Boarders Without Borders, a Snowboarding documentary film, will follow three professional American snowboarders as they journey to Iran to ride the world-class Alborz mountains in March of 2013. When one thinks of Iran, it is typically the unrest and political strife that is widely represented in the American media. The last thing that comes to mind is 14,000 foot mountains covered in Utah-like powder, with densely populated resorts and chalets nested at the base of the slopes. However, with over 75% of the population of Iran aged 35 and under, counter-cultures like snowboarding are the hidden sanctuaries for the youth of Iran. The film will explore this unknown world on and off the slopes through the  eyes of these three American riders, and experience their journey as they discover a country that has been sealed off from the West for over 30 years.

The team of three American snowboarders, Olympic Gold-medalist Hannah Teter, the up-and-coming street-rider Gabi Viteri, and a yet-to-be-named male rider have little understanding of Iran’s history or culture, but are eager to dive in to this odyssey with a fearlessness and sense of adventure; the same characteristics that are fundamental to their ascension in the sport of snowboarding.
For the first couple of days they will explore the urban landscape of Tehran as they ride out the first waves of culture shock. They will check out the bustling bazaars and breathtaking ancient sites to see for themselves what it is like to grow up in Iran.

Next they will head to the mountains and the collection of resorts found there, where they will test the snow and slopes and meet the newst generation of snowboarding enthusiasts. The largest of these resorts, Dizin, boasts over 1200 acres of terrain and 12 lifts, including a gondola. Dizin’s highest lift reaches 11,800 feet, making it one of the 40 highest resorts in the world. The team will spend some time here as well as a few of the other prominent resorts in the area, including Shemshak and Tochal. They will also get a chance to teach several snowboarding clinics to the Iranian youth and get to know who they are.

As the team becomes familiar with the territory, people and the surrounding environment, they will head out into the backcountry terrain that is legendary in this area, led by the most accomplished local riders and back country guides. Here is where a majority of the action footage will be captured, and where these riders will put the full measure of their skills to the test.

By day they will attack these mountains with unreserved ferocity, by night they will take in the after-hours scene with their counterparts, eating the regional foods and socializing with the locals. It is through interactions like these that striking social similarities will begin to emerge between the snowboarders.

The yearning for self-determination, the willingness to face great personal risk to realize the advancement of that notion and the rapid spread of those challenges to the fading and obsolete power-structures of the last era have resulted in widespread protest in the Mideast. The mountains beckon; people are ready to connect outside the constraints of their governments to trade ideas, share laughs, and ride down the slopes toward a place where we can acquire a new understanding…and gain a foothold in an often misunderstood world.

Boarders Without Borders has been in development for several years, owing to the political and regulatory considerations of embarking on such a project. Lawyers specializing in US import/export exemptions with Iran are working with the film’s producers to secure the OFAC licenses through the Treasury Department that are required for the production team to travel to and shoot in
Iran. The head of the Iran Ski & Snowboard Association is working with the film’s producers to secure co-operation from the Iranian government with all necessary permits for the production team’s visit to their country. Sports diplomacy exemptions are being used with both countries’ regulators.

Because of the sensitive subject being addressed in the film, viewer engagement is essential to the success of the production; Boarders Without Borders asks that publications refer their readers/viewers to the film’s online components when
appropriate at:

Boarders Without Boarders is being produced and directed by three New York City-based filmmakers, directors Marjan Tehrani and Nick Catania, and producer Brian Sachson.

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Author: Brian Sachson