DIRECTING CREDITS [IMDB]
FEATURE FILM
TELEVISION SERIES
Reginald the Vampire (SYFY)
Children Ruin Everything (CTV)
Kim’s Convenience (CBC & NETFLIX)
Run the Burbs (CBC)
Gangnam Project (CBC & BBC)
Popularity Papers (BBC)
Selected Client List
Adidas
BBC Studios
Canon
CBC
Chopard
Coach
Dior
Dior Beauty & Fragrances
Jean Paul Gaultier Fragrances
L’Oreal Paris
Ferragamo
Garnier
Gucci
Hugo Boss Fragrances
Mugler Fragrances
Net-A-Porter
Netflix
Neutrogena
Nobis
Paris Saint Germain (PSG)
Pinko
RedBull
Ritz Carlton
United Nations
(including UNDP, UNEP, UNHCR & UNHR)
Sony Music
State Farm
Disaronno
Victoria Beckham
Westbank
Selected Publications
Elle Magazine France / Portugal / Singapore
Flaunt Magazine
Jay-Z’s Life+Times
ICON Magazine
InStyle Magazine
L’Officiel USA / Paris / Singapore / Thailand
Out Magazine
The Advocate
Paper Magazine
Real Leaders
South China Morning Post
Teen Vogue
Vogue Paris
Vogue US
V Magazine
Variety
W Magazine
Exhibitions
2021 & 2017 “Fight for Beauty”, Photography, Video + Talk
@ Westbank Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
2019. “World Is In Our Hands”, Photography + Talk
@ Hxouse & Westbank in association with Greenpeace, Toronto
2019. “Beyond Borders”, Photography
@ Open Space in association with Pursuit of Portraits x Vero, Brooklyn
2018. The Creator Class, Photography + Talk
@ Free Space, Toronto
2015. “Fabricated Freedom”, Visual Interactive Installation
@ Wallplay Gallery, New York & Kantine am Berghain, Berlin
2007. “Derelict”, Photography
@ Taylor Studios + Gallery, Kingston
Education
2009-2011. Masters in International Management
HEC Paris & Louvain School of Management
2008-2009. Honours Business Administration
Richard Ivey School of Business
@ University of Western Ontario
2004-2007. Bachelor of Science
Queen’s University
FULL BIO
Justin Wu is an award-winning, Toronto-based Feature Film & TV director, photographer, creative director, and speaker celebrated for his dynamic storytelling and impactful visuals.
Originally on a path in science and business, Justin pivoted to pursue a creative career, starting as a photojournalist before gaining international recognition as a commercial and portrait photographer in Europe. Collaborating with iconic publications like Vogue, Elle, and GQ, Justin quickly became a celebrated artist in fashion before making the leap into filmmaking.
Justin recently directed his first studio feature film, SIDELINED: THE QB and ME, a Tubi Original that premiered on American Thanksgiving weekend in 2024. It became the #1 movie on Tubi which drew more viewers of any title in Tubi’s history in its first week and delivered the most new viewers for any Tubi title ever according to Deadline. It also achieved the #5 most-watched streaming original film globally the week Sidelined premiered according to Variety. Renamed ‘Closer’ for the French market, it also achieved #1 on Amazon Prime France on its first week of release. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Siena Agudong, Noah Beck, James Van Der Beek, Deborah Cox, and Drew Ray Tanner.
Following the tremendous success of Sidelined, Tubi just greenlit and ordered the sequel with Justin at the helm—further cementing his leadership and vision as director and executive producer.
His directorial debut in television was with Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning sitcom that streamed on Netflix. For his episode, he was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy by the Director’s Guild of Canada (DGC) in 2021. Building on this success, Justin went on to direct Reginald The Vampire on Syfy, a stylized one-hour vampire dramedy starring Spider-Man’s Jacob Batalon, Children Ruin Everything on The CW, and half a season of a BBC-CBC K-Pop sitcom series.
A former editor and photojournalist with a background in music, Justin brings sharp comedic timing, seamless pacing, and stunning narratively efficient visuals to his work.
Justin’s career also includes directing commercials for top-tier brands and stars like Dior, Adidas, Coach, L’Oréal Paris, the United Nations, Selena Gomez, Victoria Beckham, Willem Dafoe, Simu Liu, and many more. Frequently in the media spotlight, his inspiring approach and dedication to uplifting voices have been covered by Entertainment Tonight, CBC The National, Vogue, Variety, and MTV.
As a proud member of the LGBTI community, he continues to champion equity and representation across media. Passionate about sharing his journey, he has spoken at FanExpo Canada, Comic Con Montreal, University of Toronto, and Canon Creator Lab, and he has guest lectured at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA). In 2022, he penned an award-winning op-ed on media representation and has spoken on stage with figures like the U.S. Trade Ambassador and Canada’s Minister of International Trade on the importance of the arts.
Justin’s pioneering philanthropic efforts have garnered recognition, including the U.S. Power of Purpose Award in 2020 for a UN campaign he co-founded and the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards’ Image-maker of the Year Award in 2022. In 2023, Justin was named on the #POWER60 Most Inspiring Asian-Canadians List for his contributions to arts and community.
Represented by The Characters Talent Agency & Fineman Entertainment, Justin is a full member of the Directors Guild of Canada, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, and serves as a Canon ambassador and a Champion of Change Ambassador for Global Citizen.
Awards & NOTABLE ACCOLADES
2024. Tubi’s #1 Film - Justin’s feature film, Sidelined: The QB & Me, drew the biggest number of viewers of any title on Tubi in its first seven days and brought in the most new viewers for a title to date. (Deadline)
2024. Variety’s Streaming Original Chart (powered by Luminate) - #5 most-watched streaming original film globally the week Sidelined premiered and in the Top 10 for two weeks in a row.
2023. POWER 60: Most Inspiring Asian-Canadians by View the Vibe
2022. Image-maker of the Year by the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA)
2022. Canadian Online Publishing Award (Silver) for Best Multicultural Story
Justin’s Op-Ed & Photo Essay in Fete Chinoise Magazine Edition 7
2022. Young Old Boy of Distinction Award by Upper Canada College
2021. Nominee for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Comedy Series by the Director’s Guild of Canada for Justin’s episode of Kim’s Convenience on Netflix International & CBC
2020. Campaign US Power of Purpose Award for the United Nations campaign Justin co-founded for work that influences behaviors, shares important untold stories and helps improve the world at large.
2017. Fan Favourite Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
2014. Filmmaker of the Future Award for Best Emerging Director at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (Academy Qualifying)
Press
TEEN VOGUE.
Tubi's Sidelined: The QB and Me Starring Noah Beck & Siena Agudong Is Officially Getting a Sequel, 2025.
TELE-LOISIRS.
Personne n'avait vu venir ce film qui se retrouve numéro 1 sur Prime Video, 2025.
GLOBAL NEWS. (television)
‘Sidelined: The QB & Me’ director Justin Wu on new YA romcom, 2024.
ETALK. (television)
Interview with Justin Wu, Season 23 Episode 66, 2024.
CP24 BREAKFAST. (television)
Canadian filmmaker makes his feature debut, 2024.
COLLIDER
“I Wanted to Prove It Was My Acting”: Noah Beck on Using TikTok Fame for His Role in ‘Sidelined: The QB and Me’, (with words from Justin) 2024.
YAHOO! NEWS
'Sidelined: The QB and Me': Noah Beck was 'craving' collaboration after 'solitary' TikTok success, leading to first movie role, (with words from Justin) 2024.
TORONTO STAR. (newspaper)
‘Sidelined: The QB and Me’ isn’t just a wildly popular film — it’s a love story for people who aren’t used to being seen onscreen, 2024.
CGMAGAZINE
Tubi’s New Original Film Sidelined: The QB and Me Puts Canadian Talent in the Spotlight, 2024.
LOS ANGELES SENTINEL
Deborah Cox Shines In “Sidelined The QB and Me”, (with words from Justin) 2024.
BLOGTO.
New Movie from Toronto director stars TikTok heartthrob Noah Beck, 2024.
PLAYBACK.
Tubi commissions The QB Bad Boy and Me from GPM, 2024.
YOUNG HOLLYWOOD.
Sidelined: The QB and Me director Justin Wu raves about Noah Beck, James Van Der Beek and more, 2024.
VIEW THE VIBE.
POWER 60: Inspiring Asian-Canadians of Influence, 2023.
GLOBAL CITIZEN.
This Award-Winning Photographer and Filmmaker Is Using His Platform to Drive Change, 2022.
CTV NEWS. (television)
Canadian designer, photographer join anti-poverty campaign, 2022.
CTV YOUR MORNING (television)
Interview with Justin Wu, 2022.
YAHOO FINANCE.
T&T Supermarkets appoints filmmaker Justin Wu as Creative Director, 2022.
GENTS TALK (podcast - available on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube)
Identity, Art & Why Toronto Will Always Be Home with Justin Wu. 2022.
RICHMOND NEWS.
Kim's Convenience filmmaker hired as T&T's creative director, 2022.
THE MESSAGE.
Why T&T Supermarkets hired director Justin Wu to help tell its story, 2022.
FETE CHINOISE (in print)
JUSTIN WU: Representation in Image Making, Media and Film, 2022.
ETALK (television)
The New North - Canada Day Special highlighting young Canadians you need to know about. Interview with Justin Wu, 2021.
CBC COMEDY.
Justin Wu: From aspiring photographer to Kim's Convenience's youngest director, 2021.
VIEW THE VIBE.
Justin Wu: Making His Mark in the Film Industry—One Scene at a Time
Cover shoot + Interview, 2021.
ETALK. (television)
Interview with Justin Wu, 2021.
CBC RADIO Q.
Interview with Justin Wu, 2021.
CBC THE NATIONAL (television)
Interview with Justin Wu, 2021.
CBC ENTERTAINMENT (television)
Kim's Convenience closes shop with series finale. Director appreciative of show's 'authenticity and depth, heart and comedy', 2021.
BLOGTO.
How a Toronto biology student became a director working on Kim’s Convenience, 2021.
V MAGAZINE.
#InMySkin by Justin Wu. Highlighting Black identities through art, 9 brave individuals stripped down to lay their souls bare truth, 2020.
LOOK TO THE STARS.
Young Celebrities Want You to Know The World Is In Your Hands, 2020.
MATTE PR.
My Canadian Closet - Justin Wu, 2020.
ETALK. (television)
Joaquin Phoenix joins Justin Wu’s campaign to fight climate change, 2019.
REAL LEADERS.
The World is in Our Hands. How Will You Change it?, 2019.
CBC NEWS.
The 'unfortunate catch-22' that might be holding back full inclusion in Hollywood, 2019.
NATIONS SWELL.
Joaquin Phoenix Isn’t Joking: It’s Time to Take Climate Change Seriously, 2019.
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY.
Filmmaker and Photographer’s Career Is Clicking, 2018.
CREATOR CLASS.
Justin Wu on staying relevant by connecting with your audience, being curious, and having a purpose, 2018.
FASHION ONE. (television)
A Day in the Life of Justin Wu, 2016.
ETALK. (television)
Interview with Justin Wu, 2015.
CANAL+ LE GRAND JOURNAL (on television)
Spotlight on Justin Wu’s latest film, 2015.
COURIER MAIL.
Interview with Canadian videographer Justin Wu, 2011.