Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark attended the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon to participate in a retrospective celebration of his work and deliver a masterclass on his career. At the event, he offered an emotional tribute to Nansun Shi, his former spouse and longtime producing partner, who passed away on July 13 at age 75. Shi was instrumental in Hong Kong cinema as a co-founder of Film Workshop with Tsui in 1984 and helped produce numerous influential films that gained international recognition. Despite their divorce, the pair maintained their professional relationship and were jointly awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2025.
Tsui discussed several upcoming creative endeavors during his appearance. He revealed plans for a comedy production set in London that will explore themes of cultural exchange and collaboration. The filmmaker emphasized his philosophy of planning five years ahead and expressed interest in developing immersive experiences across multiple media platforms. He proposed creating dreamlike reimaginings of cities such as Hong Kong or Beijing as they might appear in the future, suggesting that audiences require inspiring alternatives to present-day reality.
The director also addressed contemporary concerns about the blurred distinctions between reality and fiction in modern society. He reflected on how advertising, political messaging, internet culture, and artificial intelligence collectively shape public perception and individual identity. Tsui expressed concern about society’s passive acceptance of these external influences and acknowledged uncertainty about the implications of AI technology. He noted the troubling aspect of being unable to distinguish authentic content from artificially generated material.
Despite his apprehensions about current global conditions, Tsui maintained that cinema serves an important function in providing perspective and hope. He advocated for the use of humor as a tool for addressing serious subjects, arguing that entertainment and comedy can help audiences maintain faith in the world’s value despite widespread challenges including disease, conflict, and economic instability. The festival is showcasing four of his films: “Shanghai Blues” (1984), “Peking Opera Blues” (1986), “Once Upon a Time in China” (1991), and “Time and Tide” (2000). The Lumière Film Festival continues through Oct. 18.
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