Paddling Film Festival - 2026 World Tour

Director: Whit Hassett

United States | English

Run Time: 15 minutes

For over a decade, Niki Choo dreamed of a big canoe trip. When she finally meets the right partner, they take on a 1,000-mile journey from the Pacific to the Arctic testing their endurance, their bond and the limits of what’s possible.

Director & Producer: Rylan McCarthy

Canada | English

Run Time: 2 Minutes

Watch this step-by-step guide to performing a self-rescue on a standup paddleboard. Self-rescue is a vital skill to ensure you can safely get back on your paddleboard and to shore in the event of a spill.

Director & Producer: Greg Cairns

United States | English

Run Time: 9 Minutes

Patso is a celebration of what is possible when we embrace the river community around us. Filmed on the South Fork of the American River in California.

Director: Joshua Ballinger

Producers: Brett Hochmuth, Frank Anello

United States | English

Run Time: 35 Minutes

A Little Bit Different is a compelling documentary that follows a group of Afghan refugees and U.S. teens through a shared transformative river rafting expedition on the Main Salmon River in Idaho. This heartwarming film celebrates the diverse tapestry of shared human experiences and illustrates the impact of growth-focused outdoor adventure. As the group navigates challenges imposed by the river and explores the vast surrounding wilderness, they find solace and empowerment in the restorative power of nature and forge deep, authentic friendships along the way.

Director: Dylan Gerschwitz

Producer: Deane Parker

New Zealand | English

Run Time: 12 Minutes

Yak is a former pro guide and expert kayaker who became a paraplegic after a canyoning accident. Can packrafting give him the freedom to run rivers again? And how will he fare in the thundering Class III rapids of the Upper Buller Gorge? The film also asks whether packrafting can open the sport to an even more diverse range of people who want to run rivers.

Director: David Arnaud

Germany | English

Run Time: 44 Minutes

The SEND Collective is the closest thing to social media stardom the kayaking world has ever seen. The crew embarks on an unknown river deep in the jungles of Gabon. With no Wi-Fi and no turning back, they plunge into 10 days of raw whitewater, relentless jungle and uncomfortable honesty. Gabon Uncharted is a wild, unfiltered and occasionally damp exploration of what happens when online legends are dropped into offline chaos. Featuring the SEND team members: Adrian Mattern (GER), Dane Jackson (USA), Kalob Grady (CAN), Bren Orton (GBR).