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Noumenon

Noumenon is an experimental short film reflecting on the relation between reality and perception from a neuroscience perspective, and its parallels with the Hindu concept of maya, or cosmic illusion. Neuroscientist Anil K. Seth narrates his concept of controlled hallucination – how all perceptions are active constructions, brain-based best guesses at the nature of a world that is forever obscured behind a sensory veil. Through story and classical South Indian temple dance, Bharatanatyam, the film weaves in the Hindu philosophy of ‘maya’ – the powerful force sustaining the cosmic illusion of the phenomenal world as real.

  • Maya Theresia
    Director
  • Janna Kyllästinen
    Director
    Out of Nothing, Along the Winisk River
  • Maya Theresia
    Writer
  • Janna Kyllästinen
    Writer
  • Maya Theresia
    Based on a concept by
  • Anil K Seth
    Narration by
    The Most Unknown, The Search: Manufacturing Belief
  • Maya Theresia
    Narration by
  • Janna Kyllästinen
    Cinematography & Editing by
  • Nigel Dao
    Scientists at NYU Center for Neural Science
  • Maya Theresia
    Scientists at NYU Center for Neural Science
  • Bharathi Penneswaran
    Original choreography by
  • Bharathi Penneswaran
    Dancers
  • Shwetha Ravishankar
    Dancers
  • Shreyaa Suresh
    Dancers
  • Sarah Fazendin
    Original Music by
  • Noah Golub
    Original Music by
  • Christopher Madison
    Original Music by
  • Anand Sookbir
    Original Music by
  • Dhruv Shiva Rao
    Sound mix by
  • Janna Kyllästinen
    Produced by
    Out of Nothing, Along the Winisk River
  • Maya Theresia
    Produced by
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 25, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Science New Wave Festival
    New York City
    United States
    October 25, 2024
    North American Premiere
    Symbiosis Award
Distribution Information
  • Labocine
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: Video on Demand
Director Biography - Maya Theresia, Janna Kyllästinen

Janna is a documentary filmmaker in New York originally from Finland. In her films, she examines stories at the intersections of art, science, myth and memory, imbuing her experimental works with a distinct sensitivity for the abstract and metaphysical. Her works have screened at film festivals around the world, and published on platforms such as The Criterion Collection and The New York Times, among others.

Maya Theresia is a writer, director, and producer, who challenges convention. Born to Indo-Guyanese, African-American, German parents, and raised between the U.S. and Australia, Maya brings a fresh voice and a unique vision to her work. As a neuroscience researcher and artist, Maya explores the intersection of science and belief, of story and culture, and of experiment and cinema in her filmmaking. She made her directorial debut with Noumenon in 2024.

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Director Statement

In 2024, Janna and Maya's film NOUMENON won the Symbiosis Award at Science New Wave Film Festival.