diff --git a/.github/workflows/content-freshness.yml b/.github/workflows/content-freshness.yml
index ebd5a76..2ac9d12 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/content-freshness.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/content-freshness.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ on:
 permissions:
   contents: read
   issues: write
+  actions: write
 
 jobs:
   check:
@@ -42,9 +43,15 @@ jobs:
               --title "Asciimation content is out of date" \
               --label content-freshness \
               --assignee modem7 \
-              --body "The scheduled content-freshness check found that \`src/index.html\`'s film data no longer matches upstream (https://www.asciimation.co.nz/Blinkenlights/). Run \`python3 scripts/update_film_data.py\`, review the diff, rebuild/test the image, and open a PR. This issue will need to be closed manually once that's done - the check doesn't auto-close it, to avoid closing an issue someone is still actively working."
+              --body "The scheduled content-freshness check found that \`src/index.html\`'s film data no longer matches upstream (https://www.asciimation.co.nz/Blinkenlights/). The \"Update film data\" workflow has been triggered automatically to open a PR with the refresh. This issue will need to be closed manually once that PR is merged - the check doesn't auto-close it, to avoid closing an issue someone is still actively working."
           fi
 
+      - name: Trigger automated update PR
+        if: steps.freshness.outcome == 'failure'
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        run: gh workflow run update-film-data.yml --ref master
+
       - name: Fail the job if stale
         if: steps.freshness.outcome == 'failure'
         run: exit 1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-film-data.yml b/.github/workflows/update-film-data.yml
index 4213489..c19033f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-film-data.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-film-data.yml
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ jobs:
           gh pr create \
             --title "Update asciimation film data from upstream" \
             --label content-freshness \
-            --body "Triggered manually via the \"Update film data\" workflow. Pulls the current film array + footer note from https://www.asciimation.co.nz/Blinkenlights/ via \`scripts/update_film_data.py\`, leaving engine code and the deliberately-excluded ads/tracking/dead-links untouched. Review the diff and let the Test workflow finish before merging."
+            --assignee modem7 \
+            --body "Triggered via the \"Update film data\" workflow (manually, or automatically by the content-freshness check). Pulls the current film array + footer note from https://www.asciimation.co.nz/Blinkenlights/ via \`scripts/update_film_data.py\`, leaving engine code and the deliberately-excluded ads/tracking/dead-links untouched. Review the diff and let the Test workflow finish before merging."
 
       - name: Summary
         run: |