(Busan) Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, who has gained international acclaim, attended the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and shared her enduring passion for acting and relentless spirit of challenge. She expressed her joy in learning new things, stating, "I feel happy when I learn something new."
On the morning of October 7, a press conference was held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae, featuring Fan Bingbing, the lead actress in the invited film 'Diary of a Mad Old Man' and the short film 'She Said.'
At this year's festival, Fan Bingbing will meet audiences through two distinct works. 'Diary of a Mad Old Man,' invited in the Asian Cinema Window section, is a new film by director Wayne Wang, based on the novel of the same name by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.
'She Said,' which is competing in the Wide Angle Asia Short Film section, is a short film by a Singaporean debut director that explores a truth game involving a woman with a traumatic past.
Fan Bingbing remarked, "Every time I come to BIFF, I receive new ideas and encouragement. I feel excited every time I participate in the opening ceremony. Busan always feels familiar, and my heart feels lighter every time I cross the sea. I hope to meet local and international directors and enjoy various films here."
Having built a solid filmography by participating in a variety of projects, from short films to works by debut directors, she emphasized her firm criteria for selecting roles, stating that she values the 'process' over the 'result.'
"My standard is whether I can have fun while working. A good script is important, but the happiness of the process, working with various staff, directors, and actors in new projects, is what matters most," she said. "Only when we enjoy working together can we find good conditions and produce the best results."
She also radiated positive energy regarding collaborations with directors of various nationalities and experience levels.
Regarding 'Diary of a Mad Old Man,' in which she worked with veteran director Wayne Wang and Japanese actor Lily Franky, Fan Bingbing shared, "The director, who initially thought this would be his last work, changed his mind after enjoying working with me and Lily Franky, saying, 'I think I can make more films.' Language barriers are not a significant issue in collaboration."
She expressed affection for her collaboration with debut director Ivan Tan in 'She Said,' saying, "The debut director was anxious about casting me, but I willingly participated because the script was interesting. The filming was challenging, but if I can bring success to the debut director by being invited to various film festivals, it makes me very happy as a filmmaker."
Fan Bingbing, who has recently showcased bold acting transformations, confessed her strong attraction to characters in 'dangerous relationships.'
She explained her choice of 'Diary of a Mad Old Man,' saying, "I enjoy challenging myself with characters that are hard to meet and are in danger. The original story deals with the 'desire' of a 70-year-old man who, despite being shocked by his age, is still alive. We often overlook the desires of the elderly and live with low expectations, but the film interestingly portrays the new spark that emerges through will and desire, even in the process of mental breakdown, in a black comedy format."
On the same day, Fan Bingbing also shared her thoughts on the recent trend of short-form dramas in China and the introduction of AI technology in the film industry.
She stated, "While I enjoy watching AI short forms, the faces and characters of the actors are often similar and not memorable. I am concerned that the younger generation may lose their artistic sense and aesthetic by only watching short forms."
She continued, "I believe AI cannot replace actors. The generated videos created by machines often lack the process and contain many elements of poor quality. The hardships and seasoned skills that actors accumulate in human life, along with the subtle emotions and performances that arise from human interaction, are things that AI can never replicate."
Fan Bingbing did not forget to express her admiration for the Korean film industry. Reflecting on her experience filming 'Nokya,' she said, "During the two months of shooting in Korea, I envied the diverse expressiveness and energy of Korean filmmakers."
She particularly mentioned the recent work of director Lee Chang-dong, stating, "I was shocked by the way the souls and actors in the film flowed. It was shocking acting even for me, who has been in the industry for 30 years. I felt freshness watching actors like Lee Joo-young in the diverse attempts of Korean content, and these stimuli are bringing new changes and fun to my acting."
Meanwhile, the 31st Busan International Film Festival, running from October 6 to 15, showcases a total of 316 diverse works from 59 countries, including 69 community BIFF screenings. The opening film was 'Day and Night Are for Each Other' directed by Kim Jong-kwan, and the closing film will feature the winners of major categories, including the 'Busan Award - Grand Prize,' which qualifies for submission to the Academy Awards.
On the morning of October 7, a press conference was held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae, featuring Fan Bingbing, the lead actress in the invited film 'Diary of a Mad Old Man' and the short film 'She Said.'
At this year's festival, Fan Bingbing will meet audiences through two distinct works. 'Diary of a Mad Old Man,' invited in the Asian Cinema Window section, is a new film by director Wayne Wang, based on the novel of the same name by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.
'She Said,' which is competing in the Wide Angle Asia Short Film section, is a short film by a Singaporean debut director that explores a truth game involving a woman with a traumatic past.
Fan Bingbing remarked, "Every time I come to BIFF, I receive new ideas and encouragement. I feel excited every time I participate in the opening ceremony. Busan always feels familiar, and my heart feels lighter every time I cross the sea. I hope to meet local and international directors and enjoy various films here."
Having built a solid filmography by participating in a variety of projects, from short films to works by debut directors, she emphasized her firm criteria for selecting roles, stating that she values the 'process' over the 'result.'
"My standard is whether I can have fun while working. A good script is important, but the happiness of the process, working with various staff, directors, and actors in new projects, is what matters most," she said. "Only when we enjoy working together can we find good conditions and produce the best results."
She also radiated positive energy regarding collaborations with directors of various nationalities and experience levels.
Regarding 'Diary of a Mad Old Man,' in which she worked with veteran director Wayne Wang and Japanese actor Lily Franky, Fan Bingbing shared, "The director, who initially thought this would be his last work, changed his mind after enjoying working with me and Lily Franky, saying, 'I think I can make more films.' Language barriers are not a significant issue in collaboration."
She expressed affection for her collaboration with debut director Ivan Tan in 'She Said,' saying, "The debut director was anxious about casting me, but I willingly participated because the script was interesting. The filming was challenging, but if I can bring success to the debut director by being invited to various film festivals, it makes me very happy as a filmmaker."
Fan Bingbing, who has recently showcased bold acting transformations, confessed her strong attraction to characters in 'dangerous relationships.'
She explained her choice of 'Diary of a Mad Old Man,' saying, "I enjoy challenging myself with characters that are hard to meet and are in danger. The original story deals with the 'desire' of a 70-year-old man who, despite being shocked by his age, is still alive. We often overlook the desires of the elderly and live with low expectations, but the film interestingly portrays the new spark that emerges through will and desire, even in the process of mental breakdown, in a black comedy format."
On the same day, Fan Bingbing also shared her thoughts on the recent trend of short-form dramas in China and the introduction of AI technology in the film industry.
She stated, "While I enjoy watching AI short forms, the faces and characters of the actors are often similar and not memorable. I am concerned that the younger generation may lose their artistic sense and aesthetic by only watching short forms."
She continued, "I believe AI cannot replace actors. The generated videos created by machines often lack the process and contain many elements of poor quality. The hardships and seasoned skills that actors accumulate in human life, along with the subtle emotions and performances that arise from human interaction, are things that AI can never replicate."
Fan Bingbing did not forget to express her admiration for the Korean film industry. Reflecting on her experience filming 'Nokya,' she said, "During the two months of shooting in Korea, I envied the diverse expressiveness and energy of Korean filmmakers."
She particularly mentioned the recent work of director Lee Chang-dong, stating, "I was shocked by the way the souls and actors in the film flowed. It was shocking acting even for me, who has been in the industry for 30 years. I felt freshness watching actors like Lee Joo-young in the diverse attempts of Korean content, and these stimuli are bringing new changes and fun to my acting."
Meanwhile, the 31st Busan International Film Festival, running from October 6 to 15, showcases a total of 316 diverse works from 59 countries, including 69 community BIFF screenings. The opening film was 'Day and Night Are for Each Other' directed by Kim Jong-kwan, and the closing film will feature the winners of major categories, including the 'Busan Award - Grand Prize,' which qualifies for submission to the Academy Awards.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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