For more than 70 years, the extraordinary journey of the Omidvar Brothers has remained a remarkable but largely unknown story.
In 1954, two young Iranian brothers, Issa and Abdullah Omidvar, left Tehran with two motorcycles, $90, and a dream: to explore the world beyond the familiar and to discover its people, cultures, and landscapes.
Over the following years, they traveled across 99 countries and five continents, often venturing into remote regions and meeting Indigenous communities far from the usual tourist routes. Their journey was not simply about traveling from one place to another. It was a lifelong exploration of humanity, cultural diversity, friendship, and our shared connection as people.
Their motto was:
“All Different, All Relative.”
The Film
Under One Sky is a documentary film that brings this extraordinary story to the screen through rare archival footage recorded more than seven decades ago, photographs, historical material, and an intimate interview with Issa Omidvar, the last surviving brother.
The film takes audiences from Iran across Asia, Australia, Alaska, northern Canada, South America, the Amazon, Africa, and other remarkable parts of the world.
Among the most moving chapters is the brothers' encounter with an Inuit family in Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, offering a rare glimpse into a time and way of life that has changed dramatically.
As a filmmaker and film critic who has worked in Toronto's Iranian community for more than 25 years, I felt a deep responsibility to preserve and share this story.
This is more than a travel story. It is a story about curiosity, courage, cultural understanding, and the human desire to connect with people who may seem different from us.
Where the Project Stands
A first completed version of Under One Sky has been produced. The next stage is to complete the film's remaining technical and post-production requirements and prepare it for professional presentation, international film festivals, cultural screenings, educational and academic audiences, and wider distribution.
This campaign will help support:
- Festival submissions and related costs
- Promotional and publicity materials
- International outreach and distribution efforts
Why Your Support Matters
Independent documentary filmmaking is a challenging journey, especially when preserving archival material and bringing a story of this scale to audiences around the world.
Every contribution, large or small, will help move Under One Sky closer to its final form and give this extraordinary story the opportunity to reach the audiences it deserves.
If you believe that stories of exploration, cultural understanding, and human connection are worth preserving, I invite you to become part of the journey.
Please support Under One Sky and help us bring the remarkable story of the Omidvar Brothers to audiences around the world.
Thank you for believing in this film and for helping preserve a unique chapter of Iranian and world cultural history.
