Willem Dafoe, who came to the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) to promote his latest project "A Woman" said Friday that he is always looking for opportunities in other situations, such as working in Asian films, that "free you from cultural orientation."

In the film, the psychological drama "A Woman" by Italian director Giada Colagrande, Dafoe stars as an American novelist devastated by his wife's death yet caught up in a new romance.

Considering that he often played strong, powerful characters in the films with content about social commentary during the 1980s, his role in the latest film seems to be some sort of transition. And Dafoe agrees.

"[The character] is a reactive, ambiguous man with hiding secrets," he said in a press meeting Friday at PIFF, where the movie is scheduled to be screened as an international premiere after being introduced at the Venice Film Festival this year.

Visiting PIFF for the first time, Dafoe expressed his great interest in Asian films as well as his wish to work with Asian directors. Dafoe will have a handprint ceremony on Saturday.