WCP Online Newsletter

National Paddling Film Festival, Feb 25-26
by Zina Merkin (email)

Contributed 12/29/2004  Responses:  1

The National Paddling Film Festival began over two decades ago, when a bunch of paddlers decided that sharing home movies of their paddling adventures (or misadventures, as the case may be) was a great concept for a big party. Members of the Bluegrass Wildwater Association stapled black plastic on the inside of a drafty old barn at the Kentucky Horse Park, and folks came from several states to spend the weekend camped in the mud, drinking too much and watching super-8 movies of their friends and their favorite rivers.

Fast-forward to 2005, and we have donated over $80,000 to American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, and other river access and conservation organizations. We've screened videos from Bali, Nepal, China, South America and dozens of locations across the North American continent. We've seen subjects from expeditions to steep-creeking, record-breaking big drops to canoe polo, foamies and claymation. We even pre-screened an entry by one well known Canadian videographer which took the phrase "paddle-porn" too literally, but his other film that year beat it into the finals for the festival and we didn't have to figure out how to clear the theater of minors for the one film.

This year the NPFF promises to be bigger and better than ever. Though the motion entry deadline is January 21, we've already received a half-dozen entries, including one from Italy. We're holding the festival this year in the newly renovated Lexington Convention Center, and finally have enough room for the Silent Auction and to have the Awards Party in the same location as the screening. We're continuing an innovation from last year in which Still Image entries will be posted on the Internet for a week or so before the NPFF. Viewer voting will select ten or so semi-finalist photos which will be printed and shown at the festival site. The "studio audience" will choose the final winner on the day of the festival. Still photos will be accepted for entry up until February 18, so please search through your archives and send us something.

Details for entering either Motion or Still Images are on our web site, http://www.surfbwa.org/npff , or email the director Dave Margavage at OverflowXL@aol.com .

For the last couple of years we've been inviting special guests to speak to the audience. Two years ago we had Scott Lindgren, who spoke about his expedition to the Tsangpo Gorge. Last year Corran Addison talked about some of the issues involved in making films of extreme sports in extreme conditions, and as well made an eloquent plea for taking all possible safety precautions anytime we get on the water. This year's guest is Kent Ford, a world champion paddler, and producer of some of the finest instructional videos on the market today. Kent spent part of his summer as a commentator for the summer Olympic Games in Athens. His comments may cover any part of his long career in whitewater, but will certainly include interesting stories about the Olympics. I'm hoping he also has some footage from that competition, since not much of it made it to prime time.

So, beat the winter blues and come on out to the National Paddling Film Festival on the weekend of February 25-26. Shop at the Silent Auction, meet other paddlers from all over the country and the world, see the best in both professional and amateur boating footage, and have an all-around good time. And know that you are supporting river conservation while doing it. The NPFF is an all-volunteer effort, supported by the members of the Bluegrass Wildwater Association and numerous generous sponsors (see below). Our two highest priorities are to donate as much money as possible to the rivers, and to have as much fun as possible doing it. We look forward to you joining us.

BENEFACTORS:
American Canoe Association
American Whitewater
Barney Miller's
Boatertalk
Boone Creek Anglers Club
Esquif
Expediciones Chile
J3 Helmets
Madawaska Kanu Centre
Necky Kayaks
Paddler Magazine
Phillip Gall's
MAJOR SPONSORS:
Jackson Kayaks
J & H Outdoors
Kentucky Ale
Mountain Surf
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Performance Video/ Kent Ford

Link:  National Paddling Film Festival