Yao Chen at the Shanghai Film Festival and Friendship with Zhang Weili

Officially, Yao Chen was part of the 26th judging team^th The Shanghai International Film Festival Projects initiative for productions in development, but the actress-producer freely admits she came to the city eager — as ever — to land as many roles as possible.

Yao was also actively seeking production opportunities for her Bad Rabbit Pictures, as well as possible acting turns for herself. And she was looking for talent to work with in the future.

Yao's career has been built on hits like the one in 2018 Lost foundthe hugely successful television series Everything is fine (2019), and the critically acclaimed feature Send me to the clouds (2019). Her social media community has hovered around 100 million followers. She arrived in the city after recently finishing filming her latest film, directed by Li Yu After the typhoona female-led anti-elemental drama is already garnering attention in China, as it features Ultimate Fighting Championship's Zhang Weili in what is the world mixed martial arts champion's first acting role.

Yao spoke to THR about how festivals like SIFF provide the opportunity to discover new talent and projects for her and her production company, and the bond she's formed with Weili: “Seeing her work so much inspires me.”

How important has SIFF been in your career as an actress and producer?

I don't remember the first time I came to SIFF, but it was so important to me when [2019’s] Send me to the clouds was chosen [for the Asian New Talents competition] because this came at an important time with the start of my company. Up for Best Picture [in SIFF’s main Golden Goblet competition] ABOUT Lost found it was the same feeling. This recognition is so important and shows that your work is being recognized. I have yet to win an award here and it makes me hungry to do so.

What role do you think the festival plays in terms of Chinese cinema?

It truly recognizes creativity and the best in Chinese cinema — and that's why it's so important to us.

You are working for the festival, but have you also paid attention as a producer to the talent you like to work with?

Oh yes definitely. Over the years I have also participated in new project programs, such as SIFF Projects, but this is my first time working on a jury and judging them. Besides enjoying all this new talent, I find new inspiration or even new team members in them, and I leave wanting to start new adventures with all this new talent. Also, as an actress, she has a chance to be involved in some of these projects. We've seen a lot of diversity in content and in the past we've also invested in five projects from such programs, so I think they're a great opportunity for everyone.

How did you handle the role as a member of the jury?

The first thing I would do is use my instincts to look at projects purely from the perspective of the audience. What would be the emotional experience of the project? Then I would look at the script – how it's shaped, but also how it handles the characters and how easy it is for an audience to relate to them. I also look at what kind of person the director is and what they want to express with this story. Basically, I try to judge on a combination of all three things.

You have just left the group The next typhoon with Zhang Wei. What can you tell us about that relationship?

We actually train together for two years. We have a really good relationship. Before I started training with Weili, I never thought I could take up martial arts. You know, I thought you had to be really big, with big muscles, to train like that, but that's not the case at all. Once we started training, I realized that it's not so much about your body as it is about your mind. You are not competing against another person, you are competing against yourself. She is so diligent and spends so much time perfecting her art, but she really enjoys it. I learned a lot from her.

Can you get anything in the movie world?

I think that in life you can be inspired by many different people and their different qualities. Just seeing her work so much inspires me to do the same.