2025 Film Lineup

Best Environmental Film 2025 Sponsored by Kokopelli

Director: Logan Bockrath

Producers: OARS 

In 2012, OARS joined forces with American Rivers and Friends of the Yampa to host an annual Yampa River Awareness Project river trip. Join a transformative rafting journey along the free-flowing Yampa River and see what could be lost if the river is threatened by a major dam, diversion or dewatering project. A Guide to Fighting for Wild Rivers illustrates how immersing people in a river’s beauty and sharing its ecological significance fosters deep, personal connections that inspire long-term conservation.

Best Adventure Travel Film 2025 Sponsored by Kokatat

Director: Benjamin David Stookesberry

Expedition kayakers take on the mile-deep Barranca Candameña in the Wild West of Chihuahua, Mexico. At the put-in, with heavy rain filling the river, the team weighs the danger of flash floods and the specter of narcos against their goal to be the first to descend one of the most spectacular canyons on earth by kayak.

Best Rafting Film 2025 Sponsored by AIRE

Director & Producer: Liz McGregor 

This film is a moving reflection on what it means to be connected to the water, fish, and one's truest expression of self. The river is a thread woven in and out of Alex Obregon's life since he was three weeks old. While working as a raft guide in southern Chile, Alex found his love of fly fishing by way of whitewater, and simultaneously deepened his appreciation and understanding of all the spaces and species a river holds.

Best Paddling Documentary Film 2025

Director: Roxanna Barry

Some dream of summiting the highest peaks, visiting a remote island or being the fastest to navigate a route. But not Emily. She dreams of esoteric adventure and of dragging a canoe across a bog. Enlisting her friend, the pair set off to navigate the Isle of Lewis’ intricate system of lochs. But finding the right kit can be a challenge for Emily. When outdoor shops only stock technical clothing up to a size 16, how is adventure possible for the 45 percent of women in the United Kingdom who wear larger sizes?

Producer: Harriet Sykes

Director: Taylor Ramljak

Red Bull athlete Will Gadd shares his experience with loss and risk in adventure sports.

Producer: Taylor Ramljak, Brock Heshka

Director: Chris Cresci

Set against the backdrop of a raft trip in Desolation Canyon, Utah, Mikah Meyer, a traveler and LGBTQ+ advocate, reflects with three close friends and his mentor, Larry Edwards. As a child, Mikah believed he could never have a successful life and be publicly out and gay. When he moved to college and met Larry, his openly gay choir professor, a lifelong mentorship was born. As Larry enters what he calls the final chapter of his life, he reflects on the lifelong fight for openness and vulnerability within the queer community.

Producer: Davis Love

Director & Producer: Olaf Obsommer

The heavily touristed streets of Cinque Terre might seem an unlikely place for a sea kayaking trip. But with folding kayaks on their backs, camping supplies, and a goal to visit every gelateria, three paddling friends board a train bound for the azure waters of the Mediterranean. A self-supported kayak mission offers a unique way to experience one of Europe's most celebrated coastal destinations.

Director: Pashant Bhatt, Jyoti Jangra

Naina Adhikari, an Indian professional kayaker aims to bring girls together and create an inclusive community in India's male-dominated kayaking scene. This empowering project supports girls, introducing them to kayaking and self-discovery. Witness their transformative journey as they paddle 70 kilometers in the Ganga River. Get ready to be inspired by their courage, camaraderie and determination.

Director: Anna Lueck

Producer: Clark Shimeall

Devin Reuben is training to be the first certified nimiipuu whitewater guide of his generation. The nimiipuu (Nez Perce) have a long history of river travel—in fact, they introduced the practice to settlers—but centuries of displacement and disconnection means Tribal members are now largely absent from their ancestral rivers. Devin says, “It's one big step for us; not just me, all of us. We're slowly bringing our culture back.”

Winner of Best Whitewater Film 2025 Sponsored by Ottawa Valley Tourist Association

Director: David Arnaud

For years, professional kayaker Aniol Serrasolses has dreamed of running the rivers and waterfalls formed by melting ice caps and gigantic glaciers. Accompanied by a team of expert kayakers and Arctic guides, he ventures into one of the most remote and rugged regions of the planet: Svalbard. Amidst the Arctic's otherworldly landscapes, reality is about to surpass his wildest dreams.

Director: Tess Price

The Makapo Aquatics Para Outrigging team races in the Wild Buffalo Relay across the Catalina Channel, where their shared journey becomes a powerful testament to the strength of camaraderie among those living with disabilities.

Director & Producer: Alex Maier, Amy Maier

Embark on an epic journey with four adventurers as they paddle the entire 2,340 miles of the Mississippi River in a single 23-foot canoe, aiming to set a new Guinness World Record. Paddling 24/7 for over two weeks, they eat, sleep, and even use the bathroom in the canoe, supported by a crew and two trailing boats. This inspiring documentary isn’t about conquering the river but moving with its flow. Will the Mississippi River allow them to break the record?

Winner of Best Short Film 2025 Sponsored by Madawaska Canoe Center

Director: Jeremiah Schuster

A look into Devin Brown's life as she attempts to be the first Black female on record to kayak the entire Mississippi River, from source to sea.

Director: Laura Gregory, Mike Wilkinson

The statewide nonprofit Kentucky Waterways Alliance teams up with local nonprofit Friends of Red River and Wilkinson Visual to showcase the beauty of Kentucky's only Wild & Scenic River. The film highlights the efforts of Russ Miller, the original "River Cowboy," and the community committed to protecting and restoring the Wild & Scenic Red River. It also documents the history of the challenging Upper Red River Cleanup, explores how illegal dumping affects waterways in this remote and protected area, and offers potential solutions and actions.

Producer: Laura Gregory

Winner of Best SUP Film 2025 Sponsored by dryrobe

Director & Producer: Jake Garthwaite

Join Cameron Hopkin and Sam Garthwaite as they navigate the thrilling world of whitewater paddleboarding, sharing their personal stories, triumphs and dreams for the future of this adrenaline-fueled sport. Witness the beauty of nature and the power of human determination in this inspiring documentary that will leave you craving adventure and pushing your own boundaries. Get ready to dive into the heart-pounding action and heartfelt reflections of Runnable.

Director & Producer: Dominic Taylor

An intimate telling of Sbonelo's connection to the sport of canoeing. From humble beginnings to finding purpose and the bravery to dream.

Winner of Best Fishing Film 2025 Sponsored by The Safer Paddling Campaign

Director: Rožle Bregar

Four kayakers (ab)use rafting as a means to catch fish on Slovenia's chalk stream called Krka. Casting flies amongst castles and cattails, this became the arena for a gruelling competition that applied pressure of all kinds.

Producer: Leeway Collective

Director and Producers: Logan Graham, Zachary Solomon

Experience The Crossing: Through Blue and immerse yourself in a grueling long-distance endurance paddle challenge from Bimini, Bahamas, to Lake Worth Beach, Florida. Revisit the events that unfolded at last year's Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis—an 80-mile paddleboard race with a purpose—through the lens of Team BLU3.

Director: Rongqin Su

A father dreams of taking his kids on one last big adventure to witness the glaciers before they disappear. But his children’s lives are evolving, global warming is accelerating and he’s growing older. Then, accidents strike, narrowing their window of opportunity. After two years of planning and recovering from injuries, the family finally embarks on their now-or-never journey, crossing the Great Divide.

Producer: Dan Whelan, Rongqin Su

Director: Malakai Isaacs

Chuck Graham is an award winning wildlife photographer, writer, waterman and kayak guide. His work has taken him all over the world, yet his favorite place remains his home turf—the California Channel Islands. Chuck is known for tenacious explorations by kayak, completing nine channel crossings and having circumnavigated every Channel Island. His focus is on telling stories of conservation at these islands.

Producer: Mairin McNerneyDescription goes here

Director: Director & Producer: Caleb Roberts

Rapids at the base of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, Ben Marr’s biggest challenge is to get to them by trekking upstream. A total assault on the senses awaits as the force of the river speaks for itself.

Winner of Best Canoe Film 2025 Sponsored by Esquif

Director & Producer: Joan Barrett

People around the world have traveled in canoes they have proudly made themselves since time began. The Survival of the Wood Canoe chronicles the adventures of one couple who, over 50 years, built a business based on teaching the art of canoe-building. Ted Moores and his partner, Joan Barrett, are trailblazers in the growing sphere of DIY craftspeople, helping people realize their dreams of building truly beautiful and functional boats.

Special Jury Mention

Director: Jeff Springer

For most of the year, bands of world-class freestyle kayakers roam the land in search of waves. But when the rivers freeze, everyone finds their way to a special spot on the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama-Georgia border. Squatting in an abandoned parking lot, they spend the winter training for the next world championships on North America’s best winter whitewater. Although called “certifiable lunatics” by the locals, this tight-knit group is proof of the power of family and that everything is more fun with friends.

Producer: Paige Martin Swift

Director & Producer: Olaf Obsommer

This adventurous and intense kayaking film by Olaf Obsommer features some of the world's top kayakers, including Nouria Newman, Adrian Mattern and the late Bren Orton. It follows an ambitious expedition on Tibet's Tsangpo River during the high-water monsoon, when the river becomes one of the world’s most dangerous. The film showcases powerful rapids, high altitudes, and the river’s relentless force, testing even the best. A tale of resilience and teamwork, Mission Impossible is a must-watch for fans of extreme sports and adventure.

Director: Mark Nevils, Joe Sir

Ten years ago, Peter and Kathy Holcombe bought a Winnebago RV and set out for a lifetime of adventure on the road with their nine-year-old daughter, Abby. They raised and educated Abby as they pursued their travel photography business and inspired her to embrace a love of the outdoors and kayaking—a passion that would lead her to chase a Freestyle Kayak World Championship. The more Abby travels, the more she realizes “home isn’t a place—it’s a feeling you get when you discover something new with the people you love.”

Producer: Mark Nevils

Winner of Best Sea Kayaking Film 2025 Sponsored by BoréalDesign

 Director & Producer: Tom Vetterl

Wild Sea is a captivating short documentary that delves into the life of Jeff Allen, a trailblazing figure in the world of sea kayaking. The film traces Jeff's journey from his formative years to his role as one of the foremost sea kayak guides and coaches of our time. The film illuminates the transformative power of the sea as Jeff finds purpose and healing through his connection with the ocean. In particular, his 2004 Japan circumnavigation serves as a poignant testament to the healing power of nature.