Filmmaker Tsui Hark keeps cinema forever young in Lyon

Shi, a celebrated Hong Kong film producer, died on July 13 at the age of 75 from multiple organ failure caused by a bacterial infection, according to reports citing her production company. She co-founded Film Workshop with Tsui in 1984 and helped bring numerous Hong Kong cinema classics to the screen.

Tsui said his participation in the festival was also a tribute to Shi, adding that he believed she would have been happy to see the retrospective had she been there.

For Tsui, cinema's enduring appeal lies in its capacity for discovery. He said filmmakers should retain a sense of playfulness and leave room for exploration and imagination while recognizing the commercial realities of filmmaking, from substantial investment to market expectations.

Tsui, who turned 75 in February, stressed that a film's youthfulness has little to do with the filmmaker's age. Instead, it lies in its mood and emotional spirit.