The Department of Sociology at The University of Hong Kong recently welcomed acclaimed film producer and arts professional Teresa Kwong as part of the Media, Culture and Creative Cities Speaker Series. With a distinguished career spanning film production, arts programming and talent development, Kwong has played a key role in shaping the city’s creative landscape.

In her talk, Kwong highlighted the central role of curiosity in shaping her professional trajectory. She noted that the questioning mindset cultivated during her humanities education at HKU has informed her career decisions and continues to underpin her approach to creative work. Addressing students and early-career practitioners, she underscored that sustained critical reflection is fundamental across all areas of the arts.

Kwong also shared insights into the non-linear nature of creative careers. Moving from journalism to film programming and later to producing, she described how each stage of her professional journey offered new skills and perspectives. Her reflections illustrated how theory and practice intersect, and how openness to unexpected opportunities can lead to meaningful paths in the cultural sector.

A further point of discussion was the collaborative and community-centered ethos that underpins her work. Beyond producing award-winning films, Kwong and her collaborators engage actively with local audiences through screenings, heritage initiatives and conversations around Hong Kong’s evolving cultural spaces. For her, creative work is not only about artistic expression but also about building long-term relationships and contributing to community life.

The Media, Culture and Creative Cities Speaker Series continues to bring leading voices from academia and the creative industries to HKU Sociology, fostering dialogue on the social role of media and culture. Kwong’s talk added a grounded and insightful perspective on how creative practice grows through curiosity, collaboration and care.