The WCFF team connected with writer and director Damien Nembhard to discuss his film, Love Language, a selection for this year’s fest
My name’s Damien Nembhard – a Black-British writer and director from East London. My passion for storytelling took shape on the streets I grew up on, and I shot my first film Only Wolves in 2017.
My latest short, Love Language (2023), dives deep into the dark undercurrents of street life, exploring love, loyalty, and survival. Produced by Break the Cycle and Irresistible Studios, the film asks: How far would you go for someone you love? It offers an unflinching look at grooming and modern-day slavery within London’s gang culture—through layered characters fighting to rewrite their fate.
Love Language was born from the urgent, often unseen realities facing young people in inner-city communities across the UK. I wanted to tell this story through the eyes of the victim—our lead—using acts of service as a storytelling lens, one of the core love languages. This approach gave the film a surreal, almost dreamlike quality, allowing the audience to feel the weight of the narrative on both an emotional and psychological level.
The film is both a warning and a love letter—gritty, haunting, and human. It’s the creative love child of Break Tha Cycle, Irresistible Studios, and myself.
As soon as I discovered the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, I knew I had to submit Love Language. This festival celebrates stories that matter—bold, rooted, and culturally rich—and that’s exactly what this film stands for.
As a Black British filmmaker of Caribbean descent, it would be a true honour to have my work included and screened as part of the Windrush legacy. To be part of a platform that uplifts our voices and reflects our shared history would be both powerful and deeply personal.
I’d tell my younger self this: talent is a gift—but it’s determination, persistence, and the relentless drive to grow that truly shapes your path. Success isn’t built on talent alone or fleeting moments of inspiration. It’s earned through hard work, resilience, and unshakable self-belief.
I’m currently developing a slate of new projects, including a TV series and a feature film with writer and actress Siobhan David O’Dean. I’m also deep in development on my own feature—an unflinching exploration of modern-day slavery and the Black British experience.
I’m always sharing behind-the-scenes content, updates, and creative insights on social media. You can find me on Instagram: @maroonfilmz. Also my first two short films are streaming now on YouTube – check them out: Only Wolves and Two Wrongs.
Catch Love Language and other films at the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, running from 14 to 29 June 2025 and sign up to the newsletter at https://bit.ly/WCFFNews.
