Little Simz is sharing her debut film — an original narrative short film called I Love You, I Hate You, out today and presented in collaboration with WePresent by WeTransfer. The film premiered last night at Brain Dead Theatre, arriving on the heels of her performance of “Speed,” one of the stand outs from her acclaimed album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this week. The live rendition saw Simz rapping each verse while playing keys for the track in a colorful and futuristic set that also featured an appearance from the notable dance crew Jabbawockeez. In addition to starring in the film herself, I Love You, I Hate You’s story was created by Little Simz and is directed by Sam Pilling and written by Caroline Adeyemi. Little Simz’s co-stars include Shaniqua Okwok (It’s A Sin, Small Axe), C.J. Beckford (Big Age, National Theatre’s Small Island) and newcomer Sonia Ajuwa. The film is a deep dive into a song of the same title from Little Simz’s critically-lauded recently released album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. The film’s director Sam Pilling has previously helmed visuals for The Weeknd, David Lynch, J. Cole, and more.

The film I Love You, I Hate You focuses on repressed memories, interpreting the relationship between Little Simz’s father and herself. The film takes its cues from her song of the same title, which covers such difficult material that Little Simz at first refused to write it. The specter she didn’t want to talk about? Her absent father. “Is you a sperm donor or a Dad to me?” she asks. “My ego won’t fully allow me to say that I miss you” she confesses. “A woman who hasn’t confronted all her Daddy issues.” The I Love You, I Hate You film threads out this fraught relationship into all of its possibilities.

Speaking on the project Little Simz says, “I Love You, I Hate You is the story of abandonment. 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.”

I Love You, I Hate You
credits:

Starring: Simbiatu Ajikawo (Sage), Sonia Ajuwa (Young Sage), Shaniqua Okwok (Annie), C.J. Beckford (Omar)
Director: Sam Pilling
Story by: Simbiatu Ajikawo
Writers: Caroline Adeyemi & Sam Pilling
Producers: Rik Green & Harri Kamalanathan
Executive Producers: Simbiatu Ajikawo, James Sorton, Davud Karbassioun, Bianca Bhagat, Holly Fraser, Tiffany Yu & Phil van der Krogt

Little Simz
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Age 101
Track List

1. Introvert
2. Woman ft. Cleo Sol
3. Two Worlds Apart
4. I Love You, I Hate You
5. Little Q Pt 1 (Interlude)
6. Little Q Pt 2
7. Gems (Interlude)
8. Speed
9. Standing Ovation
10. I See You
11. The Rapper That Came to Tea (Interlude)
12. Rollin Stone
13. Protect My Energy
14. Never Make Promises (Interlude)
15. Point and Kill ft. Obongjayar
16. Fear No Man
17. The Garden (Interlude)
18. How Did You Get Here
19. Miss Understood