Although we ran out of time for this campaign, we are not giving up!
We have seen too much excitement and support, especially from the Pamiri people themselves, to not keep trying. These folks are still fighting poverty and still working to build up ecotourism in their homeland. Therefore, so will we!
![]()
We have developed a more streamlined strategy to help the Pamir gain exposure within the global climbing and trekking communities:
This summer Ryan will be shooting a video series of short profiles, each telling the story of an individual person in the Pamir and how his or her life would be impacted by a more vibrant tourism industry.
![]()
This is a much smaller-scale operation and will be funded partially with personal finances, but because we won't be able to keep any of the money raised in this first campaign we are running a smaller second Indiegogo Campaign where we are hoping to see a repeat of the support you so generously tried to give during this campaign! (http://igg.me/at/UnveilingThePamir)
![]()
Thank you so much for all the backing and encouragement you have provided thus far! Don't let hope die - we can do this!
********
Why are you making a documentary?
Can you picture yourself in a
situation where the only thing you worry about day in and day out is whether or
not you will be able to provide for yourself and your family? Forget about that
new car you’ve been saving for the past five years and all your followers on
Twitter—every thought goes to ensurig the survival of your family. This is how
the people of the Pamir region in Tajikistan live, and they lack the
opportunities to turn things around for themselves.
![]()
Ryan Bastian, our fearless leader,
lived among the Tajik people for over a year and witnessed firsthand the
struggle that is life in that part of the world. He also experienced how these
people with next to nothing were willing to share everything they owned. He saw
that not only did these people deserve much more than what they had, but that
it would be more than possible to help change their circumstances if a new
approach was taken: adventure tourism.
![]()
Photo Credit: Veronica Bastian
Of course, you can’t have an
adventure tourism market without the tourists. And while there are local
organizations doing great work to promote the region, the Pamir is still a
relative unknown. That’s why we are making this documentary. We want to
showcase to the world this
beautiful, pristine land that is ripe for exploration, as well as the sustainable
efforts already being made by the people that live there. And we need your help
to do it.
Will adventure tourism be sustainable?
There is a group of local Pamiris who are taking bold steps to ensure that it does. That's why telling their story is so important. The more travelers visiting the Pamir understand about ecotourism and the importance of choosing environmentally responsible guides and lodging, the better the region's natural resources and long-term economic value can be protected. In the documentary, we will be highlighting PECTA (Pamir Eco-Cultural Tourism Association) employees and their efforts. We invite you to check out PECTA’s website to see what they are already doing: www.pecta.tj .
![]()
Thanks to the hard work of organizations like PECTA, Tajikistan's High Pamir - Bartang and Wakhan Valleys were recognized in the top 100 most sustainable global destinations: http://greendestinations.info/top100/
Why adventure tourism?
Many people have asked us, “Why
adventure tourism? Wouldn’t agriculture or manufacturing be more feasible and
sustainable?” In any other part of the world, perhaps yes. But 93% of Tajikistan is covered in ginormous mountains. This presents two problems:
-
There is limited land for agriculture uses.
-
Exporting manufactured or agricultural goods is incredibly expensive
because of, you guessed it, the mountains.
Adventure tourism takes what has been a economic barrier for these people and turns it into an advantage. With the third highest mountain range in the world, no shortage of beautiful landscapes and scenery, and kind-hearted locals, the Pamir is an unparalleled destination for foreigners looking for unforgettable experiences.
How are local Pamiris getting involved?
![]()
Yosuman Nazarmavloeva: An active volunteer at the Ismaili Center in Dushanbe, she is studying public administration at Lomonosov Moscov State University and wants to pursue a career in tourism administration. Yosuman is fluent in Pamiri, Tajik, Russian, and English. She is using her high energy and linguistic skills to engage the global Ismaili community in generating much needed exposure for her homeland as a sustainable adventure destination.
![]()
Asli Shah Qurbani: Involved in tourism development for the Pamir since 2008, Asli runs his own guiding company, Pamir Horse Adventure. Currently studying at Oxford University, he is using his education to the benefit his home and country. He is using his current networks in the U.K. to help generate support for our film and its mission.
A journalistic piece by Adam Valen Levinson.
What can I expect from the film?
Unveiling The Pamir will feature the immense beauty of the Pamir's landscape, while exploring its capacity for world-class climbing and off-the-beaten-trail adventure.
![]()
Photo Credit: Ryan Bastian
The underlying storyline will be centered on sustainability efforts made by the ecotourism sector within the local adventure industry. Because we want the Pamiri people to have a voice in this documentary, the story will be told by profiling local individuals in the tourism sector that are pursuing better livelihoods for their families while, at the same time, helping establish environmental standards for the long-term good of their homeland.
![]()
Photo Credit: Oleg Gregoriev
The character of the Pamiri people and their culture will also be depicted: their warmth, friendliness, and hospitality; as well as other unique characteristics (e.g. value and emphasis on education, progressive views regarding gender equality, etc.).
What is your distribution plan?
Our distribution plan comes in
three parts:
-
We will submit our documentary
film to a circuit of festivals such as the Banff and Sundance Film
Festivals.
-
We will seek out opportunities
to partner with media outlets (e.g. Netflix, Amazon.com, National Geographic,
Travel Channel, etc.).
-
To complement the documentary, a
series of short mini documentaries (3-5 min) will be made profiling local individuals whose
lives are directly influenced by the economic opportunities brought by tourism. These mini documentaries will focus on how these people will be
affected for good/bad depending on the environmental sustainability measures
that do/don’t become standard operating procedure in the Tajik tourism
industry. We will promote these pieces on our website, Facebook, YouTube; aim
for staff-pick features on Vimeo; etc.
![]()
What are the risks and challenges?
Since Magic 8 balls are only so effective at accurately predicting the future, we can only assume there will be hiccups on the way to finishing the documentary. These could include, but aren’t limited to:
- Getting permits and government approval for Unveiling The Pamir.
- Entrance into country with drone and other video equipment.
- Political unrest while in country that could cancel filming.
- Unpredictable dust storms blowing north from Afghanistan damaging equipment.
Who's on the team?
![]()
From left to right: Casey, Ryan, Jeff, Lindsay
Casey Allred (Director): Casey started
in international development at 19-years-old leading others in life changing
activities for two years residing in Albania. While attending college at Utah
State University he started nonprofit organization Effect International and
successfully opened a school in India. In 2013 he founded Effect.org, a social
enterprise that operates affordable private schools in India. In 2014 he began
producing award-winning documentary Stolen
Innocence that delves into the hidden world of human trafficking.
Ryan Bastian (Producer): Ryan
graduated from BYU in 2009 in economics and international development with an
emphasis in Russian and the former USSR. Shortly after, he and his family moved
to Dushanbe, Tajikistan where he worked on a myriad of private sector development
projects, including developing a scalable agribusiness model in rural
Tajikistan. He has since moved back to Utah where he has worked at several
social venture startups and studied digital film production. He is currently
working on his MBA at BYU.
Lindsay Daniels (Director of
Photography): Lindsay has carried an interest in international affairs since
she was young, prompting her to graduate in sociology and international studies
with a minor in Arabic from the University of Utah. She has worked as a
professional landscape and adventure lifestyle photographer for the last
several years, and her client list includes Mountain Hardwear, Chimera
Snowboards, and The Outbound Collective. She is currently working as the lead
cinematographer on Stolen Innocence
with Casey.
Jeff Handy (Co-producer): A serial
entrepreneur at a young age, Jeff is the youngest member of the team, but no
less accomplished. After living in New Zealand among the Maori, Jeff returned
home with a fierce desire to see the world and affect social change within it.
He has since worked with the natives in Ghana, and has plans to work in Fiji in
the coming months. He is currently organizing a film where he and some friends
will attempt to set a world record for most rapids crossed on a paddle board.
![]()
Photo Credit: Veronica Bastian
How can I help?
We need a bare minimum of $25,000 to film this documentary. That will cover travel, boarding, and food for the crew as well as some minor equipment. This campaign is also “fixed,” which means we either meet our goal or we get nothing. This strategy is risky, but it allows us to keep more of the money we earn—and every cent will be needed to pull this off. In exchange for your help, we've done our best to put together a ton of fantastic perks. Check them out!
Every little bit helps, and just because you can’t donate doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of this. If you simply can’t donate, sharing is priceless! Post the campaign on social media or reach out to friends and family who would be interested in social impact and outdoor adventure travel. We know with your help we can do this and change the lives of the Pamiri people!
![]()
This fun T is just the tip of the perks iceberg.
I still have some unanswered questions...
Feel free to post a question to our Facebook
page! We will answer it as promptly as we can.
Big thanks to our sponsors!
![]()
And thanks to everyone for your support!
