PADDLE SPORTS SHOW FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL PROGRAM

Welcome to the Paddle Sports Show Film Festival 2025!

We’re proud to present this year’s lineup, showcasing the best in paddlesports storytelling. The festival features two competitive categories: Short Films (under 30 minutes) and Feature-Length Films (over 30 minutes).

With over 25 films submitted, the creativity and passion from filmmakers around the world have been truly inspiring. The selection process was no easy task—it’s been a tough call narrowing it down!

Due to the limited time available in our program, we’re able to screen only one feature-length film this year. The rest of the lineup is packed with exceptional short films that we can’t wait for you to see.

Now, without further ado, here is the official selection.

Gates open: 18:30 pm
Debut: 19.00

Short Films

Duration 30min max
Number of entries: 18
Official Selection: 6

Ganga Girls – 19 min

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

Film by Prashant Bhatt (India)

River Bound – 14 min

Yak is a former pro guide and expert kayaker, now a paraplegic due to a canyoning accident. Can Packrafting give Yak the freedom to run rivers again? How will he fare in the thundering Class 3 rapids of the upper Buller Gorge? Does Packrafting have the potential to enable an even more diverse range of users to run rivers competently… River Bound- The storybook has just begun.
Film by Deane Parker (New Zealand)

Between the Lines – 14 min

When your life is the river, you tend to go deep. A moving reflection on what it means to be connected…to the water, to the fish, to one’s truest expression of self. Alex Obregon discovered his love of fly fishing through whitewater, and in the process, deepened his understanding of all the spaces—and species—that a river holds. This short film brings the viewer DEEP into the experience of fly fishing and its effect with beautiful and unexpected imagery. Themes of connection, environmental stewardship, and global citizenship will be addressed by way of Alex’s stories and experiences—highlighting the importance of each on a personal and universal level. The overall message being that fishing—and life—is less about the catch, and more about the moment.
Film by Liz McGregor (USA)

Break 15min

Against the Current – 12 min

The film follows a young 14-year-old hardworking Indian lad who is striving to reach new heights in kayaking whilst carefully balancing his day-to-day responsibilities. We get to explore all the sacrifices and hardships that he and his family faced along the way. His journey is still ongoing with lots of accolades collected along the way and many more to come! The documentary is not only about kayaking but is also about the grit and resilience demonstrated by this young boy.

Film by Ashish Jatiani (India)

Streamers, Steamers & Struggles on the Krka – 8 min

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.

Film by Rok Rozman and Rožle Bregar (Slovenia)

100 Days Fjordland – 24 min

Three paddlers will embark on a single mission in the remote region of Fiordland National Park, NZ. Their goal is to bag 20 (or as many as possible) First Descents on unexplored drainages surrounding the Fiordlands region. To do so, they are allotting themselves 100 days of remote living. All accessed via kayaks and human power. Fishing, hunting, and diving as they explore the region to provide supplemental food sources.

Film by Dan Sutherland (New Zealand)

Break 15min

Long Films

Duration over 30min
Number of entries: 6
Official Selection: 1

Big Water Theory – 60 min (With the presence of the full crew!)

Follow kayak superstar Nouria Newman and two childhood friends, Jules Dominé and Mael Nguyen, as they navigate one of the world’s most challenging sections of whitewater: the Rondu Gorge of the Indus River, in Pakistan. Documenting Nouria’s attempt at completing the first integral descent of the Rondu Gorge by a woman, Big Water Theory is a compelling exploration of the human spirit and the relentless pursuit of adventure. It offers a powerful, inspiring, yet highly detailed and informative look at the world of extreme kayaking. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Karakoram mountains, the film highlights the irreversible nature of the sport, with heart-pounding descents that test the kayakers’ psychological and physical limits.

Film by Emile Dominé (France), produced AADO MEDIA