The Giant Buddhas
Documentary, Switzerland 2005
by Christian Frei
35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby Digital, 95 Min. 11 Sec.
With
Nelofer Pazira Writer and Journalist
Xuanzang Master 602 - 664 AD
Sayyed Mirza Hussain Cave Dweller in Bamiyan
Taysir Alony TV-journalist "Al Jazeera"
Zémaryalaï Tarzi Archaeologist
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| Written, Directed and Edited by | CHRISTIAN FREI |
| Cinematography | PETER INDERGAND scs |
| Assistant Editor | DENISE ZABALAGA |
| Sound Design and Mix | FLORIAN EIDENBENZ |
| Visual Effects | PATRICK LINDENMAIER PAUL AVONDET |
| Narrators | STEFAN KURT German PETER METTLER English |
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| Initiated by | BERNARD WEBER |
| And upon an idea by | PETER SPOERRI |
| Advisors | PAUL BUCHERER Swiss Afghanistan Institute ARMIN GRÜN ETH Zurich CHRISTIAN MANHART UNESCO Paris |
| Music by | PHILIP GLASS JAN GARBAREK STEVE KUHN ARVO PÄRT |
| Music Advisor | MANFRED EICHER |
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| Produced by | CHRISTIAN FREI |
| In Co-Production with | Schweizer Fernsehen DRS PAUL RINIKER MADELEINE HIRSIGER  ZDF/arte MARTIN PIEPER and SUISSIMAGE |
| Supported by | Bundesamt für Kultur BAK Stadt und Kanton ZÜRICH Kanton SOLOTHURN Filme für eine Welt VOLKART Stiftung SUCCES CINEMA SUCCES PASSAGE ANTENNE |
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Original Theatrical Versions: The Giant Buddhas 35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby SRD, 95'11" (100' with 24 frames/second) English Narration with English Subtitles Narrator: Peter Mettler The Giant Buddhas 35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby SRD, 95'11" (100' with 24 frames/second) German Narration with German/French Subtitles Narrator: Stefan Kurt Original Languages: The film was shot in the original languages: Dari, Arabic, Mandarin, French and English. |
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TV-Versions: (Four different TV-Versions available)
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The Giant Buddhas (English / Subtitles) Digital Betacam, 16:9, 95'11'' English Narration and English Subtitles Narrator: Peter Mettler Les Bouddhas Géants (French / Voice-Over) Digital Betacam, 16:9, 92'50'' French Narration and French Voice-Over Narrator: Jean-Luc Bideau |
Im Tal der grossen Buddhas (German / Voice Over) Digital Betacam, 16:9, 92'50'' German Narration and German Voice-Over Narrator: Stefan Kurt I Budda Giganti (Italian / Voice Over) Digital Betacam, 16:9, 92'50'' Italian Narration and Italian Voice-Over Narrator: Riccardo Merli |
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Film Festival Prints: (Four different Festival-Prints available)
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Festival Print 1 (OV e) The Giant Buddhas 35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby SRD, 95'11'' English Narration and English Subtitles Festival Print 3 (OV e/sp) The Giant Buddhas 35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby SRD, 95'11'' English Narration and English/Spanish Subtitles |
Festival Print 2 (OV e/f) The Giant Buddhas 35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby SRD, 95'11'' English Narration and English/French Subtitles Festival Print 4 (OV d) The Giant Buddhas 35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby SRD, 95'11'' German Narration and German Subtitles |
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Between March 2003 and December 2004, cameraman Peter Indergand and director Christian Frei spent 14 weeks shooting in seven different countries. Together with 6-weeks of research the film journey spanned half a year.
Locations:
Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan
Al Jazeera TV-Station, Doha, Qatar
Mogao Caves and Gobi Desert, Dunhuang, China
Xingjiao Temple, Xian, China
Leshan Grand Buddha and Oriental Buddha Park, Leshan, China
ETH Zurich, Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, Switzerland
UNESCO Headquarter, Paris, France
Marc Bloch University, Strasbourg, France
Munich, Germany
Toronto, Canada
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Websites and Links:
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World Rights: CHRISTIAN FREI Filmproduktionen GmbH Josefstrasse 176 CH-8005 Zürich Switzerland ++41 44 481 70 66 Telefon ++41 44 482 35 10 Fax Website: www.christian-frei.info E-Mail: |
World Sales: FILMS TRANSIT INTERNATIONAL 252 Gouin Boulevard East Montréal, Quebec. Canada H3L 1A8 ++1 514 844 33 58 Telefon ++1 514 844 72 98 Fax Website: www.filmstransit.com E-Mail: info@filmstransit.com |
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Switzerland:
LOOK NOW!
Filmdistribution
Gasometerstrasse 9
CH-8005 Zürich
Switzerland
++41 1 440 25 44 Telefon
++41 1 440 26 52 Fax
Website: www.looknow.ch
E-Mail: info@looknow.ch
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