Nansun Shi, a veteran Hong Kong film producer and co-founder of Film Workshop, died at age 75 on July 13, 2026, at the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. She passed away from multiple organ failure caused by recurrent infections linked to immune system complications, according to hospital sources [1, 2, 3]. Shi was surrounded by her family and loved ones in her final moments [1, 2, 3].
Shi's health had been declining since 2022 due to immune complications that eventually contributed to her death [1, 2, 3]. Her last public appearance was in May 2026 when she attended fellow film producer Linda Kuk's funeral, walking with the aid of a stick [2, 3].
Shi co-founded the Hong Kong film production company Film Workshop in 1984 with her former husband, director Tsui Hark [1, 2, 3]. The company became a major force during Hong Kong cinema's golden era, producing several iconic films including A Better Tomorrow, A Chinese Ghost Story, Once Upon a Time In China, and Infernal Affairs [1, 2, 3].
Before starting at Film Workshop, Shi began her film career in the early 1980s after working in communications and television programming, initially joining Cinema City studio [1, 3]. She and Tsui Hark married in 1996 in the United States but divorced by 2014, though they continued to collaborate professionally [3].
Both Shi and Tsui received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in April 2025 [1, 3]. Shi once recalled her entry into film, saying, "I called Raymond up and asked, ‘What is this for?’ And he said, ‘Oh, we are paying you. When you are ready, come to work.’ So the next day, I turned up for work" [1].
Funeral arrangements and memorial events have not yet been announced.
