Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) has announced that veteran sales agent and producer Fred Tsui will succeed Albert Lee as executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.
In his new role, commencing on September 23, Tsui will oversee the Hong Kong International Film Festival and its year-round activities, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), HAF Film Lab, Summer International Film Festival, and the HKIFF Cine Fan programme.
He will report to HKIFFS chairman Wilfred Wong and the Board of Directors.
Tsui has worked across nearly every sector of the film industry, from film sales, co-production and financing to distribution, exhibition, broadcasting and media management – building extensive international networks among filmmakers and industry execs.
In his most recent role, Tsui has established sales agency and festival consultancy company Moebius Entertainment, which recently picked up Venice Horizons title Big Little Things and Toronto Special Presentations title Happily Ever After.
Prior to Moebius, Tsui spent more than twenty years at Media Asia Film, where he served as General Manager and Head of International Sales & Co-Production, helping the studio expand internationally and position Hong Kong cinema on the world stage.
Earlier in his career, Tsui held senior management positions at PCCW and Asia Television, where he developed expertise in organisational leadership, media operations, strategic planning and content management.
Tsui also serves as a member of the Hong Kong Film Development Council and has been invited to serve on juries at leading international film festivals, including Hong Kong, Edinburgh, Jecheon, Tallinn, Seattle, Udine, Sitges, Sonoma and Skip City in Japan.
He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), Hong Kong Film Critics Society, and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) in the U.S., as well as the board of the MIA International Audiovisual Market in Rome.
“We are delighted to welcome Fred to HKIFFS,” said HKIFFS chairman Wilfred Wong. “Fred combines strategic leadership with an exceptional understanding of the international film landscape. Throughout his career, he has built bridges between Hong Kong cinema and the global marketplace while earning the trust and respect of filmmakers, festival directors and industry leaders worldwide.
“Just as importantly, he approaches cinema from the perspectives of an executive, a critic, a festival juror and a lifelong cinephile. We believe he is uniquely qualified to lead HKIFFS into its next chapter, further strengthening its role as one of Asia’s most important cultural institutions and international film platforms.”
Tsui said: “It is a tremendous honour to join HKIFFS, an institution that has played such a pivotal role in the cultural life of Hong Kong and in promoting Asian cinema internationally.
“Having worked with film festivals throughout my career—as a sales executive, producer, juror, critic and audience member – I have seen first-hand the unique role HKIFF plays in connecting filmmakers, the industry and audiences. I look forward to working with the Board, our partners and the HKIFFS team to build on the Society’s remarkable legacy while broadening its international reach, nurturing new talent, deepening audience engagement and ensuring Hong Kong remains at the forefront of global film culture.”
