No Man's Land

John Psathas/Jasmine Millett/Mathew Knight (New Zealand)

New Zealand has never witnessed a multi-layered world music collaboration like this before. John Psathas is no stranger to large-scale works but this is his most ambitious project yet. Featuring 150 musicians from more than 20 countries, including Serj Tankian (Lebanon/Armenia/USA), Meeta Pandit (India), Marta Sebestyen (Hungary) and the Strasbourg Philharmonie (France), No Man’s Land brings together the descendants of opposing forces in World War I and reunites them in friendship and musical solidarity on the sites where their grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought a century ago.

Director Jasmine Millet and cinematographer Mathew Knight’s film of this epic global orchestra – playing a Psathas composition that leaps musical genres as it does borders, from folk to jazz to rock to classical – will be seen and heard in tandem with a select group of musicians performing live on stage.

Co-produced by the New Zealand Festival and Victoria University of Wellington, with support from the Lottery Grants Board, British High Commission, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Embassy of France and New Zealand-France Friendship Fund.

Also with support from NZ WW100 Fund and Creative NZ.