[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Chinese actress Fan Bingbing emphasized that the value of actors will not disappear even in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). She explained that while the production environment may change significantly due to AI, the essence of acting—which stems from human experiences and emotions—cannot be replaced.

Fan Bingbing shared her thoughts on AI films and the future of actors at a press conference for “Mother Bumi,” a film invited to the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), held on the 3rd at the Culture Hall of the Hyundai Department Store Jungdong Branch in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.
“Mother Boomi,” starring Fan Bingbing, is set in northern Malaysia in the late 1990s and tells the story of Hong Im, a shaman striving to protect her family amid the scars of the colonial era and regional conflicts. It is a fantasy drama that captures the pain of modern Malaysian history through a narrative where reality and fantasy intertwine, and Fan Bingbing showcased a powerful transformation in her acting, departing from her usual image.
Regarding AI-driven films, Fan Bingbing stated, “AI will bring significant changes to the global film industry in the future,” adding, “From a producer’s perspective, it has the advantage of lowering production costs and enabling diverse forms of expression.”
She continued, “AI could play a major role in scenes requiring a large number of actors and crew, such as war sequences,” but added, “While it may be able to replace simple acting, I don’t think AI can yet fully substitute for the expression of human emotions and complex, nuanced sentiments.”
She emphasized, “The joys, sorrows, and hardships humans experience throughout their lives, along with the weight of life and authenticity, are areas that AI cannot easily replicate,” adding, “That is precisely why actors exist.”
She noted that as AI technology advances, the actors’ own efforts will become even more important. Fan Bingbing said, “AI can be a great help in bringing young directors’ imaginations to life,” but added, “If actors hand over their images to AI to act on their behalf, human actors might actually become lazy.”
She continued, “An actor’s profession involves listening to the sounds of life, experiencing the world, and expressing the emotions felt through various roles,” adding, “While we should keep an open mind and monitor developments regarding AI, the experience and sensibilities of human actors are what matter most.”

This year is also a special one for Fan Bingbing. Marking the 30th anniversary of her acting debut, she received the “Global Icon Award” at the 30th BIFAN.
Fan Bingbing said, “This was my first time attending the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and I was truly amazed by the opening ceremony.” She continued, “The official videos, graphics, and even the animations were all beautiful, and I felt that the very best technology was being brought to life right here.” She continued, “The festival’s 30th anniversary coincided with the 30th anniversary of my acting career,” adding, “Receiving this award was a great source of encouragement and comfort, and it felt like a beautiful connection.”
She also expressed her affection for the Korean film industry. Referring to her experience filming in Korea for the movie *Green Night*, she said, “I remember studying hard because about half of the dialogue was in Korean at the time,” adding, “Korean films naturally capture various issues in real society and the complex emotions of human beings, and I’ve always admired their creativity and production systems.”

“Mother Boomi” was also a new challenge for her as an actress. “I used five languages in the film, including the local language of Malaysia, and since I played a shaman, I even had to memorize incantations,” she recalled. “It was a challenging project—I practiced the languages with the director for three to four months.”
She continued, “I wanted to present a completely new side of myself in the film—so much so that audiences wouldn’t recognize me for the first 15 minutes or so.” She added, “Change is essential for an actor, and this project was a precious experience that brought out another side of me that had been hidden inside.”
Finally, Fan Bingbing revealed the driving force that has allowed her to continue acting for 30 years. “Acting is what I love most in my life,” she said. “While a person is someone’s daughter, friend, and family member, I believe everyone should have at least one thing they truly love. For me, that thing was acting, which is why I’ve been able to keep doing it until now.”
She added, “For an actor, the encounter with a project and a director is both a connection and destiny,” noting, “‘Mother Boomi’ was also a project made possible by my meeting with the director. Going forward, I want to take on any project that can transform me.”
The 30th BIFAN will be held throughout Bucheon City—including Bucheon City Hall, the Korean Comic Museum, CGV Sopung, and Lotte Cinema Bucheon—until the 12th. This year, 321 films from 50 countries and a variety of programs will be presented to audiences.