N is a Number is a one-hour 16mm documentary filmed over a four-year period in four countries between 1988 and 1991. The film was produced, directed and edited by George Paul Csicsery. Cinematography is by John Knoop and original music was composed by Mark Adler. Two animated sequences were developed for the film by Red Dot Interactive of San Francisco. The film was produced with support from Film Arts Foundation, the Heineman Foundation, the Mathematical Association of America, the National Science Foundation's Informal Science Education Program and the American Mathematical Society.

VHS cassette ISBN: 0-933621-62-0
DVD (NTSC) ISBN: 0-933621-62-0

Film Festivals

Festival International du Nouveau Cinéma et de la Vidéo de Montréal (1993)

Budapest Film Week (1994)

Berlin Film Festival-European Film Market (1994)

Gold Apple Award-National Educational Film & Video Festival (1994)

Melbourne International Film Festival (1994)

Gold Plaque Award-Documentary Film - Science/Nature,
Chicago International Film Festival (1994)

Auckland-Wellington, New Zealand Film Festivals (1995)

Festival International du Film Scientifique du Québec (1995)

Cork Film Festival (1995)

Television Broadcasts

Duna-TV, Hungary (1995)

SBS-TV, Australia (1996)

Discovery Channel (1996)

Sundance Channel (1996-98)

NHK, Japan (1997)

Noorder Licht series, VPRO, Netherlands (2001)

American Public Television to PBS stations, USA (2002-2004)

Discovery Canada (2003)

Reviews

"... charming, in part because director George Paul Csicsery does a good job in explaining the basics of Erdös's work, and in part because the idiosyncratic Erdös and his friends are such good storytellers."
—"Video Classics"

Discover magazine's listing of the top 10 science videos of the past 20 years

"George Csicsery's beautiful documentary, N is a Number, allowed me to see the living Erdös."
—Bruce Schechter, My Brain Is Open: The Mathematical Journeys of Paul Erdös

"This well-shot program is an excellent choice for mathematics students ..."
—Sue Ellen Beauregard, Booklist

"... a great service to mathematics ... it shows the importance of identifying and nurturing the mathematically gifted."
—Sunday A. Ajosek, Mathematics Teacher

"Documentarian George Csicsery captures the whimsical genius of the man perfectly, and actually provides a beneficial service to those who imagine mathematicians as cold numbers-keepers. Erdös is a delightful human being, and this bio celebrates him with wit and style."
—Kelly Vance, East Bay Express

N is another success! from the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences blog.

Contact:
George Paul Csicsery
Zala Films
PO Box 22833, Oakland, CA 94609 USA
Tel: +1 510 428-9284
Email: geocsi@zalafilms.com
www.zalafilms.com