Yuri Shapochka

From the green steppes of Ukraine to Southern hospitality of Alabama to the warm sun of California, award-winning director Yuri Shapochka has travelled a long way in his artistic career. As a journalist, Yuri produced and directed documentaries for Ukrainian television. He has now combined his experience with a passion for independent film. Films by Yuri include “Clubhouse,” “High Expectations,” “Waiting,” “The Little Theater,” and “Six Blocks Wide.” His films have been shown at the LA Film Festival, Director’s Lounge in Berlin, the Cannes Film Festival’s Short Film Corner, the Maryland Film Festival, the Naoussa Film Festival in Greece, Sidewalk Film Festival, and many others. A dark comedy "High Expectations," written and directed by Yuri, won “Best Dark Comedy” award at the New York International Independent Film Festival and the Platinum Remi Award at the WorldFest in Houston. His short drama “Waiting” won Highest Achievement Award at Jokara-Micheaux Film Festival in Georgia as well as a Platinum Remi at WorldFest. Shapochka’s film, “Six Blocks Wide,” was premiered in Italy at A Film for Peace Festival, where it was chosen as one of the 4 top finalists with peace topic such as non-violence and respect of human rights. The cast included noted actress Tonea Stewart ("A Time to Kill," "In the Heat of the Night," "The Rosa Parks Story"). "Six blocks alters view of world" wrote John Archibald in the Birmingham News. Most recently Yuri won The Cultural Alliance’s Grant to Individual Artists. His comedy “Ivan Goes Abroad” was chosen as a quarter-finalist in Francis Coppola's Zoetrope Screenwriting Contest, the cast included the legendary, Oscar winning actress Patricia Neal. Learn more at www.shapefilms.com