The Cinematheque

In Person: Maryam Sepehri

Alborz, We Climb Mountains explores the history of Tehran’s legendary Alborz High School, a prestigious institution that has shaped generations of Iran’s brightest minds. Founded in 1873 as an American missionary school and later transitioned into an Iranian-led private high school, it flourished under the leadership of the renowned Mohammad Ali Mojtahedi, becoming a powerhouse of modern education. Among its graduates is Vancouver-based architect Hossein Amanat, whose iconic design of the Shahyad Tower in Tehran (renamed Azadi Tower after the 1979 revolution) became a symbol of modern Iran. Directed by Maryam Sepehri, the documentary weaves together archival material and interviews, reflecting on the school’s profound influence throughout Iran’s turbulent modern history. By underscoring the importance of academic communities while critically examining the past, Sepehri’s film prompts reflection, pride, regret, and nostalgia as it explores the impact of Alborz graduates on Iran and its diasporas.

In Farsi with English subtitles

Post-screening Q&A with director Maryam Sepehri, moderated by PELAN.