Afghan Skiing Doc ‘Champions of the Golden Valley,’ World Premiering at Tribeca, Delivers Anti-War Message, Unveils Clip (EXCLUSIVE)
The first clip for Ben Sturgulewski’s documentary “Champions of the Golden Valley,” which is world premiering at the Tribeca Festival, has been unveiled.
In the film, across the remote mountain villages of Bamyan, Afghanistan, a newfound passion for skiing attracts young athletes from rival ethnic groups who showcase their resourcefulness and skill on the
slopes. Equipped with minimal gear, makeshift skis, and no chairlift, the determined ski coach Alishah Farhang organizes a ski race, uniting the community in joy and camaraderie. However, when their country falls to the Taliban, many of the skiers are displaced across the globe as refugees, confronted with an uncertain future.
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Sturgulewski told Variety: “The dreams of these athletes were shattered in 2021 when the country collapsed, and many of our subjects were displaced around the world. What the community had been working towards in Bamyan — what it was so close to achieving — took on a much deeper and more nuanced meaning. While giving space to that tragedy, it’s my hope that the pure joy and the connection found on the slopes is the ember that still burns at the heart of our film.”
Farhang added: “My story and my sacrifice to make some positive change in Afghanistan society, in particular in my home of Bamyan province, came from my belief that we could bring some smiles to the faces of the children on the mountains there. These are the stories of people who didn’t have anything to do with the war in Afghanistan. We hope that seeing this on the big screen can raise our message to the world: that war most often destroys innocent lives. And we hope to work together to find a way to one day put an end to war, and live in peace.”
“Champions of the Golden Valley” is a Sturgefilm production in association with Tideshift Studio, The Taleem Project, Optimist, XTR, Happy Place and Adventure Not War. It is produced by Katie Stjernholm
and Baktash Ahadi with Doug Blush, Chris Temple, Zach Ingrasci, Little Lion Impact, Tiger Tales Media, Justin Lacob, Tara Razavi and Nadia Samadani.
The Tribeca Festival runs June 5-16.
Watch the clip here:
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