The 23-minute short film's story is by Little Simz, real name Simbiatu Ajikawo, who also stars in the Sam Pilling-directed film alongside Shaniqua Okwok (It’s A Sin, Small Axe), C.J. Beckford (Big Age, National Theatre’s Small Island) and Sonia Ajuwa.
I Love You, I Hate You is Little Simz's debut short film, and shares its name with a track on her Sometimes I Might Be Introvert album. It marks her firstacting role since appearing as herself in the recent Venom: Let There Be Carnage film.
The short film includes music from Sault, Nala Sinephro, as well as Little Simz's own "I See You" song and Miraa May's "Piece Of Mind".
"I Love You, I Hate You is the story of abandonment," Little Simz explains. "How trauma can affect us in our adult lives if never confronted. I wanted to make this film because I feel it’s a universal story that many people can relate to. It’s been incredible to work with a partner like WePresent (the digital arts platform of WeTransfer) who are so invested in telling stories like this. They understood and trusted my vision from the jump and had my back to create the film I set out to make."
WePresent will also release Moses Sumney's 67-minute live performance film Blackalachia next month.
