For the first time in its six-year existence, the Reel Paddling Film Festival is coming to Squamish and it hopes to quench the thirst of the local paddling community.
The Reel Paddling Film Festival is an international film tour presenting the world's best whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing and kayak fishing action and lifestyle films of the year on screens in 100 cities across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe. It will make its debut in Squamish on Saturday, April 30, at 3 p.m. at the Eagle Eye Theatre.
"It's going to be the same sort of idea as what the Reel Rock film festival does for the climbing community in Squamish," said Squamish Paddling Club (SPC) president Dave Berisford. "It should be a great event to get families out and excited for the new season for our club."
The festival will feature 34 paddling films, including the 10 festival category winners. Audiences can expect to see stand-up paddle surfing, hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, headwaters canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, gruelling kayak fishing battles and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life.
Anyone who buys a ticket also has a chance to enter the Yakima Take It Easy sweepstakes for a chance to win a roof rack package. Those attending also will receive free digital subscriptions to Rapid, Adventure Kayak, Canoeroots and Kayak Angler magazines. Berisford said there will also be door prizes and family-friendly activities planned for the event.
Some of the films planned for the festival include: Awakening the Skeena, in which Ali Howard swims the 610-kilometer Skeena taking a stand for her river and its future; In Halo Effect, in which Steve Fisher seeks new whitewater runs in Iceland and Norway; and Islands of Fire, a celebration of good food and good humour as Justine Curgenven's sea kayaking film showcases the warm turquoise waters of Sicily's volcanic Aeolian Islands. In Mammalian, Frank Wolf is back, this time on a 2,000-kilometre Arctic canoe journey from Yellowknife to Rankin Inlet, while Solo the heartbreaking true story of Andrew McAuley, who set out to be first person to kayak from Australia to New Zealand. His kayak was found 30 days later - one day away from completing his journey.
Tickets are $10 in advance and are available at Valhalla Pure or online at the SPC's website, which is located at www.squamishpaddlingclub.com. Tickets are also available the day of the event but will cost $15.
For more information on the film festival, visit www.reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com.
