The Noon Gun
Encyclopedia
The Noon Gun is a 2004
documentary film directed by Anthony Stern
. In 1971, the experimental film maker Anthony Stern
travelled to Afghanistan
with his 16 mm film camera. The footage was lost for almost 30 years.
Recently rediscovered, it forms the basis of this impressionistic documentary, with an original soundtrack provided by the world fusion musicians Equa
.
This film provides a unique portrait of a people and culture that no longer exist.
'The Noon Gun' had its world premiere at the 53rd Melbourne International Film Festival
(MIFF) in 2004.
It premiered in the UK at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television
in Bradford (now the National Media Museum), September 2004.
In 2005 it also featured as part of 'Films From The South' Festival in Oslo, Norway.
In 2006 it was broadcast on Tolo TV
, the most popular liberal TV station in Kabul
, Afghanistan (and also by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, the only service to broadcast inside the Bhutanese border).
'The Noon Gun' was shortlisted, along with 6 other films, for The Satyajit Ray
Foundation Short Film Competition in London. Extracts from the entries were screened at the Award Ceremony held in the David Lean Room of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts
(BAFTA), Piccadilly, London on the afternoon of Sunday 23 April 2006.
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
documentary film directed by Anthony Stern
Anthony Stern
Anthony Stern was born in Cambridge, England in 1944 and first started making films while at Cambridge University, working as assistant to the avant-garde documentary film maker Peter Whitehead....
. In 1971, the experimental film maker Anthony Stern
Anthony Stern
Anthony Stern was born in Cambridge, England in 1944 and first started making films while at Cambridge University, working as assistant to the avant-garde documentary film maker Peter Whitehead....
travelled to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
with his 16 mm film camera. The footage was lost for almost 30 years.
Recently rediscovered, it forms the basis of this impressionistic documentary, with an original soundtrack provided by the world fusion musicians Equa
Equa
EQUA is a UK-based world fusion music project, founded by the multi-media artist and record producer Sadia Sadia and composer & sound designer Stephen W Tayler....
.
This film provides a unique portrait of a people and culture that no longer exist.
'The Noon Gun' had its world premiere at the 53rd Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne International Film Festival
The Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
(MIFF) in 2004.
It premiered in the UK at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television
National Museum of Photography, Film and Television
The National Media Museum is a museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Part of the National Museum of Science and Industry, it was the 20th most popular museum in the United Kingdom in 2009, with 613,923 visitors.The first head of the museum was Colin Ford who was succeeded by Amanda...
in Bradford (now the National Media Museum), September 2004.
In 2005 it also featured as part of 'Films From The South' Festival in Oslo, Norway.
In 2006 it was broadcast on Tolo TV
Tolo TV
Tolo TV , is a television station, being one of the first commercial ones to operate in Afghanistan. Launched in October 2004 by MOBY Group, it laid the foundations for an accessible media outlet offering a big library of shows...
, the most popular liberal TV station in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Afghanistan (and also by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, the only service to broadcast inside the Bhutanese border).
'The Noon Gun' was shortlisted, along with 6 other films, for The Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
Foundation Short Film Competition in London. Extracts from the entries were screened at the Award Ceremony held in the David Lean Room of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
(BAFTA), Piccadilly, London on the afternoon of Sunday 23 April 2006.
External links
- Chimera Arts Official website for 'The Noon Gun', EquaEquaEQUA is a UK-based world fusion music project, founded by the multi-media artist and record producer Sadia Sadia and composer & sound designer Stephen W Tayler....
, Sadia SadiaSadia SadiaSadia Sadia is a director, editor, producer and installation artist. She is also an award-winning record producer and songwriter.Sadia began her career by becoming one of the first women in the world to be signed to a major label as a record producer...
and Stephen W TaylerStephen W TaylerStephen Tayler is a mixing and recording engineer, music producer, composer and sound designer who has contributed this collection of talents to hundreds of world-class albums for artists including Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega, Peter Gabriel, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, Howard Jones, Stevie Nicks, Rush,...