Abeni Nazeer: Healing, Hustle, and the Power of Storytelling

“My filmmaking journey has always been tied to my growth as a woman,” she says. “Every time life forced me to evolve, I used to go into hibernation—disappear from everyone until I came back stronger. But now, I’ve learned how to keep showing up, to keep creating and sharing while I’m still doing the inner work.” Some artists find their voice through success. For Abeni Nazeer, she found hers through healing.

That balance between purpose and presence defines where Nazeer is today. “Every day I focus on loving the parts of myself that need attention,” she explains. “And it’s wild how much life starts aligning when you work on yourself from the inside out.”

Breaking Through with Sin

One of those alignments was her breakout project, Sin—her first feature film as a director. The opportunity came from Dutch (Kwame), the film’s writer, who discovered her after seeing a music video she directed for her sister. “He told me he liked my eye and wanted me to bring his story to life,” she remembers.

Sin came with challenges—four producers, multiple creative directions, and the constant tug between business and vision. “It was a learning curve,” Nazeer admits, “but it was also magical.”

Working alongside Lou Gossett Jr., a legend in his own right, became a defining moment. “He treated me like family. He shared so much wisdom, welcomed me into his home, and showed me what real artistry looks like,” she says. “And my leads, Angel and Bella Black—they gave everything. Sin wasn’t just a movie; it was a family. It was chaotic and beautiful at the same time.”

Stepping into the Next Chapter

Now, Abeni is stepping into her next creative evolution. Her upcoming series, Barely, is currently in development and will likely find its home on Tubi or Amazon Prime. “It’s raw, real, and emotional,” she says. “It tells the kind of story that reminds people they’re not alone.”

Following that is her bold new horror film, Rush, which premieres November 21 at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills on Wilshire Boulevard. “Rush shows another side of me,” she says. “It’s intense, it’s daring, and it’s rooted in everything I’ve learned as both a director and a woman. It’s about taking risks—creatively and spiritually.”

A Director with Purpose

When asked what drives her, Nazeer smiles. “My mission as a director is simple: to tell the truth,” she says. “I want my films to make people feel something real—to spark conversation, to make them see that healing and growth can be beautiful. Every story I tell is part of my evolution. And honestly, I’m just getting started.”

Courtesy by Abeni Nazeer