Imani is a narrative short film I co-wrote, directed, and produced alongside cinematographer Nabil Abdulkadir. Set in present-day Washington, DC, the film follows a young artist navigating creative ambition, family tension, and displacement in a rapidly gentrifying city. Our goal was to bring a personal lens to structural change, centering local music, relationships, and space-making in a city where art feels increasingly pushed to the margins.

We approached the film with a love for regional storytelling, drawing from our own experiences in the DC creative scene. I led direction across story development, casting, production, and post, building a visual world that juxtaposes DC’s sterile redevelopment with the warmth of its music and artist communities. Imani marks my narrative directorial debut and reflects my commitment to emotionally grounded, place-based storytelling.