Reel Paddling Film Festival

Algonquin Outfitters presents the 12th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival at the Algonquin Theatre.

The Reel Paddling Film Festival is an international film tour presenting the world’s best whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, SUP and kayak fishing action and paddling lifestyle films of the year on screens in 120-plus cities across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.

Featured films:

BEAR WITNESS – 11m 35s WINNER: Environmental Film, sponsored by ACA What would you do to protect the place you love? Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness is a wild landscape of lakes, streams, woods and wildlife covering 1.1 million acres. To Amy and Dave Freeman, this place is home. With a massive sulfide-ore mining project threatening to jeopardize the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for generations to come, the Freemans took action. For one year, the Freemans lived inside the Boundary Waters, broadcasting photos and stories via satellite receiver and hosting politicians, journalists and activists. “It’s up to us to speak loudly for this quiet place,” says Dave Freeman. “It is up to us to bear witness.” DIRECTOR: Nate Ptacek and Matt Van Biene PRODUCER: Fitz Cahall, Nate Ptacek, Doug Niemela and Samantha Chadwick WEBSITE: www.savetheboundarywaters.org/bearwitness

WOMEN OUTWARD BOUND – 28m 14s WINNER: Documentary Film, sponsored by the Canadian Canoe Museum Fifty years ago, girls were not allowed to participate in the rigorous U.S. Outward Bound wilderness school. Then 24 women broke that barrier. Find out how one month of surviving in the woods changed them and history forever. DIRECTOR: Maxine Davis PRODUCER: Maxine Davis and Melody Gilbert WEBSITE: www.womenoutwardbound.com

DRAWN TO WATER – 1m 49s What is it that draws us to water? Why do thoughts of rivers, lakes and oceans invade our daydreams and keep us lying awake at night? Is it the thrill of adventure, the solitude of wild places, or the friendships made along the way? It’s all of these things, and many more. Drawn to Water, the latest film from NRS, explores the inspiration that rivers, lakes and oceans bring to our lives. DIRECTOR: Skip Armstrong PRODUCER: Jacob Boling and Mark Deming WEBSITE: www.nrs.com

THE CANOE – 26m 21s WINNER: Canoeing Film, sponsored by Silverbirch “If it is love that binds people to places in this nation of rivers and in this river of nations, then one enduring expression of that simple truth is surely the canoe.” —James Raffan, adventurer, acclaimed author and director emeritus of the Canadian Canoe Museum. This short documentary film captures the remarkable bond created by Canada’s well-loved national symbol—the canoe. Illustrated by the stories of five paddling enthusiasts across the province of Ontario, Canada, viewers see firsthand how the canoe fosters connection between families, landscapes, traditional Canadian cultures and our inner selves. The film underscores the strength of the canoe and human spirit, and how the canoe is a vessel for creating deep and meaningful connections. This film is a reflection of what Canadian canoe culture looks like today. DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER: Goh Iromoto WEBSITE: www.gohiromoto.com

NOATAK: RETURN TO THE ARCTIC – 13m 58s Thirty-five years after their first visit to the Noatak River in Alaska’s wild and spectacular Brooks Range, two adventurers in their 70’s reflect on a lifetime of outdoor experiences and what still awaits them. The filmmakers behind Mile… Mile & A Half follow these friends along one of the longest rivers in the U.S. unaltered by man. DIRECTOR: Jason Fitzpatrick, Jen Serena and Ric Serena PRODUCER: Jason Fitzpatrick, Jen Serena, Ric Serena and Durand Trench WEBSITE: www.themuirproject.com

WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY: A COLORADO RIVER REFLECTION – 6m 43s Meet Katie, one of the 40-million people who depend on the Colorado River. Katie finds comfort in reflecting on her time in one of the nation’s most iconic national parks. Guided by river currents, curiosity and scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, her voyage of discovery leads to a deeper understanding of the Colorado River as an ecosystem and her own place in it. DIRECTOR: Jeremy Monroe and David Herasimtschuk, PRODUCER: Jeremy Monroe / Freshwaters Illustrated WEBSITE: www.freshwatersillustrated.org

UNDER THE BRIDGE – 11m 1s In 1987, a Camp Wanapitei 48-day canoe trip on the Kazan River in the Northwest Territories faced many hardships including being wind-bound for days.The group missed their homecoming celebration of paddling “under the bridge” at base camp in Temagami, Ontario. This film documents the group’s homecoming 28 years later and showcases the importance of paddling under the bridge for hundreds of Camp Wanapitei campers every summer. DIRECTOR: Michael Craig PRODUCER: Michael Craig / Teeny Tiny Films WEBSITE: www.teenytinyfilms.com

REDISCOVER NORTH AMERICA – 28m 33s WINNER: Adventure Travel Film, sponsored by Kokatat What’s wrong with an adventure for the sake of adventure? In January 2015, six friends set out to attempt a canoe expedition from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. They battled against the current on the Mighty Mississippi, weathered a winter of snow and ice, traversed massive lakes, dodged constantly shifting forest fires, and shot challenging whitewater. It took eight long months to complete the journey. DIRECTOR: Dan Flynn, PRODUCER: Winchell Delano WEBSITE: www.rediscoverna.com

With your $16 ticket to our Reel Paddling Film Festival screening you’ll also receive free digital subscriptions to Rapid, Adventure Kayak, Canoeroots and Kayak Angler magazines, PLUS, ENTER TO WIN AN AQUA-BOUND PRIZE PACK (UP TO $375 VALUE)

Tickets - Adults: $16, Youths: $12.50 (+ tax)