In-I In Motion held its screening and post-screening talk on September 23 at the Xiaoxitian Art Cinema of China Film Archive, Beijing. In-I In Motion captures Binoche and choreographer Akram Khan creating In-I and touring worldwide. It reveals through a documentary lens their exploration and dialogue on movement, feeling, performance, and film. Bai Yingmo, Cultural Attaché for Popular Music and Film, Embassy of the French Republic, attended and delivered a speech, while director and lead actress Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan Company co-founder and artistic director Farooq Chaudhry joined the post-screening discussion as special guests. The event was hosted by Sha Dan, program curator at China Film Archive.

In his pre-screening remarks, Bai Yingmo noted that this screening represents another milestone in China-French cultural exchange and expressed particular honor in hosting the Asian premiere of Juliette Binoche’s directorial debut In-I In Motion. He lauded Binoche’s exceptional achievements in film and acknowledged the sustained commitment of China Film Archive and Yishu 8 in promoting cultural collaboration. He also mentioned that the film recently had its international premiere at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and is slated to appear at the Busan International Film Festival, which underscores its global reach.

　　

Bai Yingmo

The film offers a documentary account of Binoche and Akram Khan’s joint creation of In-I and its worldwide tour. Binoche shared that the footage was shot around 2007, and over several years, 170 hours of material were edited to “reconstruct time and space from memory”. She noted that the film had no preset script; editing itself was a creative exploration. Together with the editor, she selected key shots and reshaped the narrative, and this produced a two-part structure: the first 90 minutes focus on improvisation and rehearsal interactions, while the final 60 minutes showcase the full stage performance.

　　

Stills from In-I In Motion

Binoche recalled the origin of her collaboration with Akram Khan, saying she was “accidentally invited” into the world of dance. Despite significant differences in cultural and artistic backgrounds, this sparked a deeper creative dialogue. She particularly noted that Khan’s habit of kissing the floor before each performance made her appreciate the dancer’s awe for the stage.

　　

Juliette Binoche

Chaudhry emphasized that the film is not a conventional stage record, but a creation “rooted in memory rather than imagination”, aiming to reveal honesty, vulnerability, and vitality in artistic creation. The film, he said, skillfully employs close-ups to catch subtle bodily motions, which enables viewers to sense the tension of emotion up close. On the challenges facing modern film, she asserted that ticket sales or crowd numbers should do not determine a work’s worth. “Film is an art, not a commodity for entertainment. What matters is how stories reveal humanity and convey spirit,” she said, encouraging creators to express “personal, intimate truths”, whether before ten viewers or a thousand. Chaudhry added that audiences are not mere consumers, but “co-creators of art”, with a film’s meaning continuing through their reflection.

　　

Farooq Chaudhry

Binoche shared that her repeated trips to China had been memorable and expressed appreciation for the enduring support of local viewers. The director mentioned that she would present a Master Class at Busan the next day and expressed her desire to continue contributing to China-French film collaborations.

　　

The dialogue session

The event concluded with a group photo of all attendees and guests, in a vibrant and friendly setting. The event provided fans with an intimate insight into international artists’ creative philosophies and advanced China-French cooperation in cinema and cultural exchange.

　　

Onsite group photo

　　

Juliette Binoche signed autographs for the audience

Special thanks to the Embassy of the French Republic for their support of the event.