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
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
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
2009-2011. Masters in International Management, HEC Paris & Louvain
*Dropped out in 2011 after being signed to an agency in Paris, New York & Los Angeles
2008-2009. Honours Business Administration, Ivey School of Business
2004-2007. Bachelor of Science, Queen’s University
Justin Wu is a multi award-winning Toronto-based TV Director, Photographer, Creative Director, and Speaker.
After foregoing a conventional career in the sciences and business, Justin began as a photojournalist and scouted as a commercial & portrait photographer. Living and working in Europe with the likes of Vogue, Elle, and GQ, Justin became an internationally recognized artist within the fashion industry with a keen eye for visuals and storytelling. From photography, Justin quickly transitioned into filmmaking.
His television directorial debut was on the multi-award winning sitcom Kim’s Convenience streaming internationally on Netflix. For his episode, Justin was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement on a Comedy Show by the Director’s Guild of Canada (DGC) in 2021. He graduated from the Half Initiative by Ryan Murphy on Fox’s 9-1-1 in Los Angeles and he received training under Jemaine Clement on FX’s What We Do in the Shadows for several episodes.
This past year, Justin directed a one-hour stylized drama for Syfy on Amazon - Reginald The Vampire, a block of episodes of Children Ruin Everything picked up by the CW, as well as half a season of a brand new BBC comedy. In 2024, Justin will be directing his first studio feature film and he is presently within the prestigious Warner Brothers Access x Canadian Academy Roster of directors. As a former editor with a music background, Justin has a knack for sharp comedy, pacing, and visuals with a desire to continue in one-hour stylized dramas and features.
Over the past decade Justin has directed television and digital commercials for world renowned brands and stars including the likes of Dior, Adidas, Coach, L’Oreal Paris, United Nations, Selena Gomez, Jeremy Irons, Victoria Beckham, Willem Dafoe, Susan Surandon, Joaquin Phoenix, Rosario Dawson, Simu Liu, and many more.
Justin and his work is often a topic for the press as he’s known for his uplifting and empowering approach. This includes being featured in Entertainment Tonight, ETalk, CBC The National, CBS News, MTV, Huffington Post, Vogue, Variety, Le Grand Journal (Canal+), and much more. As a member of the LGBTI community, he continues to stand for inclusion, representation, and equity. On the side, Justin loves to share his insights, educate and inspire others. He has made keynote addresses at FanExpo Canada, Comic Con Montreal, University of Toronto, Canon Creator Lab, and he has guest lectured at School of Visual Arts (SVA) Masters Photography Program in New York City. In 2022, Justin also wrote an award-winning op-ed about representation in media and he has spoken alongside the US Trade Ambassador and Canada’s Minister of International Trade about the importance of the arts.
His pioneering and philanthropic work has also won him the US Power of Purpose award for an awareness campaign he co-founded for the United Nations in 2020 and in 2022, he won the Image-maker of the Year Award by the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA). This past year, Justin has been recognized among the #POWER60: The Most Inspiring Asian-Canadians List for his contributions to the arts and community in Canada.
Justin is represented by The Characters Talent Agency. He is a full member of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, an ambassador for Canon Canada, and a Champion of Change Ambassador for Global Citizen.
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
2021. Nominee for Image-maker of the Year by the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA)
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)
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. (on television)
Canadian designer, photographer join anti-poverty campaign, 2022.
CTV YOUR MORNING (on 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 CANADA (on 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 CANADA (on television)
Interview with Justin Wu, 2021.
CBC RADIO Q.
Interview with Justin Wu, 2021.
CBC THE NATIONAL (on television)
Interview with Justin Wu, 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 CANADA. (on 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. (on television)
A Day in the Life of Justin Wu, 2016.
ETALK CANADA. (on 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.