[Inside the Busan International Film Festival] “AI Can’t Replace Actors”: Fan Bingbing Returns for First Press Conference in 3 Years, Pays Tribute to ‘Possible Love’ Performances

30 years of acting experience help her weather technology’s waves

Fan Bingbing, an actress who has built a career on the global stage beyond the Chinese-language market, returned to the 31st 'Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)' after three years. At a press conference held at the Busan Cinema Center on the seventh, she underscored the irreplaceable value of actors in the age of 'artificial intelligence (AI)', a central issue for the video industry, while expressing her particular affection for Korean cinema.

She clearly identified the limits of content made with 'artificial intelligence (AI)'. “I sometimes come across AI short-form dramas, but the characters all look alike, so they leave no lasting impression,” she said, offering a pointed observation. She added, “The raw emotions that human beings express through acting, and the seasoned skill shaped by the arc of a life, cannot be replicated by AI technology.” Her words reflected both the weighty pride of a veteran actress entering her '30th year' in the profession and a sharp warning against technological determinism.

Deep admiration for masters Park Chan-wook and Lee Chang-dong

Her connection with leading figures in Korean cinema also drew attention. Fan Bingbing, who came to Busan in 2023 with 'Green Night', praised Lee Chang-dong’s 'Possible Love' and Park Chan-wook’s 'The Handmaiden.'

“Watching 'Possible Love' at the Toronto International Film Festival, I felt tremendously envious of the way the actors moved freely across the screen,” she said, paying tribute to the artistry created by the strong trust between director and actors.

For the special program 'Carte Blanche,' she personally selected Park Chan-wook’s 'The Handmaiden'. “The women who exist beyond Director Park’s lens are both perilous and utterly free. I was completely captivated by their courage and vitality,” she said.

A taboo-breaking new film and an ever-expanding career

At this year’s festival, 'Fan Bingbing' will meet audiences through Wayne Wang’s feature 'The Diary of a Mad Old Man' and Singaporean newcomer Iven Tan’s short film 'She Said.' An adaptation of Junichiro Tanizaki’s novel of the same name, 'The Diary of a Mad Old Man' is a black comedy that dissects the secret desires between Utsugi (Lily Franky), a man in his 70s who suffers a stroke, and Susu (Fan Bingbing), his Chinese daughter-in-law who cares for him.

She described the film as “a profound work that asks how society has tolerated the fundamental human desires of older people,” explaining what drew her to the project.

Finally, she said, “Collaborating with a new country and an unfamiliar director always opens a fresh window,” adding, “Discovering unknown possibilities through that window and enjoying the work are what drive my life as an actress.” She thus signaled her desire to keep expanding the boundaries of her craft.

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