From the wild icescapes of Baffin Island to the mighty Mississippi River, Paddling Magazine’s top picks for the best paddling films of the year promise to awe and inspire viewers of all ages and abilities. These films celebrate the spirit of adventure and our connection to water through exceptional storytelling and stunning visuals.
The following nine films are currently screening as part of the Paddling Film Festival, which is the largest paddling film festival in the world and has been showcasing the best canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and whitewater films every year since 2006. Watch the films here.
A Baffin Vacation
Winner of Best Adventure Travel Film 2023
Erik Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry set off on a bold multisport 45-day expedition—traveling through the remote landscape of Baffin Island in search of stunning cliffs to climb and unexplored rivers to whitewater kayak.
Directors: Sarah McNair-Landry, Erik Boomer
Producers: Rush Sturges, Erik Boomer, Sarah McNair-Landry
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Adventure Program 2023.
Georgie
Winner of Best Rafting Film 2023
Georgie, a forgotten raft rediscovered at a yard sale, narrates her story of running rivers. From her wild days with legendary Georgie White in the Grand Canyon to leisurely weekend floats, Georgie’s wisdom rings true to every generation of river traveler.
Directors & Producers: Dale Wright, Isaac Wright
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Voices Program 2023.
Wild Waters
Winner of Best Paddling Documentary 2023
Adventurer, competitor, daughter, friend, pioneer, hero and badass human are all words used to describe French kayaker, Nouria Newman. In Wild Waters, we watch Nouria grow from a young Olympic hopeful to one of the greatest kayakers of all time, and follow her as she prepares to become the first female to run a 100-foot waterfall. Running the world’s hardest whitewater isn’t Nouria’s biggest challenge, though. Realizing the expectations placed upon her as an athlete and as a woman weigh heavily as she pushes back to make her own path.
Director: David Arnaud
Producer: Red Bull Media House
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Adrenaline Program 2023.
Icelands Most Remote Peninsula: Hornstrandir By Kayak
Winner of Best Sea Kayaking Film 2023
Due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle, Hornstrandir is damn fresh even in summer, and this northern coast is hardly protected. In paddling Iceland’s most remote peninsula, this group of kayakers learns how to fail beautifully.
Director & Producer: Eike Köhler
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Adventure Program 2023.
Circumnavigate
Winner of Best SUP Film 2023
Tragedies in former lifeguard Brendon Prince’s past forced a change in his life to pursue water safety education. In the pursuit of raising awareness for this cause, he must put his own life at risk, pushing his limits and attempting something no one has accomplished before.
Circumnavigate follows the South Devon-based father of three as he attempts to become the first person to standup paddleboard around mainland Britain in hopes of breaking five world records—a challenge many have tried, but none have achieved.
Director & Producer: Will Reddaway
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Adventure Program 2023.
Greybeard: The Man, The Myth, The Mississippi
Winner of Best Canoeing Film 2023
Dale “Greybeard” Sanders challenges himself to set another world record, trying to reclaim his title as the oldest person to paddle the full source to sea on the Mississippi River. At 87 years old, it takes perseverance and an attitude that says, “One of these days I’ll get old.”
Director: Zak Rivers
Producers: Zak Rivers, Alex Maier, Kyle Johnson, Amy Robin
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Adventure Program 2023.
On The Edge
Winner of Best Kayak Fishing Film 2023
Five women set out on an eight-day, 65-mile pack rafting journey deep in the wilderness of Montana. A trip inspired by self-growth, adventure and world-class westslope cutthroat trout fishing quickly evolves into a deeper exploration of how we are on the edge of a new climate era. The group begins to question what the future of conservation and ethical wilderness recreation will look like in a rapidly changing climate.
Director & Producer: Katie Falkenberg
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Adrenaline Program 2023.
On, In & Under The Sava
Winner of Best Paddling Short Film 2023
Armed with a raft, snorkels and flippers, four friends drift down Slovenia’s Sava River. Their one mission: find the elusive finned monsters that dwell in the deep, in order to help protect the Sava from the construction of dams.
Directors: Rožle Bregar, Carmen Kuntz
Producers: Balkan River Defence, Leeway Collective
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Voices Program 2023.
Stakeout
Winner of Best Whitewater Film 2023
For decades, Eastern Canada has brought people from all over the world to paddle its huge variety of whitewater. There is one aspect in particular that continues to bring the world’s best paddlers—big waves. As the rivers rise with the spring melt, each of these unique waves takes form. Every year, a small group of whitewater athletes dedicate their time to the chase. Those who started this tradition gave it a name: Stakeout.
Director & Producer: Dane Jackson
Watch this film in the Paddling Film Festival’s Adrenaline Program 2023.
