The Giant Buddhas
Documentary, 95 min.
by Christian Frei
Switzerland, August 2005
Six months before the Twin Towers attacks in New York, 2001, two huge Buddha statues were blown up in the remote area of Bamiyantal in Afghanistan. This dramatic event surrounding the ancient stone colossi – unique proof of a high culture that bloomed until the 13th century along the Silk Road – is the starting point for a cinematic essay on fanaticism, terror and tolerance, ignorance and identity. Oscar nominated director Christian Frei’s thought-provoking film journeys along a perimeter that both divides and unites people and cultures.
Open / CloseCredits
Directed by:
Christian Frei
Written by:
Christian Frei
World Premiere: August 2005
Original Version:
Dari/Arabic/Mandarin/French/English (english subtitles), colour, 35mm, 95 min.
Production:
Christian Frei Filmproduktion GmbH, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, ZDF/ARTE
Cinematography:
Peter Indergand
Editing:
Christian Frei, Denise Zabalaga
Sound:
Florian Eidenbenz
Sound Editing:
Florian Eidenbenz
Rerecording Sound Mix:
Florian Eidenbenz
Music:
Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Jan Garbarek, Steve Kuhn
Open / CloseWorld Sales / World Rights
World Sales:
Films Transit International Inc.
Open / CloseWorldwide Distribution
Distribution Switzerland:
Look Now!
Open / CloseAwards
- Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R.CHINA, Sichuan TV Festival, Gold Panda Award for Best Photography 2007
- Graz, Int. Berg- und Abenteuer Filmfestival Graz, Preis der Jury 2007
- Montréal, Festival International du Film sur l'Art (FIFA), Prix du meilleur reportage ex-aequo 2007
- Prizren, Dokufest International Documentary and Shortfilm Festival Prizren, 1. Preis ex aequo 2006
- Tahoe/Reno, Tahoe/Reno International Film Festival, Best of the Fest - Documentary 2006
- Trento, Trento Film Festival Montagna-Esplorazione-Avventura, Silberner Enzian 2006
- Leipzig, Internationales Leipziger Festival für Dokumentar- und Animationsfilm, Silberne Taube 2005
Open / CloseFestivals
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Paris,
7e Festival international Signes de Nuit Paris (1er volet),
24.04.2009 – 28.04.2009
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Graz,
19. Int. Berg- + Abenteuer Filmfestival Graz,
07.11.2007 – 10.11.2007
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Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R.CHINA,
9th Sichuan TV Festival Chengdu,
28.10.2007 – 30.10.2007
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Montréal,
25th Montreal International Festival of Films on ART (FIFA), Competition,
08.03.2007 – 18.03.2007
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Auckland,
2nd DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival New Zealand,
07.09.2006 – 29.10.2006
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Tahoe/Reno,
Tahoe/Reno International Film Festival 2006,
23.08.2006 – 27.08.2006
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Prizren,
5. Internationales Dokumentar- und Kurzfilmfestival Prizren,
08.08.2006 – 13.08.2006
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Warsaw,
3rd Planete Doc Review Warsaw,
12.05.2006 – 21.05.2006
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München,
21. Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival München,
03.05.2006 – 11.05.2006
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Trento,
54th Trento Film Festival of Mountains, Exploration and Adventure, Competition,
29.04.2006 – 07.05.2006
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San Francisco,
49th San Francisco International Film Festival,
20.04.2006 – 04.05.2006
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Singapore,
19th Singapore International Film Festival,
13.04.2006 – 29.04.2006
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Istanbul,
25th International Istanbul Film Festival, Competition,
01.04.2006 – 16.04.2006
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Tel Aviv,
8th DocAviv Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival, Competition,
30.03.2006 – 08.04.2006
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Sao Paulo,
11th International Documentary Film Festival,
23.03.2006 – 02.04.2006
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Thessaloniki,
8th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival,
10.03.2006 – 19.03.2006
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Prag,
8th One World Film Festival,
02.03.2006 – 09.03.2006
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Bangkok,
Bangkok International Film Festival,
17.02.2006 – 28.02.2006
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Saarbrücken,
27. Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis,
23.01.2006 – 29.01.2006
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Park City,
22nd Sundance Film Festival, Competition,
19.01.2006 – 29.01.2006
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Solothurn,
41. Solothurner Filmtage,
16.01.2006 – 22.01.2006
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Copenhagen,
3rd Copenhagen Documentary Film Festival,
04.11.2005 – 13.11.2005
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Valladolid,
50. Semana Internacional de Cine,
21.10.2005 – 29.10.2005
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Wien,
43. Internationale Filmfestwochen Wien,
14.10.2005 – 26.10.2005
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Leipzig,
48. Internationales Leipziger Festival,
03.10.2005 – 09.10.2005
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Vancouver,
24th Vancouver International Film Festival,
29.09.2005 – 14.10.2005
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Toronto,
30th Toronto International Film Festival,
08.09.2005 – 17.09.2005
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Locarno,
58. Festival internazionale del film Locarno,
03.08.2005 – 13.08.2005
Open / CloseNews
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Emmy Nomination for Swiss Cinematographer Peter Indergand
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Swiss presence in Locarno: strong representation of documentary films
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Swiss documentary films take prominent place in Toronto and Montreal
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Excellent Swiss presence in Vancouver
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Swiss documentary and animated films at 2005 Leipzig Festival
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Silver Dove for “The Giant Buddhas” in Leipzig
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Swiss documentary films at the Viennale
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Preliminaries for the Swiss Film Prize 2006: Nominations and jury
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2005 Summary of Swiss Films at International Festivals
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Sundance reopens door for Swiss documentary films
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Four Swiss films in Bangkok
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“Coca – The Dove from Chechnya” wins prize in Prague
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«The Giant Buddhas» at Sao Paulo festival competition
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Strong Swiss presence at Istanbul International Film Festival
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«Angry Monk», «The Giant Buddhas», and «Al-Anfal» at Singapur filmfest
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Six Swiss documentary films in Munich – “Gambit” part of competition
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“The Giant Buddhas” – Swiss contribution to INPUT in Taipeh
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Silver Gentian for “The Giant Buddhas”
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“The Giant Buddhas” presented at filming location in Bamiyan
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“The Giant Buddhas” wins prize in Prizren (Kosovo)
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2006 Summary of Swiss Films at International Festivals
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Swiss appearance in Havana rounds off 2006 festival season
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Swiss films in San Francisco and at Sundance
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Films by Christian Frei as GEO edition
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“The Giant Buddhas” awarded at FIFA in Montreal
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Prize for Swiss cinematographer in China
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Swiss documentary films win awards in Duisburg and Graz
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Christian Frei and Pippilotti Rist in Sundance
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Christian Frei, Pippilotti Rist and two Swiss coproductions in Sundance
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Swiss cinematographer wins award in Belgrade
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Christian Frei presents his filmmaking in Peking
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Swiss documentary filmmaking honoured in Lisbon
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Oscar campaign launched in Los Angeles