Chinese actress Shu Qi is one of the jurors at the Beijing International Film Festival this year. CCTV spoke with her about the festival, the craft of acting, filmmaking, and what it's like being on the judging panel.

When asked about her expectations for the festival, Chinese actress said that she’s been “looking forward to the film festival to see something different” that “veers in the direction of art.” She noted that the festival can “cultivate more quality nonfiction films” to allow people to “reflect.”

When it comes to what makes a great actor, Shu Qi said there’s just one word – “professionalism.” "Actually this applies to other roles as well, from directors and screenwriters to the film crews, not just for actors.” She likened an actor to “a chess piece,” saying that it’s important for the actor to know his or her “proper place on the board. When the [actor] is out of place, the game is thrown off course.” 

On her favorite films, Shu Qi noted that there are “too many.” For films that make it to festivals, she observed that they mostly “deal with issues of humanity, I'm usually a bit down afterwards. Then, to have to see another two or three films like that one after another, you can't help but come out telling yourself that we need to strive for better and make this a better place."

Shu Qi also expressed her expectations for cross-cultural exchange: "Perspectives, I think. Everyone has different jobs. For instance, I'm an actress, so I'll probably focus on the acting a little bit more. Yet, you also have directors and composers here who can help you appreciate the same film but from different angles. I find this very refreshing."