On July 13, the legendary Hong Kong filmmaker, Shih Nan-sheng, passed away at the age of 75 at Union Hospital.
According to an official statement released by Shih Nan-sheng’s “Film Studio” on July 13, she had been facing health issues since 2022 due to problems with her immune system. Recently, she suffered from bacterial infections leading to multiple organ failure and peacefully passed away at 20:51 on Monday evening at Union Hospital. Her ex-husband, Tsui Hark, also expressed his grief to the media at the hospital, revealing that she had been battling against illness with strong vitality for many years and persisted until her last moment.
Born in Shanghai, Shih Nan-sheng has been a key figure in the golden era of Hong Kong cinema since the rise of the Hong Kong New Wave in the 1980s, alongside renowned directors like Tsui Hark, Ann Hui, and Raymond Lee. She was not only proficient in multiple languages but also had outstanding capabilities in film financing, distribution, and promotion, successfully promoting Hong Kong cinema internationally. Shih Nan-sheng is credited with discovering and nurturing a generation of superstars such as Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, and Joey Wong, earning her the revered title of “Big Sister” in the industry.
Shih Nan-sheng produced and participated in numerous classic films including ‘A Better Tomorrow,’ ‘A Chinese Ghost Story,’ the ‘Once Upon a Time in China’ series, as well as ‘New Dragon Gate Inn,’ ‘My Dear Son,’ ‘Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings,’ ‘Dragon Inn,’ and ‘Love Unto Waste.’ In addition to her international acclaim, she and her ex-husband Tsui Hark were jointly honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards in April 2025.
The deep friendship between Shih Nan-sheng and Brigitte Lin has become a well-known story in the industry. In the 1980s, she invited Lin, who was then in the United States, to Hong Kong to film ‘Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain,’ not only kickstarting her career in Hong Kong but also fostering a decades-long close friendship between the two. Lin has publicly stated that Shih Nan-sheng and Tsui Hark were her benefactors in life and served as presenters when the two received their “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Recalling her early days in Hong Kong when she was unfamiliar with the environment, Brigitte Lin mentioned that Shih Nan-sheng volunteered to help her negotiate film contracts, refusing any payment and imparting a phrase that has stuck with Lin to this day, “Helping friends without expecting anything in return is the best.” This act won her respect from her peers.
With the support of Shih Nan-sheng and Tsui Hark’s team, Brigitte Lin later broke free from image constraints with the success of ‘Swordsman II,’ creating one of the most iconic characters in Chinese cinema. Lin has described Shih Nan-sheng as an “invincible super iron lady,” praising her elegance, confidence, and charm, leaving everyone in awe every time they met.
In her last public appearance in May, Shih Nan-sheng was already facing mobility issues, needing a cane and assistance from others. Her passing has deeply saddened and touched many fans, as they fondly remember her contributions to the film industry.