Moor Mother - Jazz Codes [2022]
A 15-minute film to accompany Moor Mother’s Jazz Codes, named one of the best albums of 2022 by the New York Times, Wire Magazine, and Pitchfork.
Currently streaming on MUBI.
What happens if Clint Eastwood is replaced in American mythology by a Black Quantum Futurist poet? We carried that question into the Mojave Desert with one of the great artists of our generation, inspired by the wandering Azmari poets of Ethiopia. But jazz is city music, too, and for the track Woody Shaw we connected with Los Angeles’ legendary Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra to film an encounter between past and present. They helped us bring together an incredible roster of jazz luminaries and elders including Henry “The Skipper” Franklin, Michael Session (PAPA), and Maia (AACM / Phil Cohran). We recorded at PAPA HQ in Leimert Park, and had the utmost privilege of visiting Henry Franklin at home outside of LA, listening to Hugh Masekela and remembering the greats.
Directed by Cyrus Moussavi, Concepts written by Cyrus Moussavi and Camae Ayewa, Cinematography by Sebastián Pinzón Silva and Timothy Fryett, Sound by Jesse Justice, Scratch Film by Sam Heydt, Colorist Gabriel Sanchez, Moor Mother Stylist Rebecca Roe, Production Coordination & BTS Photos Sam Lee, Edit Moussavi & Silva, Special thanks Brandon Stousy, Anti- Records, the Alipours.
Angel Bat Dawid - Recall The Joy [2023]
We spent a couple years documenting the creation and recording of Angel Bat Dawid’s “Requiem For Jazz”, a monumental project by one of the great artists of our time. The first video for the album, released by International Anthem, is a clip from the world premiere of the composition at the Hyde Park Jazz Fest.
Joan Shelley featuring Bill Callahan - Amberlit Morning [2022]
Joan’s prompt was “Goodnight Moon” and we arrived George Méliès' "A Trip To The Moon" and other early 20th century film and photo renditions of outer space. We were also inspired by amateur star-gazing clubs in New York City. There's a romance to looking up at space from one of the brightest points on earth. Escape through the eye. We imagined what happens on the other side of the telescope as a semi-surreal black and white journey through memory and time.
Filmed edited and directed by Cyrus Moussavi. Co-Director Brittany Nugent. Set-design, costumes, and writing from Theo Shure. Featuring Bene and Lila Coopersmith, Sharleen Chidiac (dancer), and Tatum Talaie. Special thanks to Coffey Street Studio.
Irreversible Entanglements - Open the Gates [2021]
ENERGY TIME! Moor Mother, Luke Stewart, Aquiles Navarro, Tcheser Holmes, Keir Neuringer are NYC / DC / Philly based band Irreversible Entanglements. For this video, Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother) envisioned a young superhero, the energy and optimism of youth, bursting through the city. Our friends at the Barakunan collective in Beirut wrote an archetype for this new hero, Cape Presence, whose laser focus and attention to the world around him is his great superpower. We shot with my dear friends Judah and Meera in Inwood and the Lower East Side, two neighborhoods Judah calls home. We tried to look where he looked, and see the city from the perspective of a young hero who holds the Keys to Creation (even if the rest of the world doesn’t notice yet).
starring Judah Son Of Pharoh ۰ dir/edited Cyrus Moussavi ۰ camera Charles Autumn + CM ۰ 35mm + 120mm film CM+Brittany Nugent ۰ creative direction Camae Ayewa and Brittany Nugent ۰ archetypal research Dani Arbid ۰ on-set healer Meera al-Sayegh
SUO - Any Other Day [2021]
It’s the first official day NYC opens up from COVID lockdowns and SUO (formerly of the great Brooklyn band Boytoy) heads to Coney Island, the only place for a broken hearted clown to let it out. Shot at Deno’s Wonder Wheel and the Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook. Co-directed with Brittany Nugent, special thanks to Mina Fitzpatrick & Eli Smith.
clown touchup, 35mm film
Dr. Charles Joseph Smith - Flourishing Cities of Undead [2020]
Dr. Charles Joseph Smith is not only a brilliant pianist, but he’s a trained ballroom dancer, too. Shot at the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago one evening shortly before the Coronavirus shutdown began. Read more here.
Dir. Cyrus Moussavi // DP. Sebastián Pinzón Silva // Prod. Brittany Nugent // Cameo by Angel Bat Dawid
Alabaster dePlume - Turpentine [2020]
For UK artist Alabaster dePlume, from his album “To Cy & Lee Vol 1” on International Anthem. Shot in a sullen and empty Chicago in the fall on DV tape.
Movement by Aaliyah Christina // Second Cam by Troy J. Lewis // Directed, shot & edited by Cyrus Moussavi
Make It Hapn - Must Eat Ah Food [2015]
Old but good - Trinidad’s realest MC breaks down society’s ills while refusing to rap Yankee. Honored to collaborate with insanely talented artist and filmmaker DGainz (Chief Keef, Lil Durk) on this one. Shot in Port of Spain in 2015.
Director & Editor Cyrus Moussavi // DP DGainz // Crew Michael Badal, Shea Best, Dominic Koo, Anderson Mitchell // Beat by Beebo