Michelle Yeoh visits Busan: 'We started in Asia and went to the world — we achieved that goal'

"Just like the Busan International Film Festival, I have been walking this path for a long time. We all had the goal of starting in Asia and going out to the world to share our films and our culture — and I think we have achieved that goal."

Michelle Yeoh spoke those words Wednesday at a press conference at the Busan Cinema Center, describing the Busan International Film Festival as a fellow traveler who has walked alongside her on the road of cinema.

Yeoh, returning to the festival for the first time in 15 years since "The Lady" (2011), received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the opening ceremony Tuesday — an honor given to filmmakers who have contributed to the development of Asian cinema and culture.

Born in Malaysia, Yeoh launched her career in the Hong Kong film industry and built global recognition through films including "Yes, Madam" (1985) and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000).

In 2023, she became the first actor of Asian descent to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

But her early days in Hollywood were far from easy.

"The biggest shock when I first went to Hollywood was realizing I was a minority," Yeoh recalled. "There are so many Asians in the world, yet people looked at me — someone who came from Asia — as a minority."

"The roles I was offered were few, and most of them were stereotyped," she said. "Through films like 'Tomorrow Never Dies' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' I gradually expanded the range of roles I took so I wouldn't be reduced to just that image."

On winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, she said: "There are still moments when it feels like a dream. That award gave me the inspiration to do more and the strength to keep going."

Asked what has driven her to keep taking on new challenges across decades on the world stage, she pointed to her enduring love of cinema.

"The reason I do this is because I have love and passion for my work," Yeoh said. "For me, acting is life itself — I don't know how I would live without film."

At this year's festival, Yeoh stars in and serves as executive producer of "My Grandma the Rubik's Cube Queen," selected for the Gala Presentation section.

Directed by Bai Xue, the film follows Zhao (played by Yeoh), a woman who loses her home to fraud and ends up in a nursing home, where she meets a young man who was once a world Rubik's Cube champion and embarks on a new challenge alongside him.

"A Rubik's Cube has countless possibilities — and so does life," Yeoh said. "I wanted to send the message that no matter how old you are, opportunities can still come, and you should never give up."

She added that the film also invites reflection on family love and support, and on the joy of making new friends. "I hope the audience takes away the message that your life is in your own hands," she said.

Yeoh also expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Korean filmmakers.

"I am very much looking forward to working with director Lee Chang-dong," she said, referencing his upcoming film "Ganeunghan Sarang." She added that she would also love to work with Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho.

"I worked with Jung Woo-sung on 'The Crossing' and have collaborated with other Korean actors as well," she said. "I love K-pop, K-dramas and Korean food — but above all, I really love Korean people."

The festival has organized a special retrospective program dedicated to Yeoh's cinematic world this year.

Four films personally selected by Yeoh will be screened: "The Crossing" (2010), "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (2022), short film "Sandiwara" (2026) by director Sean Baker, and her new film "My Grandma the Rubik's Cube Queen."