CYANO SUN SUITE (2024)
CYANO SUN SUITE (2024)
a concert film in seven poems
Shot at the iconic Montreal Biosphere, CYANO SUN SUITE is an award-winning concert film in seven poems performed to improvised hipjazzsoulbopfunkhop. With over fifty award wins on the international film festival circuit, CYANO SUN SUITE is directed by Stefan Verna; written, performed and produced by Tawhida Tanya Evanson; and features improvised music by members of Kalmunity Vibe Collective. This 43-minute visual album is an afro-ancestral dream of outer space told through word, sound and science.
From culture starters on Earth to the concept of freedom in outer space, CYANO SUN SUITE contemplates an Afrofuturist worldview as poems move up the food chain, or rather, through scientific levels of organization. Metaphors begin at the cellular (Culture Starter); then move onto tissue and organ systems (Incision); organisms (Ten Quintillion); population and community (Null Island); ecosphere and biosphere (The Mother of All Jams); planets and solar system (Extraterrestrial Diamonds); and end in the galaxy and observable universe (Sun Solo).
With Jean-Michel Frédéric (keys), Erik Hove (saxophone), Mark Haynes (bass), Jahsun (drums), Elli Miller Maboungou (percussion), and guest poet Kaie Kellough. Music production by Audio Coara and editing by Sharif Mirshak. A Mother Tongue Media production.
||||||| TRAILER 2 BY DIRECTOR STEFAN VERNA
||||||| INTERVIEW WITH FILM INVASION LOS ANGELES
||||||| MONTREAL PREMIERE REVIEW AT SORS-TU (in French)
||||||| REVIEW OF NULL ISLAND: Null Island is a mesmerizing track from the CYANO SUN SUITE, showcasing the powerful fusion of poetry and improvised music in a truly unique live concert experience. Directed by Stefan Verna, the visual album masterfully brings to life Tawhida Tanya Evanson’s profound words, seamlessly intertwining them with the vibrant sounds of the Kalmunity Vibe Collective. The piece invites viewers on a journey that reflects an Afrofuturist worldview, skillfully navigating themes of culture, freedom, and our connection to the cosmos. The collaborative energy of the musicians enhances the performance, creating a rich tapestry of sound that resonates deeply. This track is not just a celebration of artistry but a thought-provoking exploration of our place within the universe.” - INTERNATIONAL ART FILM FESTIVAL (BIRMINGHAM, England)
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec
screenings
IN THEATRE
CYANO SUN SUITE (full film)
Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival April 25, 2025 Tiohtià:ke/Montreal QC Canada
League of Canadian Poets March 20, 2025 *SPECIAL ONLINE SCREENING*
Nkabom Festival December 15 2024, Accra Ghana
Vancouver Black Independent Film Festival (VBIFF24) November 1 2024 Vancouver/Coast Salish BC Canada
New Sonic Poetries Conference October 10 2024 Tkaronto/Toronto ON Canada
Suoni per il Popolo June 18 2024 Tiohtià:ke/Montréal QC Canada *WORLD PREMIERE*
Extraterrestrial Diamonds (short)
Poetry in Motion November 13 2024 Colorado Springs CO US
Midwest Video Poetry Festival October 12 2024 Madison WI US
Chroma Art Film Festival August 17-18 2024 Miami FL US
Null Island (short)
Drumshanbo Written Word Poetry Film Competition August 22, 2025 Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, Ireland OFFICIAL SELECTION
The Artists Forum June 22, 2024 Manhattan NYC, US *BEST ENHANCED PERFORMANCE*
Hamilton Black Film Festival May 26, 2024 Hamilton ON Canada *BEST PICTURE*
Harlem International Film Festival May 23, 2024 Harlem NY US *BEST MUSIC VIDEO*
Rapport Festival March 29, 2024 London UK
Culture Starter (short)
Monologues & Poetry International Film Fest March 29, 2025 Vallejo CA US
WORLDTHREADING Film Fest October 13 2024 Copenhagen, Denmark
Film Invasion Los Angeles June 19 2024 Los Angeles CA US BEST EXPERIMENTAL/ARTHOUSE; BEST LEAD PERFORMER; BEST SOUND DESIGN*
awards
|||||| CYANO SUN SUITE (full length)
Nkabom Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
INTERNATIONAL ART FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL SELECTION
Canadian Cinematography Awards AWARD WINNER
Vancouver Black Independent Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
New Sonic Poetries Conference OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film Invasion Los Angeles OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film Invasion Los Angeles GRAND JURY AWARD BEST FEATURETTE - EXPERIMENTAL/ARTHOUSE
Film Invasion Los Angeles GRAND JURY AWARD BEST LEAD PERFORMER TAWHIDA TANYA EVANSON
Film Invasion Los Angeles GRAND JURY AWARD BEST SOUND DESIGN SHAE BROSSARD & TYLER CRAWFORD
Los Angeles Short Film Awards OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film Invasion Los Angeles OFFICIAL SELECTION
Golden Wheat Awards AWARD WINNER
Andromeda Film Festival AWARD WINNER
Vesuvius International Film Awards AWARD WINNER
David Film Festival Best Experimental Film AWARD WINNER
International Music Video Awards AWARD WINNER
Cannes World Film Festival AWARD WINNER
Istanbul Movie Awards SEMI FINALIST
Brooklyn International Short Awards SEMI FINALIST
San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival SEMI FINALIST
New York Arthouse Film Fest NOMINEE
Art Film Spirit Awards NOMINEE
||||| Extraterrestrial Diamonds (short)
Midwest Video Poetry Fest OFFICIAL SELECTION
Poetry in Motion OFFICIAL SELECTION
Chroma Art Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Gladiator Film Festival Best Experimental & Best Music Video Composer AWARD WINNER
Majorca Atlanteans AWARD WINNER
Tabriz Cinema Awards Best Experimental AWARD WINNER
||||| Culture Starter (short)
Monologues and Poetry International Film Fest OFFICIAL SELECTION & FINALIST
Melbourne Lift-Off Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Sydney Lift-Off Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Worldthreading Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Short Way International Short Film Festival MUSIC VIDEO FINALIST
Miami International Short Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
International Sound Future Awards Best Music Video AWARD WINNER
International Music Video Awards AWARD WINNER
Prague International Music Video Awards FINALIST
||||| Null Island (short)
Drumshanbo Written Word Poetry Film Competition OFFICIAL SELECTION
Voices Rising Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Motion Pictures International Film Festival AWARD WINNER
INTERNATIONAL ART FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL SELECTION
Motion Pictures International Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
The Artists Forum Best Enhanced Performance AWARD WINNER
Hamilton Black Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION & BEST PICTURE
Voices Rising Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Crossings International Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Rapport Festival (Black Film Festival) OFFICIAL SELECTION
Harlem International Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION & Best Music Video AWARD WINNER
THE ARTISTS FORUM SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION AWARD WINNER
Dream Machine International Film Festival FINALIST
stills
fact sheet
TITLE : CYANO SUN SUITE
COUNTRY : Canada
LANGUAGE : English
RELEASE DATE : October 30, 2023 (limited) / June 18, 2024 (public)
RUN TIME : 43 minutes
FORMAT: HD 1920 x 1080
PRODUCTION COMPANY : Mother Tongue Media
GENRE : Concert Film / Music Video / Videopoetry / Experimental
FILMING LOCATION: Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, Canada
DIRECTOR : Stefan Verna
PRODUCER : Tawhida Tanya Evanson
WRITER: Tawhida Tanya Evanson
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : Pierre Tremblay
EDITOR : Sharif Mirshak
TITLES & MOTION DESIGN : Christian Boakye-Agyeman
CAST :
Tawhida Tanya Evanson : VOCALS
Jean-Michel Frédéric : KEYS
Erik Hove : SAXOPHONE
Mark Haynes : BASS
Jahsun : DRUMS
Elli Miller Maboungou : PERCUSSION
Kaie Kellough : GUEST VOCALS
CAMERA OPERATOR : Stefan Verna
CAMERA OPERATOR : Sharif Mirshak
DRONE OPERATOR : Noé Sardet
ASSISTANT CAMERA OPERATOR : Ruth De Jean
GAFFER : Miguel Sorto
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR : Christian Boakye-Agyeman
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT : Nily Louis
MUSIC PRODUCER : Tyler Fitzmaurice
SOUND RECORDING ENGINEER : Shae Brossard
LIVE SOUND REINFORCEMENT ENGINEER : Tyler Crawford
ASSISTANT ENGINEER : Jojo Worthington MASTERING ENGINEER Tyler Fitzmaurice