Journey to Yazdegerd Castle

 Journey to Yazdegerd Castle A Documentary by Aref Mohammadi

A Documentary by Aref Mohammadi

The documentary tells the story of how Edward Keall, a young British-Canadian archaeologist went to Iran in 1962, largely on an adventure. 

There, he became fascinated by Iranian culture, and began to study the country’s history in earnest, specialising in the pre-Islamic Sasanian era.

In 1964, Edward Keall explored the ruins of the so-called Yazdegerd’s Castle, which local legends attributed to the last of the Sasanian king of kings.

After he had secured a job in 1972 as a curator at the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada), Keall’s proposal to re-activate his old exploration of the castle of King Yazdegerd was endorsed by the Iranian archaeological authorities.

The first Canadian expedition was mounted in 1965; the last one was terminated abruptly in February 1979 when the Shah of Iran was toppled by the supporters of the Ayatollah Khomeini. The film documents the events of these times.

Journey to Yazdegerd Castle

A Documentary by Aref Mohammadi

(including short talks from the main character, director, and special guest speakers)

Wednesday July 5, 2023,  ۸PM– ۸:۳۰PM

Fairview Library Theatre

۳۵ Fairview Mall Dr, North York, ON M2J 4S4

Ticket: $15 ( purchase only in advance)

Aref Mohammadi, a well-known figure in the Canadian Iranian community, has produced four other documentaries in recent years. His portfolio includes two documentaries titled “Bus” (2004) and “Afghaye Roshan” (2007). The former revolves around the first female bus driver, while the latter explores the story of the first female mechanic. These documentaries have been showcased at various festivals and on television. Furthermore, they have been officially registered in the drama archive of George Brown College, Toronto, upon the request of the Middle East Studies Department.

The other two documentaries are titled “A Survivor of Magadan” (2014). This film has received numerous accolades, including the Best Documentary Film and Best Idea awards from the Light Festival (Los Angeles), as well as the Best TV Documentary of Canadian Ethnic Media. It was also selected for the Tirgan Festival and screened as a distinguished film at the 11th International Congress of Iranian Studies in Vienna in 2016. In 2014, the Toronto Star, one of Canada’s leading newspapers, published an article about Aref Mohammadi and his artistic endeavors.

The final documentary is called “Song of God” (2020). It has been screened in multiple cities across America, Canada, and Europe, as well as several international festivals. The film has received prestigious awards, such as the “Best Documentary of San Francisco Iranian Film Festival” and “Best Documentary of Canadian Ethnic Media.”