ACE SHU

Skilled filmmaker with a solid foundation in cinematography, editing, and scriptwriting. Known for strong collaboration skills and a results-driven mindset. Adaptable to shifting project needs, ensuring high-quality outcomes. Proficient in industry-standard software and creative problem-solving.

• Independent Student Filmmaker, Roslyn Heights, NY, Director, Cinematographer, Screenwriter, Editor

Dear Charlie
Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor, April 2023

A visual short narrated by a girl reflecting on happy memories in a letter to her best friend as her life nears its end.

Awards & Recognitions:

• Finalist (2x): Independent Shorts Award (Best Student Short, Best Young Filmmaker)
• Semi-Finalist (1x): FilmHaus (Best Young Filmmaker)
• Quarter-Finalist (1x): LWIFF l Lonely Wolf (Student Film)
• Official Selection (2x): ACPL Teen Film Festival (High School Student), Red Movies Awards (Best Microfilm)
• Nominee (1x): Beyond the Curve International Film Festival (Best Student Film)

UnLocked (Silent Short)
Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor, May 2023

A silent short exploring decision-making under pressure. Four students are locked in a bathroom during a real lockdown. As tension rises, someone shakes the door handle—friend or foe?

Awards & Recognitions:

• Awarded Best Student Film (1x): Swedish International Film Festival 2023
• Finalist (2x): Independent Shorts Award (Best Young Filmmaker, Best Microfilm)
• Semi-Finalist (3x): IndieX Film Fest, New York International Film Award, Indie Short Fest (Best Student/Young Filmmaker)
• Nominee (1x): New York Independent Cinema Award (Best Student Film)

Today & Tomorrow (Short)
Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor, July 2023

A narrated visual short reflecting on the temptation of escaping into fictional worlds, the struggles of real-life discouragement, and the motivation stories provide. It inspires viewers to cherish the present and face the future with hope and determination.

Awards & Recognitions:

• Awarded Best Student Film (1x): 8 & Halfilm Awards 2023
• Finalist (4x): V.i.Z. Film Fest, Monthly Future of Film, Sofia Art Film Award, Art Film Award (Student/Short Film)
• Semi-Finalist (2x): Sweden Film Awards, Austin International Art Festival (Best Short/Student Short)
• Official Selection (2x): Lulea International Film Festival, Cooper Awards (Best Student Film)
• Honorable Mention (2x): Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival, Independent Film Awards (Best Student Film)

Once In Love (Silent Short)
Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor, August 2023

A silent short capturing the dreamlike euphoria of first love and its inevitable losses, set to the rhythm of music as a relationship unfolds from beginning to end.

Awards & Recognitions:

• Awarded Best Student Film (4x): Swedish International Film Festival, New York Film Awards, Festigious, Filmmakers Connect Awards
• Finalist (2x): Independent Shorts Award, Oniros Film Awards - NY
• Semi-Finalist (1x): Nocturna Online Brooklyn Film Festival
• Nominee (1x): New York Independent Cinema Award
• Official Selection (2x): New York Tri-State International Film Festival, Golden Swan Zurich Film Festival

Blue Skies

A boy, lost in music, bumps into a girl and experiences love at first sight. As the music plays, imagined moments with her flash before him, but when it stops, reality sets in.

Awards & Recognitions:

• Awarded Best Student Film (1x): Swedish International Film Festival 2024
• Finalist (1x): Independent Shorts Award (Best Micro Film)
• Semi-Finalist (3x): Top Shorts, Festigious, Chicago Filmmaker Awards (Best Student Film)

On The Streets (Short)

Director/Writer, Upcoming project

"On The Street" is a gritty drama exploring the emotional turbulence of rejection, pride, and the unrelenting search for self-worth. The film follows Terry, a young man grappling with professional failures and personal struggles in the indifferent urban landscape. As rejection mounts—from internships to relationships—Terry's world spirals into tension and disconnection, highlighted by his contentious bond with Samantha. Set against the backdrop of dimly lit city streets and quiet townhouses, the story captures Terry’s inner conflict and his desperate attempts to regain control of his life. This poignant narrative paints a raw portrait of vulnerability, resilience, and the yearning for validation in a world that seems to offer none.