Apple Takes a Five Hour One Shot Journey Through Russia's Most Iconic Museum

The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, holds a special place in the hearts of the Russian people. Founded in 1764 and open to the public since 1852, it is the second-largest museum in the world. Its collections comprise over three million items and occupy a large complex of six historic buildings, including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian czars. 

‘Hermitage. Shot on iPhone 11 Pro.’ puts a unique, present-day creative and technical challenge at the heart of Russian culture. Russia has a tech ‘tester’ culture, and it is a land of extremes: extreme landscape, extreme weather, extreme achievements. We felt we needed to showcase iPhone 11 Pro in an extreme situation, too. The Hermitage Museum was the perfect host due to its scale and beauty.

Apple and the Hermitage Museum took on an epic challenge that would impress and inspire. The result blends technology with high art, to mesmerising effect.

In just one charge and one take, Russian director Axinya Gog takes viewers on a five-hour-and-19-minute cinematic odyssey throughout the museum’s public collections, past artworks by Rembrandt, Raphael, Caravaggio, Canova and others, featuring live dance, performances and music along the way. The film culminates with a 30-minute musical finale from Russian pianist and composer, Kirill Richter. 

What better way to demonstrate the battery and filming capability of iPhone 11 Pro than by attempting to make the world’s longest-ever, one-take film shot on iPhone - the ultimate creative and technical feat. 

And after all that, there was still 19% battery remaining.