
Darius Shu
Camera
Biography
Darius Shu is a London based British cinematographer and director working across high-end narrative drama, music promos and commercial. With 10 years of experience, his practice is rooted in arthouse cinema, with a distinctive visual language that blends poetic atmospheric imagery and socially conscious storytelling. He is particularly committed to championing underrepresented voices, with a focus on Asian narratives. His cinematography credits include the BAFTA-nominated television film Always, Asifa; Netflix documentary Peach Paradise and Queer Parivaar (BFI Flare 2022, Iris Prize Best British Film), directed by Shiva Raichandani. Recent work includes Cuddle (2026), starring Mark Gatiss directed by Arron Blake, The Algorithm of Loss (2025), directed by Levi Eddie Aluede, Where We Came From (2024), starring Emmy Award-winner Archie Panjabi, directed by Nick Virk, and serving as 2nd Unit Director of Photography on Justin Lin's Last Days, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2025. His first feature as cinematographer is, Slim, directed by Sky Yang and produced by Chi Thai. Alongside his cinematography work, Darius is an award-winning director whose films have screened at BAFTA, BIFA, and Oscar-qualifying festivals worldwide. His debut short His Hands (2019) premiered at the Tribeca Festival and was nominated for Best Narrative Short. I Am Norman (2021) premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival, while his sci-fi short PLOP (2025) had its world premiere in competition at the BAFTA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival, followed by screenings at multiple BIFA-qualifying festivals across the UK. His upcoming romantic drama Molly marks his debut original screenplay as a writer-director, and will premiere at the BAFTA and BIFA qualifying British Urban Film Festival 2026. Across both disciplines, Darius is drawn to humanistic stories and his work is defined by a refined, emotionally led visual approach and a belief in cinema's power to shift perspective, create empathy, and drive meaningful cultural conversation.
Known For

Determined to fulfill his life’s mission, 26-year-old John Allen Chau embarks on a dangerous adventure across the globe to convert the uncontacted tribe of North Sentinel Island to Christianity, while a detective from the Andaman Islands races to stop him before he does harm to himself or the tribe.
Last Days

A chance encounter at a launderette sparks a meaningful connection between Vinnie and Ryan. As closeness blurs into desire, they are forced to confront what love demands before it fractures everything they have built.
Molly

A man living in his car takes a filmmaker into the woods to share a dark secret.
I Am Norman

Satinder Aujla, the UK Conservative government's new foreign secretary, holds a press junket. Her internalised racism defends fascist policies as British values. We realise she has forgotten her heritage in exchange for power.
Where We Came From

When a mysterious person gatecrashes Madhav and Sufi's wedding, the couple are forced to face past secrets and reevaluate their definitions of what makes a family.
Queer Parivaar

A powerful documentary that follows gay Namibian activist Friedel Dausab as he challenges his country’s criminalisation of same-sex love. In June 2022, Friedel files a landmark lawsuit against the government, becoming a beacon of hope for LGBTQIA+ Namibians seeking safety and equality. Facing death threats, public hostility, and immense personal risk, he takes his fight to court while awaiting judgment. The film also traces the colonial roots of queer criminalisation—from Tudor England to its export across the Global South through empire and later reinforced by Christian evangelism. Alongside fellow activists from Sri Lanka and Barbados, Friedel travels to London, where history, protest, and Pride converge. Blending legal battle with historical insight, the documentary is both an urgent exposé of injustice and a stirring celebration of queer resilience, courage, and resistance.
Out Laws

An intense young woman stalks a young gay couple in a seaside town. What is the root of her seemingly unhealthy obsession?
Tainted

A seven year old boy struggles to make sense of words on the page. But when Mike is diagnosed with dyslexia and the teachers continue to fail him, his mother takes matters into her own hands to help her son fulfil his true potential.
Mical

As Asifa prepares to finally undergo gender affirmation surgery, the disabled trans activist, who is also Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen, reflects on how her life has - and hasn’t - changed during her transition.
Always, Asifa

When the lead actor of a theatre production suddenly drops out, an understudy must step into the spotlight, grappling with personal doubts and the pressure to deliver a performance of a lifetime.
Still

Two men of different ages meet for the strangest encounter of their lives.
His Hands

A single mother and her eight year old son meets her man from her past after nine years.
Secret Child: The Bridge

In a world where everyone has a partner, a woman from the secluded society of rejected singles, known as the Leftovers, takes a bold leap of faith on a revolutionary new dating app, risking everything for one last chance at love.
Plop

When driving fails to bring Eddie the relief he needs, the pints pulled by Marcel offer a temporary fix. But as the night takes a turn, and Eddie unravels, Marcel is left wondering if this stranger might be harbouring more than he let on.
The White Hart

A young gay man embarks on an unusual first date in a conquest to take control of his past.
Stockholm

A young boy's racial identity and insecurities emerge from the perspective of his Google browser search history.
Dear Google

When Akash’s mother comes to stay, can he find his voice to reveal to her who he really is?
The Lime Green Shirt

A refugee is forced to confront her guilt.
Lullaby

Non-binary Japanese-Irish drag artist storms U.K.'s cabaret scene with a gender-diverse, Pan-Asian collective of bitten peaches, to dismantle racial stereotypes with love and glitter.
Peach Paradise

As summer wanes, Jerry and Delon reunite one last time before chasing their dreams, which will pull them apart.