The Process

Fresh off the success of his short film, Love and the Game, Ali is back with a new full-length feature film called DELILAH, which he wrote and directed. Based on his second novel, Across the Middle, Delilah is guaranteed to break your heart and challenge you to believe at the same time. The film boasts a diverse cast led by rising actress Michelle Batista, (Love and the Game), in the title role with Jonathan H. Ragins co-starring. To get the job done behind the camera, Ali has put together a great crew, including camera operators, Roger "Chino" Cordoba and Lief Urias. The talented young Souleymane Doumbouya is the film's cinematographer with Corey Brumfield serving as editor and colorist. DELILAH is executive-produced by Noel Rojas, Dwayne Smith, Derrick White, and Virginia Caamaño.

Filming for Delilah ran from November 2021 through May 2022 with a gambit of shooting locations throughout New Jersey and New York, lending to the edgy urban feel of the storyline. After spending the whole of 2024 enjoying tremendous success in the film festivals of Europe, raising eyebrows and winning awards from Budapest to Istanbul, DELILAH is coming home, an award-winning film, and will premiere on the cutting edge IN THE BLACK NETWORK, headed by James Dubose, former General Manager and Head of Programming at Fox Soul, on February 1, 2025. Brought to you by Gatekeeper Creative Works in partnership with FAST FORWARD FILMS, piloted by Omarr A. Salgado, DELILAH stars Michelle BATISTA and Johnathan H. RAGINS. With sound mixing done by hip-hop legend D-Moët, Ali underscores the film with his own raw, hypnotic original soundtrack that pulsates and bubbles beneath the current of the film. Delilah is a dark, gritty love story that crashes against conventional ideals of relationships, commitment, inner conflict, and the often unfamiliar shades of redemption.

"I know some people will take issue with some of the film's themes. I get that. But it's important that I be real. I take it as my mission to bring life to art." - Daniel Ali

Delilah sails into murky waters, delving into matters of victim sexuality and drug addiction. It begs the unforgiving question: What if you could know everything about the person you love? Would you really want to? And would you still love them if you did?

"I think viewers will relate to the characters in this film; their perfectly flawed humanity and the way they approach the everyday struggles with their own inner demons. I think it'll all resonate in a very real way." 

- Daniel Ali