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Filmmakers
 

 

 
Jahangir Golestan-Parast is an award winning documentary film maker whose work is always looking into humanity’s love and compassion for one another and for the environment. He usually focuses on addressing the themes of transformation and healing. His feature documentaries have been screened at several universities across the United States, as well as Washington National Cathedral, and Iman Cultural Center in Los Angeles, United Nations Association film festival, and Peace Corps Iran Association. They have also been shown at cultural groups in a wide variety of settings, as well as nonprofit organizations.

Golestan-Parast’s primary concentration is social problems and social change. His passion is to document and reflect the passages that unite humanity together across the globe. He is the winner of the best documentary award at the NOOR Film Festival in Los Angeles, which is focused mainly on Iranian-American culture.
Jahangir was born and raised in Isfahan, Iran. He left the country at the age of 17, to study in the United Kingdom and France. He later moved to the United States in 1989 and is presently living in Southern California with his wife, daughter and son. Golestan-Parast is competent in all aspects of the production process from initial stages of researching and organizing the production to script writing, interviewing, camera and editing.

Jahangir’s documentary films include Homeless to Home owner (2010, 26 min,) a film about a Sacramento philanthropist who has established facilities for up to 650 homeless to receive the resources they need to become productive citizens. His other film titled From Ashes to Eden (2012, 38 min,) is a documentary that tells the inspiring story of a man who strove to revitalize a five acre hillside into a luscious garden in the heart of Los Angeles.

Jahangir’s most touching and delicate film is Bam 6.6 (2006, 55 min.) This feature documentary recounts the devastating earthquake in Southern Iran and how a nation weaves promise and hope into human tragedy. Bam 6.6 is a testament to the love and kindness of humanity regardless of where we live. Golestan-Parast has also made a travel documentary on his own hometown titled Isfahan: Pearl of Iran (xxxx, xx min,) which focuses on the artistic images and the people of the ancient city of Isfahan in Iran. He is presently working on the production of Jon & the Pahlavan, a semi-autobiography that focuses on Iranian national sports.

 
Iran , a Video Journey (2000)
Bam 6.6 (2006)
 
 
 
Bam 6.6 is a labor of love with a message of hope for the world. It is not about the devastation of a deadly earthquake. That is merely the backdrop to a story about the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

Today's world is in disarray. Coalitions are formed through political expediency and media manipulation. The worldwide result seems to generate disparate attitudes, as opposed to any ecumenical spirit of cohesion. Yet from prophets to philosophers to popes, the great minds of history have shown that individual interaction between two people is critical to harmonious resolution of difficulties.

That is why I produced Bam 6.6!

Iran , as an entity, has been depicted as a member of the Axis of Evil hotbed of Islamic extremism. The reality experienced by visitors to Iran is the complete opposite of today's media and geo-political positioning. Visitors to this country with its rich Persian history, and culture soon find that the population at large is extremely welcoming to visitors.

Bam 6.6 shows, that the Iranian people are quick to share their homes and food with visitors from the Western World. It shows Iranian people who went out of their way to rescue Westerners trapped in the aftermath of the earthquake and provide medical relief as a duty incumbent upon them as hosts to those visiting the country. It shows people from around the world who came to assist the Iranian rescue efforts and the hospitality extended to them.

Bam 6.6 is a testament to the human spirit. It is evidence that differences in culture need not create rifts between human beings on an individual basis. It is proof that there is a precious commonality between people that needs to be nurtured to fulfillment.

Bam 6.6 is a story of hope and love set amidst the horrors of a major disaster.

 

- Jahangir Golestan-Parast

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

           

 

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