Darius Shu

After graduating his bachelor's degree, Shu started shooting for luxury fashion magazines, music videos and documentaries. His love for filmmaking made him dive into cinematography. At the Bournemouth Film School, he shot Pardaa (2017) with director Kajri Babbar, which follows a story of an Indian-Muslim girl secretly sacrificing her religious morals in the need of money. The film became a Semi-Finalist at the 44th Student Academy Awards in Los Angeles. It premiered at Aesthetica Short Film Festival in the United Kingdom and premiered in India with an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival in 2017.

In 2017, Shu was approached by producer Gordon Lewis and director Yew Weng Ho to shoot their short film Secret Child, based on Lewis's memoir of the same title. Secret Child tells the true story in the 1950s that deals with a young boy hidden away from the world in a home for unmarried mothers called Regina Coeli in Dublin. The film was a breakthrough success for Shu, as it won more than 20 international awards. It had its world premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood at the HollyShorts Film Festival 2018 and received a nomination for Best Period Piece. For its London premiere at the New Renaissance Film Festival 2018, Secret Child won Best Debut Film. It is currently streaming on Omeleto's YouTube channel with over 450k+ views.

Shu shot his second television-film with director Kajri Babbar, Khoj, which tells the story of a young teenage Punjabi bride, from being abandoned and betrayed to the pursuit of redemption. It premiered at Cannes Film Festival and went on to stream on ZEE5 in over 190+ countries around the world.

In 2018, Shu teamed up with Arron Blake and they both co-directed, wrote and produced His Hands (2019), with Shu shooting the film as the cinematographer. This was their directorial debut and the first film they made together, starring Arron Blake and Philip Brisebois. His Hands had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival 2019 in New York at the Village East Cinema. The film received nomination for Best Narrative Short. The film created a whole new experience, as it was a silent psychological thriller, using only the power of visual storytelling and cinematography. It tells the story of two men meeting for the most unusual unanimity of their lives as it touches themes such as sexuality, loneliness, identity and ageism. The film was applauded as a cinematic masterpiece, as it was made on a low budget of £400, with no dialogue delivery throughout the film and using only natural light during filming. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video and has received rave five star reviews from the public with critical acclaim. The film was also picked up to stream on Dekkoo in October 2020. Shu then founded the arthouse film production company Silverprince Pictures to develop more independent films.

In 2019, Shu shot a British-East Asian film, Tainted, with director Rikki-Beadle Blair. He also shot a commercial for Chanel and Coach, where he was flown over to New York to film with seven celebrities from South East Asia. Shu attended Chanel's prestigious fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in France to shoot for Chanel with singer-songwriter Yuna and The Laterals magazine. He also shot a fashion film with English actor Dominic Cooper.

Later that year, Shu reunited with director Yew Weng Ho and producer Gordon Lewis on a new dyslexia film, Mical (2020). It follows the true story of Pat and Mike Jones on the struggles and journey of being dyslexic. The film is to create awareness on dyslexia and to support the Dyslexia Trust. The film was officially selected at the Oscar qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival 2020. The film had its world premiere online on Silverprince Pictures' YouTube channel on September 15, with rave reviews and positive reception from public, and currently over 1.6 million views. It is also streaming on Amazon Prime Video in US, UK, Canada and Australia.

In 2020, Shu teamed up with Shiva Raichandani on their new LGBTQ+ British-Asian drama-musical film Queer Parivaar based on an interfaith queer wedding. Later that year, Shu shot a fashion film with British actress Lily James, Kaya Scodelario and Gemma Chan for The Laterals. He also shot a fashion video with English rapper Big Zuu for Penalty magazine in October.

Shu co-directed and produced his next film, I AM Norman, alongside Arron Blake currently slated for a 2021 release.

In March 2021, Shu directed and shot a music video for Billy Cullum's new single Kiss Away which featured Omari Douglas. The music video premiered on Gay Times on 16 March 2021, and it was praised as "...gorgeous" and with positive response on how "...the video captures the excitement and nervousness of the early stages of love between two men." Shu also directed and shot the music video of RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne's latest single Bitch on Heels, written by Diane Warren. The music video also premiered on Gay Times on 1 April 2021, and was describe as "...one of the fiercest clips of the year".

Shu filmed Shiva Raichandani's Netflix directorial debut documentary film Peach Paradise, which premiered in 2022, featuring drag artist ShayShay and their pan-Asian collective The Bitten Peach. The documentary was nominated for Best International at Iris Prize 2023. On 6 August 2021, Tia Kofi released the music video for her third single, Loving Me Like That, directed and shot by Shu. He recently shot with French actress Léa Seydoux for L'Officiel USA in conjunction with the promotion of the latest James Bond film No Time to Die and Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch.

In 2022, Queer Parivaar won Best British Short at Iris Prize 2022, and had its television broadcast on Film4, with the film now streaming on All4. The film was selected for over 20 international film festivals, including BFI Flare and Outfest LA. The film toured around the UK as part of Iris on the Move. Shu also shot the official Pride in London commercial that was also shown on Outernet London on Tottenham Court Road. He filmed the official Queer Britain 'The Place To Be Seen' campaign, with the involvement of Heartstopper stars Tobie Donovan, Kizzy Edgell and personalities such as Dr Ranj, L Devine, Bimini Bon Boulash, Robbie Mullett, GK Barry and Yasmin Benoit. He directed and shot the music video commercial for Lee Kum Kee Europe with two time BAFTA winner Big Zuu for their latest Leng Char Siu campaign. The music video was viewed 43 thousand times on Lee Kum Kee’s YouTube and over 80 thousand views across Big Zuu’s Instagram and TikTok. Later that year, Shu reunited with Shiva Raichandani to film their latest TV documentary, Always Asifa, featuring Asifa Lahore, commissioned by Together TV.

In 2023, Always, Asifa was nominated for Best Short Form Programme at the BAFTA TV Awards 2023.

In 2024, Shu served as the 2nd unit Director of Photography on Justin Lin's film Last Days.

Darius's upcoming sci-fi horror comedy short film Appy Ever After is to be released in 2024.