Tsui Hark Honors Late Producer Nansun Shi at Lumière Festival and Discusses New Projects

Tribute to Nansun Shi at the Lumière Film Festival

Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark delivered an emotional tribute to his former wife and longtime producing partner, Nansun Shi, during an appearance at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France. Speaking at the start of a masterclass following a career retrospective montage, Tsui expressed his grief over the passing of the pioneering producer, who died in July at the age of 75.

"I miss my partner, Nansun, who helped me on so many projects over so many years," Tsui told the audience. Visibly moved, he added that his presence at the festival served as a tribute to her legacy, expressing hope that her spiritual presence would welcome the work being celebrated.

Shi was widely recognized as a foundational figure in Hong Kong cinema. In 1984, she co-founded Film Workshop alongside Tsui, playing a crucial role in producing and introducing defining titles of the industry to international audiences. Though the pair later divorced, they maintained their professional partnership and received a joint Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2025.

Career Retrospective and Upcoming London Project

Tsui, a leading architect of the Hong Kong New Wave who helped reshape the martial arts genre, is being honored at the festival with screenings of four key films: "Shanghai Blues" (1984), "Peking Opera Blues" (1986), "Once Upon a Time in China" (1991), and "Time and Tide" (2000).

Looking toward future endeavors, the director revealed that he is developing a new comedy set in London. The narrative will focus on individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds uniting to confront a serious problem. Tsui noted that exploring cross-cultural collaboration through a humorous lens offers a necessary perspective on contemporary issues.

Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and Modern Society

During the masterclass, Tsui addressed broader philosophical themes, touching upon the intersection of reality, media propaganda, and artificial intelligence. He expressed concern over the increasing difficulty of distinguishing between authentic and synthetic experiences in modern culture.

"The funny part of AI is that you’re not sure whether what you see is real or not real," Tsui remarked, while acknowledging the unsettling nature of this uncertainty. Despite viewing contemporary society as increasingly chaotic—citing global challenges such as wars, viruses, and economic instability—he maintained that cinema retains a vital role in providing perspective and using humor to remind audiences of the world's enduring value.

The Lumière Film Festival in Lyon runs through October 18.

Practical Implications and Verification

Readers interested in the details of Tsui Hark's masterclass and retrospective can review the original reporting published by Variety.

• Confirmed Facts: Tsui Hark appeared at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon to receive a career retrospective featuring four of his films; he publicly honored his late producing partner Nansun Shi, who passed away in July; and he announced plans for a cross-cultural comedy project set in London.
• What Remains Unknown: Specific casting details, production timelines, or release dates for the London-based comedy project were not disclosed during the masterclass.
• How to Verify: The complete announcement, event context, and filmmaker statements can be verified directly through the official Variety report at [Variety's Tsui Hark Lumière Coverage](https://variety.com/2026/film/global/tsui-hark-nansun-shi-new-projects-ai-1236908837/).