ABOUT
Shu Zhu is a Chinese Canadian director working across narrative film, animation, and immersive media. His work explores themes of psychological transformation, identity, and environmental collapse through a genre-forward lens. His ongoing transmedia project Ash Valley (2018-present) includes VR film / immersive installation, Echos of Ash Valley (Venice Immersive 2024), short film Ash Valley: Janyl (in competition, Busan 2024) and a feature film in development Ash Valley (IFFAM Project Market, BIFAN IT Project, Udine). His earlier films such as Border (Telluride 2020) and Moth (screened at over 35 international festivals), have earned wide recognition for their emotional depth and visual boldness.
In 2023, Shu was among the first wave of directors working in the emerging medium of vertical short drama in North America. He has since directed 16 series across major platforms and garnered over 350 million views. His flagship series We Will Love Again alone generated over 110 million views and was one of the most successful vertical dramas of 2024. He has also worked in animation, in-game cinematic, and frequently speaks on the future of storytelling. Shu holds an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute and a BFA from NYU Tisch.
Shu currently lives and works in Los Angeles and Vancouver.
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