Michelle Yeoh visits Busan for the first time in 15 years, expressing hope to collaborate with Korean directors

Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian actress to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress, visited the Busan International Film Festival for the first time in 15 years. The Busan International Film Festival presented the ‘Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award’, given to filmmakers who have contributed to the development of the Asian film industry and culture, to Michelle Yeoh. At a press conference held on the 7th at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District, Busan, she looked back on her experience of being classified as a minority in Hollywood and the process of expanding her range of roles. At this film festival, she presents her new work ‘My Grandma Is the Cube Queen’, in which she participated as both an actress and executive producer, and also expressed her desire to work with directors Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook, and Bong Joon Ho.

Visiting Busan for the first time in 15 years and receiving the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award

Michelle Yeoh received the ‘Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award’ at the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. This award is presented to filmmakers who have contributed to the development of the Asian film industry and culture. After receiving the award at the opening ceremony held the previous day, she attended a press conference on the 7th. She visited the Busan International Film Festival for the first time in 15 years. At the press conference held at the Busan Cinema Center, she mentioned both the Busan International Film Festival and her own film career, saying, “Both the Busan International Film Festival and I have walked the path of film for a very long time.”

Michelle Yeoh continued, “It feels like we have achieved the dream of starting from Asia and moving toward the world to promote our films and culture.” According to reference articles, she expressed gratitude for the award received at the opening ceremony, and during the press conference, she spoke of her affection for film and acting. “The reason I do this work is because I love film and acting,” she said, adding, “Acting is my life itself, and I don't know how I would live without film.” She explained the reason she continues to challenge herself with new works despite having been an actress for decades by linking it to her love for film.

The reality of being a minority faced in Hollywood

Born in Malaysia, Michelle Yeoh began her acting career in the Hong Kong film industry. She made a name for herself by appearing in works such as ‘Yes, Madam!’ (1985) and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000), and also worked in Hollywood through works including ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ (1997). Michelle Yeoh cited the fact that she was classified as a minority as the most surprising thing when she first entered Hollywood. She recalled, “What surprised me most when I first went to Hollywood was the fact that I was classified as a minority. Even though there are so many Asians in the world, I, an actress from Asia, was considered a minority.”

She said that the roles she received at that time were not many, and the roles given were often trapped in stereotypes about Asians. Michelle Yeoh said, “There weren't many roles themselves, and the roles given were often trapped in stereotypes about Asians.” She continued, explaining, “Through works like ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, I gradually chose different roles so as not to remain stuck in a single image.” This explains that she tried to broaden her range of roles when choosing works. Her major works and awards are as follows:

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ is a 2022 work, and Michelle Yeoh received the Academy Award for Best Actress for this film as the first Asian actress. While the original text expressed it as a 2022 award, reference articles reported it as a 2023 award by distinguishing between the film's release year and the award year. Regarding the moment of winning, Michelle Yeoh said, “Even now, it sometimes feels like I am dreaming.” She also stated, “After receiving that award, I gained the courage to do more work and gained the strength to move forward.”

Acting as a grandmother who challenges herself again after being a victim of fraud in a new work

Michelle Yeoh took on the lead role and executive producer roles in ‘My Grandma Is the Cube Queen’, the invited Gala Presentation work at this Busan International Film Festival. Directed by Bai Xue, the story follows Zhao, who loses her home due to fraud and lives in a nursing home, and embarks on a new challenge after meeting a young man who was once a magic cube world champion. The original text introduces the protagonist of the work as an 80-year-old grandmother. Reference articles also explain that Zhao meets a young man who was once a cube champion while staying in a nursing home and challenges herself again.

Michelle Yeoh said she wanted to convey a story through the work that one can start life anew regardless of age. She said, “There are countless possibilities in a cube, and life is the same. I wanted to tell a story that even as you get older, new opportunities can come, and you must never give up.” She added, “It is a film that also contains the love and support of family and the joy of meeting new people. I hope the message that you ultimately create your own life reaches the audience.” According to reference articles, Zhao, played by Michelle Yeoh in the work, is a character who meets a young man through a cube and challenges a world competition.

At the film festival press conference, Michelle Yeoh explained the various possibilities of the cube by comparing it to life. She emphasized the message of the work that opportunities can come even as one ages. Reference articles also include an explanation that this film is a Chinese-language film in which Michelle Yeoh has appeared after a long time. Michelle Yeoh said she contemplated how to return to Asian cinema and expressed her intention to build a bridge between the West and the East and work by moving back and forth. At the film festival, not only her new work but also various works she has appeared in are being introduced.

Hopes to work with Korean directors… Four works to be screened at the film festival

Michelle Yeoh repeatedly expressed her desire to work with Korean filmmakers. Mentioning director Lee Chang-dong's new film "Possible Love," she stated that she wants to work with him. She continued by saying she would also like to make films with directors Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho. Michelle Yeoh also spoke about her connection with Korea. “I worked with actor Jung Woo-sung in 'Reign of Assassins' and have experience working with other Korean actors,” she said. “I like K-pop, Korean dramas, and Korean food, but above all, I really like Korean people.”

According to the reference article, Michelle Yeoh said Korean cinema is a model case for Asia, and she showed respect for Korean actors by mentioning how Youn Yuh-jung became the first Asian actor to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Michelle Yeoh won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2022 for "Everything Everywhere All at Once," and she said that winning for this work gave her the courage to do more. The Busan International Film Festival has prepared a special project, "Michelle Yeoh Across All Time and Everywhere," to highlight her cinematic life.

In the special project, four works will be screened: "Reign of Assassins" (2010), which Michelle Yeoh personally selected; "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (2022), which brought her the Academy Award for Best Actress; director Sean Baker's short film "Sandiwara" (2026); and the new film "My Grandma Is the Cube Queen." Michelle Yeoh said she was able to experience and learn the perspectives of many different people through films, and cited her love for film and acting as the reason she challenges herself with new works. The Busan International Film Festival will present Michelle Yeoh's works to the audience through special project screenings and gala presentations.

Michelle Yeoh received the "Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award" at the Busan International Film Festival and introduced her new film "My Grandma Is the Cube Queen." In the film festival's special project, the four works she selected will be screened. Michelle Yeoh expressed her intention to work with directors Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook, and Bong Joon Ho, and through this visit, she shared her activities as both an actress and a producer.

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