Juliette Binoche shares artistic philosophy at Beijing film festival

Academy Award-winning actress Juliette Binoche shared professional insights and artistic views with emerging Chinese directors Liang Ming and Jing Yi during a masterclass at the 16th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) on April 24.

A photo captures the Juliette Binoche Masterclass held during the 16th Beijing International Film Festival in Beijing, April 24, 2026. [Photo by Yang Chuanli/China.org.cn]

Reflecting on a career spanning decades, the French actress revisited her collaborations with acclaimed filmmakers Krzysztof Kieślowski and Hou Hsiao-hsien, while detailing her recent transition into directing.

Binoche described her creative process as a balance between meticulous preparation and spontaneous improvisation. Citing her work on Hou's "Flight of the Red Balloon," Binoche noted she spent a month rehearsing on set and used her own belongings to decorate the location to ensure an "authentic domestic atmosphere."

Her collaboration with Kieślowski represented a different approach. Constrained by a tight budget, every scene had to be shot in one take, requiring actors to follow rigorous rehearsal protocols.

While respecting directors' creative visions, Binoche maintained that performance is inherently creative. Human beings are vivid, independent individuals, and no two interpretations of a role should be identical or rigidly fixed, she said.

Liang noted that his own practice mirrors this approach, prioritizing instinctive improvisation to capture unscripted moments on film.

Jing said directors ought to foster a nurturing creative environment with ample room for expression, allowing actors to grow naturally.

Reflecting on the essence of performance, Binoche said acting stems from within, urging artists to value and trust their personal feelings and sensory experiences.

Comparing actors to the sole medium of a painter's creation, she stressed that performers themselves are the most essential instrument of acting. She encouraged creators to follow their intuition, adding that growth is an iterative journey— only by openly acknowledging and embracing one's flaws and uncertainties can artists embrace new beginnings.

She illustrated this point with "Three Colors: Blue." A week before production, she struggled with anxiety over undecided costumes. It was not until she touched the bed linens on set that she awakened to the essence of intimacy, realizing that forging a deep emotional bond with a character far outweighs superficial styling. This authenticity rooted in personal sensory perception forms the cornerstone of her performance methodology.

Jing's creative vision resonates closely with Binoche's. While shooting "The Botanist," he set aside rigid preconceptions and guided his cast to build pure sensory connections through touching plants and vegetation, weaving a dreamlike, immersive narrative that blends reality and imagination.

Liang concluded from the perspective of character portrayal: only when actors fully immerse their minds and bodies in authentic settings and interpersonal dynamics can their emotions and reactions emerge naturally and instinctively, free from contrived acting mannerisms.

On the relationship between technical craft and core essence in filmmaking, Binoche holds a clear stance: all cinematic techniques should serve a film's narrative, central theme, expressive intent and human emotions. The ideal form of visual storytelling lies in understated craftsmanship rather than ostentatious technical display. In her view, exceptional cinema immerses audiences in real life, evoking unique reflections and emotional resonance for each viewer.

In recent years, Binoche has expanded her creative scope to directing, co-creating and editing the dance film "In-I In Motion." She said cross-genre directing cannot rely solely on past achievements as an actor; the true motivation behind stepping into directing lies in a genuine desire to express ideas, share stories and sustain creative passion. She also noted that directors need the wisdom to recognize talent and build a team of like-minded collaborators.

She revealed that a new directorial project is in development, saying she remains driven by a desire to keep discovering new aspects of herself. That relentless pursuit of exploration, she said, is what defines the profound meaning of life's journey.