Albert Lee is one of Hong Kong’s most experienced and versatile film executives for almost four decades, having held senior management positions across the production, distribution, exhibition and corporate sectors.
Lee began his film career in 1979 when he was recruited by Golden Harvest. Over the next 21 years, Lee was an integral part of the team that produced, distributed and promoted films from Hong Kong’s cinematic golden age to all corners of the world.
Since joining Emperor Motion Pictures in 2003, Lee helped to establish the Hong Kong based company as one of Asia’s most prominent and active production and distribution entities. Adding project development and production to his growing portfolio, Lee produced more than 20 films during his 15-year tenure and worked closely with filmmakers such as Jiang Wen, Jackie Chan, Dante Lam, Benny Chan and Jeff Lau.
Lee was also instrumental in Emperor’s expansion into the exhibition sector in recent years. The company now operates some 110 state-of-the-art screens in 13 locations across Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Hefei, Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhuhai and Hong Kong.
A life-long cinephile and a dedicated student of the history of cinema, Lee is passionate in film preservation and conservation. He has managed a number of restoration projects, including Jiang Wen’s debut film, In the Heat of the Sun.
Lee has served on the juries of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, Venice Film Festival’s Opera Prima, Udine’s Far East Film Festival, Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival, and the Taipei Golden Horse Film Promotion Plan. A member of China Film Association, Asia Pacific Screen Academy, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Lee also sits on Singapore Media Festival’s advisory board. He is Hong Kong International Film Festival’s incumbent Executive Director, having succeeded Roger Garcia in November 2018.