion smoothing and sharpness. Viewers have the option to confirm or decline Filmmaker Mode via a pop-up window. LG said that "Filmmaker Mode can be manually turned off in the settings menu" but it is a little unclear if the TV automatically switches out of Filmmaker Mode after the movie.

Manual Filmmaker Mode is also supported in TVs from brands like Samsung, Panasonic, Philips and Vizio. You can see which TV models in the TV Database. These TV makers have yet to comment on their plans for automatic Filmmaker Mode.