Nansun Shi
Nansun Shi is a Hong Kong film producer and executive, known for her long-time partnership with filmmaker Tsui Hark.
Early life
Shi was born in Hong Kong to a wealthy family. Her father, originally from Chongming Island, was a businessman who made his fortune in South Africa. After completing Form 4 at Maryknoll Convent School, she was sent to South Africa during the 1967 Hong Kong riots. Unwilling to enter the international school there as her father wished, she went to the UK for further education and earned a bachelor's degree in Computer Statistics from the Polytechnic of North London.Career
Upon returning to Hong Kong, Shi joined the PR firm Michael Stevenson Limited before transitioning into the television industry. She worked at Television Broadcasts Limited, Commercial Television, where she met co-worker Tsui Hark, and Rediffusion Television, where she was promoted to Assistant Controller in Administration and Budget of Channel One in 1981.In 1981, Tsui joined Cinema City to shoot All the Wrong Clues, and in November of the same year, Shi was invited to become the executive director, marking her entry into the film industry. She became a key member of Cinema City's "Seven-Person Team" and was affectionately known as "Housekeeper," recognized for her management skills. She oversaw both internal and external company affairs, including overall development strategy, providing production advice, expanding overseas distribution, and attending film festivals to promote international sales. During this period, she planned and produced a series of successful films, including Till Death Do We Scare, Aces Go Places II, The Trail, and Merry Christmas.
In 1984, Shi and Tsui Hark founded a film studio together, but she remained with Cinema City until June 1987. Afterward, she was involved in the development of television networks, including joining Yu Pun-hoi in 1991 to establish the Chinese Television Network. In 1999, she joined Hong Kong Telecom to develop its pay-TV services. In 2002, she was invited by Peter Lam to join Media Asia as Vice President and was one of the producers of Infernal Affairs. From 2006 to 2012, she served as the Chairman of the Board of Bona Film Group, overseeing films such as Overheard 2, The Great Magician, and A Simple Life. In addition, she has produced the Detective Dee franchise and The Thousand Faces of Dunjia. In 2012, she briefly joined Phoenix TV as a host for a political commentary program. In 2017, Shi was invited to join the Producers Branch of the Academy of [Motion Picture Arts and Sciences].