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Rivers 2021

The 10 best river films of year take you: kayaking down the most difficult whitewater river in Russia; inside the craziest wooden boat building shop keeping the Grand Canyon dory culture alive and laughing; swirling below the surface with the most eccentric of all river paddlers—squirt boaters; to remote Baffin Island for a 40-day human-powered adventure of big wall first ascents, whitewater packraft first descents and wild Arctic flamingos encounters. Oh yeah, you’ll also save a watershed, meet the future of whitewater and go on the road with the coolest river family, ever.

- The Long Today
- River Runner
- How It Feels To Finally Get A New Drysuit
- Rio Rica
- The Drive: Famagogo
- Can't Beat This Place For Fun
- The Legend Of Muksu
- The New Generation of Whitewater Paddlers
- The Mystery
- Ocean To Asgard

Rivers take you places. These 9 films transport us far from this digital age of instant-everything; they reconnect us with the people, places and experiences that matter most.

Regular price
$10.00 USD
Regular price
$18.50 USD
Sale price
$10.00 USD
Tax included.

Available now

10 winning & shortlisted films

Duration: 2hr, 20 min

10-day rental

Instant access on any device

Rivers Program 2021
Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021 Rivers Program 2021

Watch Trailers

  • The Long Today

Director Niobe Thompson’s father turned 70 last summer. To celebrate the big day, he found a river on a map, repaired one of his old wood canoes, and invited the whole family along on a challenging river adventure. Only a few of them showed up.

Director and Producer: Niobe Thompson

  • River Runner 

For high school teacher and whitewater kayaker Crista Wiles, hucking 20-foot waterfalls isn’t a big deal. But to her, pushing her sport isn’t about getting sendy and taking on bigger risks. It’s about personal challenges, introducing new people to the rivers and celebrating the tight-knit community surrounding the sport.

Director: Heather Mosher
Producer: Jon Hunwick

  • How It Feels To Finally Get A New Drysuit

New suit, new you. What better way to welcome the shoulder paddling season than with the warm embrace of a drysuit?Times were tough in 2020, and director Karl Jensen hopes this sketch about leveling up into immersion wear makes you laugh.

Director: Karl Jensen

  • Rio Rica

The Little Snake River is the last of its kind in the Colorado River Basin. It does the work that keeps the rest of the Colorado River system functioning by moving millions of tons of sediment downstream in seasonal pulses, recharging downstream beaches and bottomland and critical fish habitat. It’s the last undammed major tributary between the Rockies and the Gulf of Mexico—for now. Follow Rica Fulton on an adventure discovering a hidden tributary of the Colorado River.

Director and Producer: Cody M. Perry

  • The Drive: Famagogo

Peter Holcombe and his family of nomadic adventure travelers have discovered the meaning of life while on the road in their Winnebago RV, embodying what it truly means to live freely. Once they let go of the external pressures to "get ahead,” they found themselves with an abundance of time and freedom to pursue projects and adventures, and it ultimately allowed the Holcombes to sculpt a lifestyle beyond their wildest dreams. 

Director: Kyle Niemer
Producers: Rodion Galperin, There Be Draogns

  • Can't Beat This Place for Fun

Can’t Beat This Place For Funtakes you into the work—and play!—shop of Flagstaff, Arizona’s Fretwater Boatworks as they keep the tradition of wooden boat building alive. Embodying the legacy of famed river runner and ardent conservationist Martin Litton, the Fretwater team will show you how, in Litton’s own words, “Win or lose, there’s a measure of victory in the endeavor.” Come along and join the fun.

Director: Dawn Kish
Producer: John Tveten

  • The Legend of Muksu

The Muksu is regarded as one of the most difficult rivers in the former Soviet Union, a glacial torrent cutting through a series of blind canyons in the thin air of the Pamir Mountains. Just getting to the put-in involved six days of driving along the fabled Silk Road, and a 20-mile hike over a 15,000-foot pass while carrying boats and supplies for 10 days on the river. Only three parties had run the river before and the last had been forced to evacuate a team member due to high altitude pulmonary edema.

Director and Producer: Olaf Obsommer

  • The New Generation of Whitewater Paddlers

For almost 30 years, Ken Whiting's life has been guided by the paddle in his hands. Now, his passion for whitewater has come full circle, as he and his nine-year-old daughter run the river and challenge whitewater for the first time in separate kayaks. 

Director of Photography: Samuel Burrows
Producers: Ken Whiting, Brendan Mark

  • The Mystery

There’s a subculture of kayaking known by few and understood by fewer. The paddlers don diving goggles and neoprene and slide into thin, uncomfortable boats not meant to float but designed to sink. Below the waterline, their goal is to stay underwater as long as they can. This is squirt boating. The Mystery offers a rare glimpse into this obscure sport and the dedicated few who keep the tradition alive. 

Directors: Forest Woodward and Tommy Penick

  • Ocean to Asgard

Four friends travel to Baffin Island for a 40-day human-powered adventure, featuring big wall first ascents, whitewater paddle descents and wild Arctic flamingos. 

Director and Producer: Heather Mosher

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Yes, you can watch on your TV

Watch on your phone, tablet, computer or cast to your TV using AirPlay, Chromecast, Miracast, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick or HDMI.

FAQ

Can I watch on my iPhone/iPad?

Yes, you can watch content using Safari or Chrome on iOS.

Can I watch on my Android device?

Yes, you can watch content using your Android device using any web browser.

How do I play the films on my TV?

If you have Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku or another casting device, set your computer, phone or tablet to "Airplay" or "cast" to the TV device. Then set your player window to full-screen using the icon on the bottom right.

You can also directly connect a laptop or computer using an HDMI cable.

Can I rewind and pause?

Yes, you can pause, play, rewind, fastforward and even rewatch. You have full access to the complete program during your rental period.

How long is the rental period?

When you rent a program, you have 10 days to access your films.

Need more help?

Email support@paddlingfilmfestival.com or call us at 1-866-709-4985.

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Bundle & Save

Save an extra 30% when you rent all 2022 programs together

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$15.00 USD
$18.50 USD $15.00 USD
$15.00 USD
$18.50 USD $15.00 USD