For Immediate Release
Contact: Ashley Sytsma
(425) 608-4293
Rick Steves' Iran
Ground-Breaking Public Television Special to Air in January
Edmonds, WA – This January, join European travel authority Rick Steves as he explores the most surprising and fascinating land he's ever visited: Iran.
In this one-hour, ground-breaking travel special Steves will go beyond Europe to Iran for a rare, candid, and humanizing look at this powerful and perplexing nation. Debuting on public television stations nationwide on January 11, 2009 (check local listings), Steves' journey of discovery will provide a glimpse of a culture few of us understand. The special is filled with never before seen content, covering a topic with daily presence in the news: U.S. relations with Iran.
Shot in high-definition, viewers will see the splendid monuments of Iran's rich past, as well as Iranian life today-- from countryside villages and workaday towns to its giant metropolis and historic capitol.
Steves captures Persian culture vividly: from Friday prayer in a mosque to the popular hangouts of its savvy youth; from anti-American murals to the hospitality of a family dinner; and from the tranquility of rural life to the crazy traffic of modern Tehran.
Rather than a political documentary dealing with the complex issues that confront our governments, Rick Steves' Iran is a travelogue designed to increase our understanding of an ancient nation that has been a leader in its corner of the world for more than 2,500 years.
Steves says, "After 30 years of world travel, I've learned that the best way to understand an unfamiliar culture is to meet its people. My impressions were striking: the intensity of the streets of Tehran, the crowds of women covered head-to-toe in chadors, and the overwhelming friendliness of the people. I was awed by the domed mosques, saddened by the conformity of the university, energized by the youthfulness of the population, and impressed by the dramatic ancient sites."
Enjoying ice cream with religious leaders, marveling at the popularity of nose jobs for women, and witnessing the sorrow that blankets martyrs' cemeteries, Steves and his crew provide an intimate glimpse of Iran never before shown on American television. Steves believes that, while there are no easy solutions to the problems confronting our two countries, surely getting to know more about this culture is a step in the right direction.
To lean more about the special, including a behind-the-screens look at Steves' filming trip, visit www.ricksteves.com/iran.
The Rick Steves' Iran film crew consists of Steves, producer Simon Griffith, associate producer Abdi Sami, cameraman Karel Bauer, and editor Steve Cammarano. The special is produced by Back Door Productions based at Rick Steves' Europe Through The Back Door Inc., presented by Oregon Public Broadcasting, and distributed through American Public Television at no cost to public television stations nationwide.
Note to reviewers and the press: Access to an online full-length screener is available upon request. Contact Ashley Sytsma, Publicity (ashley@ricksteves.com, 425-608-4293), for this and interview requests for Rick Steves.
About Rick Steves Rick
Steves in on a mission: to help make European travel accessible and meaningful for Americans. Since 1973, Rick has spent four months every year exploring Europe. He has researched and written more than thirty travel guidebooks, writes and hosts the public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and also produces and hosts the weekly public radio show Travel with Rick Steves. He is currently the best selling guidebook author for international travel in the United States. With the help of his hardworking staff at Europe Through the Back Door, Rick organizes tours of Europe and offers an information packed web site (www.ricksteves.com). Rick, his wife Anne, and their two, Andy and Jackie, live in Edmonds, Washington.