NARRATIVE REEL



Darius Shu is a cinematographer who loves telling poetic visual stories with striking imagery.
A storyteller who loves humanistic arthouse films and is a firm believer in the concept of 'show... don't tell' and creating images that stay with you well after.
Darius channels the power of visual storytelling to create positive representation in film & TV, driving societal conversations by incorporating social awareness and surrealism elements in his films and striving to illuminate the visual narrative to complement the story.
He recently filmed the BAFTA-nominated documentary, Always, Asifa (commissioned by Together TV) which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival 2022 and now streaming on ITVX and Sky TV.
Darius' slate of award-winning projects includes a poetic narrative psychological thriller short film His Hands, nominated for Best Narrative Short at Tribeca Film Festival 2019. His docu-pic thriller film, I AM Norman was selected at Rhode Island International Film Festival 2021. Both films were reviewed as 'Masterpiece' from HeyUGuys and are available on Amazon Prime Video.
He also lensed the critically acclaimed musical-drama film Queer Parivaar, which won the prestigious BAFTA-qualifying 'Best British Film' award at Iris Prize 2022 and had its World Premiere at BFI Flare Film Festival 2022 with over 20 international film festival selections. The film was made available for broadcast and stream on Channel 4.
He shot a Netflix documentary, Peach Paradise which premiered on Tik Tok's first-ever live-stream showcase and was nominated for Best International at Iris Prize 2022. He also produced and shot a television short film Sent To Cov, for Sky Arts and the film Mical, now with over 1.7 million views on Youtube.
Darius has worked with artists such as Léa Seydoux, Lily James, Gemma Chan, Tia Kofi, The Vivienne, Omari Douglas, Kaya Scodelario, Big Zuu, and Dominic Cooper, and has his work featured on Netflix, L'Officiel, Attitude, Advocate, Wonderland, Notion, Amazon Prime Video, ITVX, Sky TV and Channel 4.
Having been educated internationally and within the UK, Darius has a global perspective with deep sensitivities to inclusive and diverse filmmaking that adds value to all of his work. He is the founder of the arthouse production company Silverprince Pictures.
MARK GATISS
"A beguilingly beautiful gem.... shots are ravishing to look at and haunts the memory long after."
UK FILM REVIEW
"There's a naturalistic intimate quality to Shu’s beautiful cinematography"
ATTITUDE
"Shu manages to convey an incredible sense of mood and feeling...it's beautiful, modern, stylish."
INDIE SHORTS MAG
"Darius Shu's cinematography is simply poetic"
WEDIO
"Through a poetic stance, he finds inspiration in paintings and photography and puts it into his cinematography, implementing retro styles and vivid colours to his work as a unique art of expression."
notable film festival selection (Oscar & BAFTA Qualifying)
ALWAYS, ASIFA
Nominated: Best Short Form Programme at BAFTA TV Awards 2023
QUEER PARIVAAR
Winner: Best British Short at Iris Prize Film Festival 2022
BFI Flare Film Festival 2022
Outfest LA Film Festival 2022
Durban International Film Festival 2022
Outfest Fusion Los Angeles 2022
San Diego International Film Festival 2022
London Short Film Festival 2023
STOCKHOLM
BFI Flare Film Festival 2022
Best Cinematography at LA LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2021
PEACH PARADISE
Seattle International Film Festival 2023
Nominated: Best International at Iris Prize Film Festival 2022
Bolton International Film Festival 2022
I AM NORMAN
Rhode Island International Film Festival 2021
MICAL
LA Shorts International Film Festival 2020
HIS HANDS
Nominated: Best Narrative Short at Tribeca Film Festival 2019
SECRET CHILD
Nominated: Best Period Piece at Hollyshorts Film Festival 2018
Best Cinematography at European Cinematography Awards
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