Long before any Chinese became Oscar-winning directors, filmmakers of Chinese (or Asian) descent faced significant prejudice and stereotyping just to break into the American film industry. In this edition of Rediscoveries, we celebrate the pioneers who broke barriers and forged new paths for future generations.

Our programme begins in the 1930s when Hollywood legend Anna May Wong challenged a studio system that often confined Asian actors to stereotypical roles. By the 1960s, Nancy Kwan led an all-Asian cast for an extravagant musical, breaking new ground in representation. Bruce Lee’s struggles in Hollywood were later redeemed after his era-defining success with the Hong Kong's Golden Harvest. In the 1980s, Hong Kong-born actor John Lone continued to overcome similar obstacles. Behind the camera, cinematographer James Wong Howe persevered for over half a century to become one of the most admired masters of his craft. Artist Tyrus Wong, whose name was largely unknown for decades, played a pivotal role in creating the Chinese-influenced background of Disney’s Bambi (1942). Meanwhile, Esther Eng’s films are now considered lost, but her legacy as a pioneering female director in the US is captured in a documentary. Concluding our programme is Wayne Wang, a Hong Kong-born director who made a name for himself in the American independent scene—choosing a different path from Hong Kong’s New Wave movement—before establishing a career in Hollywood.

‘Rediscoveries’ is supported by M+ Major Partner CHANEL.