Fan Bingbing at BIFAN: "I envy the Korean film industry"

Fan Bingbing showed up at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival on July 3 for a press conference at the Cultural Hall of Hyundai Department Store's Joong-dong branch in Bucheon.

She was there to introduce Mother Bumi, a dreamlike drama set against modern Malaysian history — colonial rule, regional conflict, class tension — where reality and fantasy blur together.

The Korean film industry came up fast. Fan Bingbing mentioned two projects she'd made here: My Way with Jang Dong-gun, shot roughly ten years ago, and Nok Ya, filmed with actor Lee Joo-young during the COVID period. On Nok Ya specifically, she said half her dialogue was in Korean. "Unfortunately, I have forgotten it all now."

She didn't mince words about the industry itself. "I envy the Korean film industry," she said. "The subject matter is rich and complex human relationships and diverse technical capabilities seem to be naturally implemented." She added that the people making films work with "sincerity, authenticity, and outstanding creativity."

(Coming from someone who has actually shot two productions here, that reads like something she actually means.)

The 30th BIFAN runs July 2–12 across the Bucheon area. Director Chut Kit Ong also attended the overseas filmmakers press conference on July 3.