Private Project

Never Sleep

Muna is a timid nonbinary teen who can commune with spirits through their dreams. When they are haunted by their recently-deceased father; they decide to never sleep again.

Overwhelmed by grief and the gendered funeral rituals thrust upon them, Muna spends most of their time alone in their room.

On the fortieth day of mourning, a visit from an estranged relative sets Muna on a path towards a new understanding of loss, legacy and self-discovery.

  • Ayo Tsalithaba
    Director
    Atmospheric Arrivals
  • Ayo Tsalithaba
    Writer
  • Ladan M. Siad
    Producer
    Jude and the Jinn
  • Max Mohenu
    Producer
  • Ayo Tsalithaba
    Producer
    Atmospheric Arrivals
  • Max Delroy-Georges
    Key Cast
    "Muna"
  • Kyisha Williams
    Key Cast
    "Naja"
  • Dorothy Atabong
    Key Cast
    "Amina"
  • Lora Campbell
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Magical Realism, Fantasy
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 37 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    121,000 CAD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC)
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
Director Biography - Ayo Tsalithaba

Ayo Tsalithaba is an award-winning filmmaker based in Toronto. Originally from Ghana and Lesotho, Ayo's work explores themes of loss, home and (be)longing for queer African diasporic subjects.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Never Sleep” is an intimate portrait of the inescapability of grief. I wanted to explore how the intergenerational queer family relationship between Muna and Naja can foster mutual growth and teach the importance of working through hard emotions as opposed to avoiding them. My goal was to show how there can be room for both difficult feelings and beautiful connections in the grieving process.

The story is inspired by my lived experience as a young Black queer person who has experienced a loss that restructured my life. Muna's character is nonbinary their gender exploration journey mirrors my own. It was important for me to bring this story to life in this form to show that loss can open up pathways for us to explore parts of ourselves that we may be keeping at bay out of fear.