The Palestinian actor is currently starring in Exodus: Gods and Kings as the mother of Moses, played by Christian Bale.

She has been in Brisbane for a week as a jury member for the Asia-Pacific Screen Awards, five years after winning a Best Actress APSA for 2008's Lemon Tree.

Abbass said judging the nominated films had reminded her just how important film was to reaching a greater understanding of individual struggles.

"I've been witnessing through the 21 movies I've seen how directors were really just so keen on telling stories about human beings...through them you connect with their culture, their country and the conflict and beauty of their country," she said.

"It's such an enriching lesson."

APSA president Jack Thompson, who has just wrapped a film with Michael Fassbender and Rachael Weisz, said the APSAs' uniqueness came from uniting a variety of cultures in the language of film.

"I don't think anywhere else there is an academy that brings together such diversity," he said.

"There are subtitles, but the tales are being told in light, on the screen, and that's what brings us all together."

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said Brisbane's status as the permanent home of the APSAs would allow the event to continue growing in stature.

"This event reaches 4.5 billion people, represented by 70 nations, and covers more than half the world's film production," he said.

"This year we have 36 films nominated from 21 different nations, so the jury has been very busy."

Exodus: Gods and Kings was criticised for casting Anglo-Saxon actors such as Bale, Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver and Ben Mendelsohn, but Abbass didn't see any reason for an international film not to have a variety of international actors.

"It's a better question to ask Ridley Scott, why did he make that choice," she said.

"But I respect the choices of directors - if you want to work with an actor, why do you have to go dig where he comes from and what accent he has.

Abbass had a definitive opinion on Bale, renowned for his intensity and physical and mental devotion to roles.

"I would say he is the most concentrated, gentle, serious, hardworking actor I've ever met," she said.

"I think the internet sometimes can try to ruin someone's reputation...he is totally the opposite of what people are trying to stick to his character."

Tune in for Brisbane Times' exclusive APSA live blog from 6pm.