RUNDOWN:
14:45   Registration
15:00   Film screening
17:00   Discussion & Q&A
18:30   Reception
19:30   End

ASHK member price: HKD80
Non-member price: HKD100

Asia Society Hong Kong Center is proud to present a screening of Three Seasons, directed by the award-winning writer and filmmaker Tony Bui. Set against the bustling backdrop of post-war Ho Chi Minh City, the 1999 film weaves together four distinct stories of individuals navigating love, loss, hope and inevitable change as they negotiate with a world caught between the remnants of war and the onslaught of modernization.

Since its initial release, Three Seasons has been praised for the intimate and complex perspectives it offered into the lives of Ho Chi Minh City residents as they grappled with the changing of the times, receiving the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award, and Best Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival and two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. In 2000, Three Seasons was also shortlisted for the Oscars as Vietnam’s official entry.

In 2024, Three Seasons was digitally restored in 4K from the original 35mm camera negative and original master 4-track stereo.

Director’s Statement on the Restoration:
“The long and emotional journey to restore the film isn’t just about preserving the film, but about bringing it back to life to share this timeless story of love, loss, and hope after the Vietnam War for generations to come.”

Following the screening of the film, Dr Wilfred Wong, Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, will join the post-screening discussion, along with filmmaker Derek Tsang, and Writer, Director, and Producer Tony Bui. Together they will discuss the significance of this film and the filmmakers' role in storytelling in today’s society. 

About Three Seasons:

A young girl, hired to work a lotus pond, comes to the aid of a reclusive master;
A cyclo driver becomes obsessed with a proud and ambitious prostitute;
A young boy hustles lighters, gum, and cheap watches on the streets;
An American Vietnam vet searches for the daughter he never knew.
Their disparate, intertwining lives struggle to find identity, human connection, and meaning in a country caught in between its dark past and its uncertain future.

Tony Bui is a writer, director, and producer. His films include Yellow Lotus, Three Seasons, Green Dragon and The Throwaways. His short film, Yellow Lotus, received over 15 national and international festival prizes. His feature debut, Three Seasons, received the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award, and Best Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival and two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. Three Seasons was also Vietnam’s official entry to the Oscars, where it was shortlisted.

He is a recipient of the Humanitas Prize and an alumnus of the Sundance Institute's Screenwriting and Directing Labs.

He has written and developed projects for HBO, Warner Bros, and NBC, and is currently developing a narrative feature film about Nick Ut's iconic Pulitzer Prize winning "Napalm Girl" photo from the Vietnam War.

Tony has taught film directing at Loyola Marymount University and served on the Board of Directors of Film Independent for seven years, and is currently on the Global Advisory Board of Fulbright University Vietnam. Tony is currently Artist-in-Residence at Columbia University and teaches in Columbia’s School of the Art's graduate film program.

Dr. Wilfred Wong is a prominent leader in both the public and private sectors. He is currently the President and Executive Director of Sands China. With a rich background in policy formulation and community building, he has served on numerous important councils and committees, and is the current Chairman of both the Hong Kong Film Development Council and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society. An advocate for cultural development, he has made substantial contributions to the arts, education, and social welfare. His leadership and contributions have had a profound impact on Hong Kong’s economic, political, and cultural landscape.

Derek Tsang is a distinguished Hong Kong filmmaker and actor, renowned for his compelling storytelling and nuanced direction. He began his career in the entertainment industry as an actor before making a successful transition to directing. Tsang gained prominence with Soul Mate (2016), a critically acclaimed film that showcased his talent for exploring deep emotional narratives. His most notable work, Better Days (2019), received international acclaim and an Oscar nomination, and highlighted his ability to address complex social issues through cinema. More recently, Tsang directed the first two episodes of Three Body Problem (2024) which was nominated for six Emmy nominations.

Co-hosts:
 

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The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and participants and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, do not reflect the opinion, position or official policy of Asia Society Hong Kong, its members, or its committees. Asia Society Hong Kong does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for the content of the information presented.