shibu-shibu.com
Yu Shibuya
Yu Shibuya is a director, screenwriter, and playwright based in Tokyo, Japan. He holds an MFA in creative writing poetry from Purdue University.
"Jitensha", an award-winning short film he wrote and coproduced, was an official selection at over 20 major film festivals globally, including the 66th Venice Film Festival.
Shibuya was nominated for the International Emmy Awards (Documentary Category) for story editing “WHO I AM Season 2 - Beatrice Vio".
In 2018, he wrote and produced an international feature film entitled "Cicada" which won grand prizes at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Guam International Film Festival, and the Pan Pacific Film Festival.
In 2020, he was selected as an NHK Sundance fellow for his original screenplay "An Argument for Beauty", which is currently being developed under a different title.
Shibuya runs a theater company called Bokuyoken where he produces his original plays.
He has published three books: two collections of monologues and a collection of his full-length plays. They are being translated for international release.
LIST OF WORKS AND AWARDS
<FILM AND TV>
2009 “Jitensha” (short) Writer, Producer
Awards
Sapporo Short Fest (Grand Prize, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Music)
Heartland Film Festival (Vision Award)
Imago Film Festival (Best of Show)
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (Golden Reel)
BEA Festival of Media Arts (Best of Fest)
Brussels Short Film Festival (Youth Jury Prize)
Official Selection
66th Venice Film Festival
Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival
Hawaii Film Festival
Florida Film Festival
Athens International Film & Video Film Festival
Starz Denver Film Festival
Rhode Island International Film Fesitval
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Newport Beach Film Festival
Davis Film Festival
Petaluma Film Festival
Archipelago Film Festival
Images That Matter Film Festival
Sedona International Film Festival
Talent 1 Media Film Festival
Method Fest Film Festival
Calgary International Film Festival
Lausanne’s Short Film Night
Expresión en Corto International Film Festival
2009 “Gunjo” (feature) Writer
Starring Masami Nagasawa, distributed by 20th Century Fox Japan
2011 “Persimmon” (short) Writer, Producer
Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival
Rhode Island International Film Festival
Heartland Film Festival
Starz Denver Film Festival
Newport Beach Film Festival
Aspen Shortsfest
Savannah Film Festival
Secret City Film Festival
2012 “conversation(s)” (short) Writer
Sapporo Short Fest (Best Screenplay Special Mention)
2014 “Cicada” (feature) Writer, Producer
Awards
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (Grand Jury Prize)
Guam International Film Festival (Grand Jury Prize, Best Acting)
Heartland Film Festival (Award Winner)
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (Audience Award)
Catalina Film Festival (Award of Merit)
Pan Pacific Film Festival (Grand Prize, Best Director, Best Actor)
Official Selection
Rhode Island International Film Festival
Kaohsiung Film Festival
CAAM FEST
Newport Beach Film Festival
2014 “The Entrance Exam” (short) Director, Writer
Sapporo Short Fest
International Film Festival of Cinematic Arts
Nasu International Short Film Festival
Himeji International Film Festival (Sponsor Award)
2015 “The Apology” (short) Director, Writer
Awards
Sapporo Short Fest (Special Jury Prize)
Japan Association of Audiovisual Producers Awards (Outstanding Narrative)
Arizona Film Festival (Jury Award for Creative Achievement)
Rochester Film Festival (Best of Fest)
Asian Film Festival of Dallas (Best Drama Short)
Montelupo Fiorentino International Independent Film Festival (Best Short Film)
West Tokyo Film Festival (Cinema Club Special Award)
Odawara Film Festival (Special Jury Award)
Official Selection
Maryland International Film Festival
Yubari Fantastic International Film Festival
New York State International Film Festival
Esperanza Film Fesitval
Calgary International Film Festival
Balinale Bail International Film Festival
New Director Film Festival
Jinbocho Film Festival
Yokohama Independent Film Festival
Japan Serbia Film Festival
Best Short Films Fes 2016
Kohan Film Festival
2016 "The Murder Log" (short) Director, Writer, Actor
Ochanomizu Creator Matsuri
Ura-Jinbocho Film Festival
Eiga Shonen Short Film Festival
Sapporo Short Fest (Japan Panorama)
2017 IPC & WOWOW “WHO I AM” Series Documentary
Season 2 Beatrice Vio (TV Documentary) Story Editor
2018 International Emmy Awards Documentary Category Nomination
The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Awards (Award of Excellence)
Asian-Pacific Broadcasting Union Awards (Golden Prize)
2018 "Repeat After Me" (short) Writer, Director, Lead Actor
SHORT to the Point
Swindon Independent Film Festival (Semi-finalist)
Macoproject Film Festival
Banaras Film Festival
Visoni Corte International Short Film Festival (Finalist)
Woodengate International Film Festival
Kiryu Award 2018 (Audience Award)
Tateshina Kogen Film Festival (Grand Prize)
Japan Association of Audiovisual Producers Award (Outstanding Short)
Nasu Short Film Festival
Nishi-Tokyo Shimin Film Festival
Misty Moon International Film Festival (The Fenella Fielding OBE Award)
Waterford Film Festival
Fukui Ekimae Short Film Festival
Directors Circle Festival of Shorts
Dam Short Film Festival
Tsurukawa Short Movie Festival
Obu Short Film Festival
Seisho Cinema Fes
Obuse Short Film Festival
Inigo Film Festival (Grand Prize)
2018 "Just One Look" (short) Director, Co-Writer
Sapporo Short Fest (Hokkaido Selection)
London X4 Seasonal Short Film Festival (Special Mention)
7th Art Festival of Miami
2019 "Roots" (short) Director, Co-Writer
Okinawa International Film Festival
Sapporo Short Fest
Awara Yukemuri Film Festival
Kisssh-Kissssssh Film Festival
Fukui-Ekimae Short Film Festival
Seisho Cinema Film Festival
2020 "Colorless" (feature) Co-Writer
2020 "The Clown's Funeral" (short) Co-Director, Co-Writer
2021 "The Parade of Mischiefs" (short) Director, Writer
2022 "My Sister Says Don't" (short) Director, Writer
<THEATER>
2010 “Sunset in another Dimension” (stage play) Writer
Theater Akutore in Nakano, Tokyo
2013 “The Hole” (stage play) Writer, Director
Gallery Le Deco in Shibuya, Tokyo
2014 “The Three Sisters of the Kunitomi Family” (stage play) Writer, Director
Theater Green in Ikebukuro, Tokyo
2015 "Visual Poetry" (stage play) Writer, Director
Saravah in Shibuya, Tokyo
2015 "Boy Tachibana Cried Wolf" (stage play) Writer, Director
Theater Bon Bon in Nakano, Tokyo
2017 "Glass Monsters" (stage play) Writer, Director
Shougekijo B1, Tokyo
2019 "Foley Tale" (stage play) Writer, Director
Grape Fruits Moon, Tokyo
2019 "Aigai" (stage play) Director, Co-Writer
Ebisu Echo Theater, Tokyo
2021 "The Adventures of Sokonashiko" (stage play) Writer, Director
Ebisu Echo Theater, Tokyo
2022 "Boy Tachibana Cried Wolf" (stage play, revival) Writer, Director
Ebisu Echo Theater, Tokyo
<BOOKS>
2018 "Ana" (collection of monologues) Playwright
published by Ronsosha
2022 "Hazama" (collection of monologues) Playwright
published by Ronsosha
2022 "The Adventures of Sokonashiko/Boy Tachibana Cried Wolf" (collection of plays) Playwright
published by Ronsosha