Goro Toshima is a documentary film director and cinematographer. His last film (A Hard Straight) follows three ex-cons for a year after they were released from prison, as they struggle to escape gang life, addictions, and life on the street. This film received the jury award for best documentary feature at the South by Southwest and Santa Barbara Film Festivals. In addition to screening at dozens of other festivals, including LA and Chicago, A Hard Straight broadcast nationally on PBS’ Emmy award winning series, Independent Lens. The Village Voice called the film ‘riveting…an honest and intimate film packed with much needed answers’. Variety said it is ‘a dramatic and an up-close look at the temptations and frustrations faced by three parolees…it won’t be hard for this documentary to gain global festival and tube exposure.’

As a cinematographer, Goro’s work has aired on HBO, PBS, the Sundance Channel, and Bravo. He was the DP on Heidi Fleiss, the Would Be Madam of Crystal about Heidi Fleiss’s new brothel, One Punk Under God about the son of Tammy Fay, and Transgeneration, following 5 transgender kids as they enter college.

In addition to his film and TV work, Goro has also directed new media commercial spots for various advertising companies, including Goodby-Silverstein and 72 Sunny (clients include Hyundai, Bank of the West, and Bugaboo). Goro received a Masters Degree in Documentary Film Production at Stanford University.