The film was based on Bui's own experiences dealing with the changing landscape and people of his ancestral home of Vietnam.
He was raised in Sunnyvale, California, where his father ran a video store which led to his interest in cinema.
He is a recipient of the Humanitas Prize and a graduate of the Sundance Institute's Screenwriting and Directing Labs.
He has written and developed projects for NBC, Warner Bros and HBO, and is currently developing a narrative feature film about Nick Ut's Pulitzer Prize winning "Napalm Girl" photo.
He also co-wrote and produced Green Dragon, starring Patrick Swayze and Forest Whitaker, for his older brother Timothy Linh Bui.