When 17-year-old aspiring writer Ayanna (Zora Howard) meets an infinitely charming music composer named Isaiah, her world is turned upside down. Wise beyond her years, Ayanna maintains a watchful, guarded exterior that is threatened when she falls hard and fast for him. But it’s not all ballads and poetry; tensions erupt when the couple’s relationship has unintended consequences that Ayanna must confront. In a vibrant and rapidly changing Harlem, it’s Ayanna’s experience that anchors this story of Black love and self-discovery. Howard — who co-wrote the film with director Rashaad Ernesto Green — delivers a powerhouse lead performance as Ayanna. Each moment of vulnerability and tenderness in Howard’s performance feels like a gift, jolting energy and authenticity into the story. Her mostly supportive, sometimes shady, friends punctuate the film with humour and emotional resonance, their dialogue standing out for its authenticity in how youth actually speak. Textured, gritty, and quietly gut-wrenching, Premature will burst your heart open in all the best ways. - Ikoro Hugging-Warner, TIFF