Zhang Ziyi

Find the Soul of a Character

Date: 15 March 2026

Location: Xiqu Centre, WestK

Guest: ZHANG Ziyi

Moderator: DING Yuin Shanrthur CHU

ZHANG Ziyi: Finding the Soul of a Character

The final masterclass featured ZHANG Ziyi, hosted by Hong Kong producer DING Yuin Shan. Looking back on her filmography, ZHANG recalled working with Aaron KWOK in Love for Life. She admitted she was initially surprised when the director cast Aaron as a villager: “Aaron is such a handsome Hong Kong actor and an incredible dancer. When I heard he would learn a dialect and play such a grounded character, I was really surprised.”

But once she saw him on set fully immersed in the role, she immediately realised how perfect the casting was. The two actors frequently exchanged ideas about their characters and performance rhythm, sparking new approaches to their scenes.

Discussing The Grandmaster, ZHANG spoke about the intense preparation required for the role of Gong Er, which involved years of martial arts training during the film’s three-year production. “People often think it should have been easy for me because I studied dance before. But I wasn’t a very good dance student, and my body was quite stiff.”. The experience revealed the dedication behind her performances.

Speaking about her role as ZHAN Zhou-shi in her latest film She’s Got No Name, ZHANG recalled filming a key scene in Shanghai during winter: “When the character first appears, she has just killed someone. She is exhausted and terrified, hiding in a corner, uncertain about what fate awaits her. The trembling you see in the film wasn’t something I deliberately acted — it came from the cold and the character’s emotional state, which gave the role more space to breathe.”

When asked why she continues to pursue demanding roles, ZHANG explained: “Compared with thin, stereotypical characters, I prefer roles that feel real — characters with personality, obsession, even a little madness and struggle.”. She laughed that she often seems to “choose the harder path,” but those imperfect characters are precisely what draw her in. “Their souls are fascinating. That’s what makes me want to explore them.”

ASIAN FILM AWARDS ACADEMY

The Asian Film Awards Academy is a non-profit organization founded by the Busan International Film Festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival. In addition to presenting the annual Asian Film Awards, the Academy organizes screenings, exchange programmes and professional development initiatives to promote Asian cinema and nurture industry talent.

Our year-round events and programmes are held with the objectives to promote Asian films to a wider audience, expand the film market within Asia, and build and sustain connections among Hong Kong and international film professionals. Masterclass Series – in conversation with filmmakers, Journey to the fest – Student Visit to International Film Festivals, Asian Cinerama – Film Roadshow, and Young Film Professionals Programme – overseas training and work-placement, are examples of our year-round programmes. These programmes couldn’t have been held successfully without the financial support of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and Film Development Fund of the HKSAR Government. AFAA has worked to promote, educate, inform and develop knowledge, skills and interest in Asian cinema among the industry, students and audiences in Asia and beyond with the support of film festivals and cultural organizations.

CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CCIDAHK)

Under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) (formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK)) is a dedicated office, aiming to spearhead the development of cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong.

FILM DEVELOPMENT FUND

The Film Development Fund (FDF) was first set up by the Government in 1999 to support projects conducive to the long-term development of the film industry in Hong Kong, including: part-financing small-to-medium budget film productions; enhancing efforts to promote Hong Kong films in the Mainland and overseas; enhancing initiatives to train talents in various aspects of film production and distribution; and enhancing the interest and appreciation of Hong Kong films by the local audience.

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