ALMOST FORGOT MY BONES (2004) Videopoem directed by Katrin Bowen - poetry, spoken word and whirling by Tanya Evanson

We define ourselves through various means - geography, language, profession - no matter how satisfied we are within these boundaries, when one moves from a place and settles in another, there is always a period of re-examination. The poem Almost Forgot my Bones is about such a re-examination - one in which the narrator comes to terms with her own discriminations. The words merge the poetic with the historical, political, colloquial and musical.  Add to this the dimension of the visual, and the oral poetry goes global, taking the Socratic classroom to new heights. In this videopoem, the narrator must learn that we are all reflections of each other and that what we really seek in others is a mirror of ourselves: a pure heart that goes beyond the colour of skin. Once the narrator is awakened, she finds pride in her cultural heritage and her community. Thanks to a film grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, this award-winning short film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2004 at the Short Film Corner and has been shown at festivals in Canada, U.S. and Mexico.

Best International Work Award 2006 Chroma Audiovisual Art Festival Mexico Official Selection 2004 Toronto International Film Festival Canada Audience Choice Award 2004 Vancouver Videopoetry Festival Canada

SPEAK UP (2002) A documentary by Jay Schopp & Oren Ogniewicz

Speak Up is about three spoken word artists who use words to inspire, to heal and to connect:  Zeechillah the Great (Vladimir Vostok), Angus Adair (The Svelt Ms Svelte) and Salmon Avalanche; with Tanya Evanson. In the face of tragedy and suffering—where does the community look for answers? A single mother, a mentally ill writer and a cross-dressing poet reveal their own path and their search for truth through the power of words.