Naz & Maalik
“Not your typical coming-of-age tale involving gay teens.” — Shadow and Act
“The next great New York movie.” — New York Post
“Naz & Maalik feels authentic, and Mr. Johnson and Mr. Cook bring their characters completely alive.” — The New York Times
In this riveting dramatic tale, gay teens Naz and Maalik are friends, classmates, business partners and lovers. As the two closeted Muslim teens go about their regular daily routine on a Friday afternoon in Brooklyn they arouse the suspicions of an undercover FBI agent who begins to track them. This complex tale of race, religion and sexuality features a pair of tremendous performances from Kerwin Johnson Jr. as Naz and Curtiss Cook Jr. as Maalik. Intimate and meditative, Naz & Maalik examines the mysterious forces that animate teenage minds.
An exceptionally well-crafted drama, and an auspicious feature debut from writer-director Jay Dockendorf.
Awards & Press Quotes
WINNER
Jury Award, Best Feature Film
Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
WINNER
Jury Award, Best First Feature
Atlanta Out on Film
WINNER
IWC Filmmaker Award
Tribeca Film Institute
WINNER
Best LGBT Film
Nashville Film Festival
WINNER
Jury Award for Best Actors in a U.S. Dramatic Feature
“For a richly multi-dimensional portraits of young gay men, balancing their forbidden relationship with their Muslim faith in post 9-11 New York. The Best Actor in a U.S. Feature Award goes to Curtis Cook Jr and Kerwin Johnson Jr in Naz and Maalik.”
OUTFEST, Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
“A day-in-the-life look at the unique experience of being young, gay, black, and Muslim in Brooklyn… writer-director Jay Dockendorf’s film is intimate, authentic, and feels decidedly relevant in today’s current context… Naz & Maalik is an impressive debut.” – Indiewire
“A powerful treatise on what it is to be young and disenfranchised in New York City.” — Austin Chronicle
“Unfolds with a youthful vitality, bolstered by the charm of its lead actors.” — The Hollywood Reporter
