nou • me • non
An award-winning documentary short film byJanna Kyllästinen & Maya Theresia
nou • me • non
(noun) a “thing-in-itself” — an objective reality that will always be inaccessible to human perception.”
– Immanuel Kant (1724 — 1804)
German philosopher
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.
WINNER of the Symbiosis Award
at Science New Wave Festival XVII 2024“Noumenon combines science, spirituality and culture through flowing movements and striking overlays that juxtapose these concepts in new ways. Beautifully shot and narrated, this immersive film invites us to consider the connections between perception and reality. Between experiment and performance. Between science, story, and art.”
– Symbiosis Film Jury, Science New Wave Festival XVII 2024
the concept
Blending myth and science, Noumenon invites the audience to wonder at the multitudes of ways we seek to understand the universe despite the limits of our perception.
Noumenon dares to value ancient and modern knowledge equally, freeing imaginations to enter the realm of art and science through story.
Projecting sensory neurons onto classical Indian temple dance, Noumenon juxtaposes, weaves and blends scientific with spiritual world views.
An original piece, Noumenon’s musical score is an improvised immersive fusion of jazz and classical Indian sound.
the filmmakers
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.
Janna Kyllästinen is a documentary filmmaker in New York originally from Finland. In her films, she examines stories at the intersections of myth and memory, art and science, and that involve experimental visual and narrative forms and techniques. 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.
screenings & awards
Science New Wave Film Festival 2024 | Official Winner | Symbiosis Award
DC Independent Film Festival | Official selection
Barcelona Indie Awards | Nominee | Best Short Documentary & Winner | Best Sound Design
New York Tri-State International Film Festival | Official Winner | Best Spiritual Film
New Delhi Film Festival | Official selection & Special Mention
WorldFest - Houston International Film Festival | Official Winner | Documentary Short
Big Apple Film Festival | Official Selection | Documentary Short