Experiencing Interruptions?

The Sunlight from Your Tongue

Yearning to help her depressed lover, an artist chooses to stay with him as he commits suicide, accepting a tragedy that will change her forever.

  • M. Ceren Arslan
    Director
  • M. Ceren Arslan
    Writer
  • Shannon M. Sutherland
    Producer
  • Emilie Paap
    Key Cast
    "Maya"
  • Yavor Vesselinov
    Key Cast
    "Danila"
  • Madilyn Macy Witherspoon
    Cinematographer
  • Sydney Hendrix
    Production Designer
  • Aaron Kudja
    Editor
  • M. Ceren Arslan
    Sound Designer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Romance
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 21, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Various
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Barcelona Indie Filmmakers Festival
    Barcelona
    Spain
    October 22, 2022
    Official Selection
Director Biography - M. Ceren Arslan

M. Ceren Arslan is a Turkish writer and film director living in the United States. Growing up in Turkey, she was interested in ancient history, classic literature, and philosophy. She lived for a time in Izmir and is influenced by the cultures surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. During her teenage years, she studied art history and painting. She attended the Dokuz Eylul University of Fine Arts, where she studied screenwriting. She also worked under Hungarian filmmaker, Bela Tarr. Among her influences, M. Ceren counts Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Bela Tarr, Wong Kar-wai, and Federico Fellini. In 2020, Ceren enrolled in the Masters program in Film Production at the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts.

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Director Statement

Throughout my life, I have personally struggled with depression, and have watched those closest to me struggle as well. I don’t think people talk enough about the suicidal ideation that typically comes along with depression, and how it is something that never really goes away, even if the depression is gone for a moment; it is something that looms over you and is always in the back of your mind. Depression and suicidal ideation in mainstream media is usually portrayed following a singular formula, where the person is depressed for a moment, they contemplate suicide, they may attempt it, and then they survive and suddenly they are never depressed again. With The Sunlight from your Tongue, I wanted to change this formula and show depression from my lifelong experience as something that lingers and never truly goes away.