Trailer to Love Nafi’s short film ‘Love Zuri’
In honor of Autism Awareness Day (April 2) and Autism Awareness Month, the creative team (actor Mohamed Williams and filmmakers Nafi “Love Nafi” Almaroof & Okema T. Moore) behind their heartfelt short film ‘Love Zuri’ have released the official trailer as the film starts its festival run.
Left alone with his non-verbal daughter for the weekend, a father’s fears about her autism give way to joy when her song teaches him how to truly hear her.
Directed and Produced by Okema T. Moore from a script written and and Executive Produced by Nafi “Love Nafi” Almaroof, the cast includes Mohamed Williams, Llogan Paige, Montana Monroe, Steven Strickland, and Betty Entzminger. Williams wrote the story.
Love Zuri is an emotionally rich story that explores parenthood, fear, and transformation through the lens of neurodiversity. Centered on a father’s journey toward understanding his non-verbal daughter, the film invites audiences to reconsider communication, connection, and what it truly means to listen.
The trio previously produced the indie pilot Love Song, also written by Almaroof, which is her narrative directorial debut, and starring Williams and Moore, further solidifying their collaborative voice.
Williams states “Love Zuri is a short film I created to bring awareness to Autism Spectrum Disorder within the Black and African community. The project was inspired by my own journey as a father to my 9‑year‑old daughter, Zuri, who is on the autism spectrum. The film is, in many ways, a love letter to her and an expression of the tenderness, fear, and transformation that came with her diagnosis.”
“As a Caribbean woman, I understand the weight of cultural expectations around parenting, achievement, and ‘normalcy.’ My goal is to honor authentic family dynamics, celebrate neurodiverse experiences, and create a cinematic experience that is both emotionally resonant and visually alive.”
“As a filmmaker, parent, and physician, I was able to bring precision, empathy, and authenticity when writing Love Zuri. This story is about honoring the complexity and layers of love within challenging familial relationships.”