National Paddling Film Festival Message

From the Desk of the National Paddling Film Festival Director:

I want to THANK EVERYONE – especially the film makers and photographers for their contributions to this year’s 21st NPFF.  We have 30 films in our program and 45 Still Image photos currently on display on the NPFF web site.  This year’s films come from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, California, Washington State, New Jersey, Alabama, Colorado, Oregon, Canada, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Arkansas, New York, Virginia, and Idaho. Their films and photos take us around the world.  These are films that will not be seen anywhere else! This year’s competition has 14 Amateur, 14 Accomplished and 2 Pro Instructional entries. Don’t think for a second that these films are just a bunch of home movies thrown together.  THEY’RE NOT! They take us on an incredible journey fueled by their passion for film making and love for our rivers. Thanks to the artist and their skills, the NPFF continues it’s 21^st year supporting river conservation through this special motif of film artists.

What’s also very special this year is how many of the film makers and photographers are attending this year’s event! Vince Shay -“2003 Best-Accomplished Documentary” winner – “AIR” and Matt Fahey – “Heaven on Earth: Whitewater Padding Around Humboldt” are coming in from California. Tom O’keefe and family with his entry, “Yangtze River‘ the Final Decent”, will be coming from Seattle, Washington. We also have an interesting untarage of 9 canoeists from Florida coming in support of “Canoe Polo – everyday at 5:00” by Michael Munroe. Kimberly Dequtis and her friends from Randolph Twp, New York, will be here for her showing of “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” and Rick Gusic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two time winner of “Best Accomplished – General Boating” winner will show “Cheat River Canyon.”

More of the film makers attending this year are:

Lance Jones, Little Rock, Arkansas – “KAYAKTION” & “ARKAYAKANSAS”

Dr. Will Van DeBerg, Atlanta, Georgia – “Weasel Bait”

Michael Spanjer, Williamsburg, Kentucky – “El Rio Loco 2003 – The Motion Picture”

Nick Barron, Knoxville, Tennessee – “A Riverside Chance”

Jeremyu Laucks – Red Lion, Pennsylvania – “Virginia is for Creekers”

Bryon Dorr, Westminster, Maryland – Wet Dreamin’

Andrew Lesch Wragge, Wilmore, Kentucky – “Waves, NC”

Tyler Cunduff, Frankfort, Kentucky – “See YOUR Run at El Horindo & other weird stuff”

Benjamin Hayes, Conyers, Georgia – “Local Hero”

Not all the film makers could attend. We truly appreciate their hard work, entering and helping making the NPFF such a huge success. They are:

T.A. Loeffler & Kenna Fair, St. John’s, NF, Canada – “INDESCRIBABLE”

Anna Levesque, L’orignal, Ontario – “Girls at Play”

Ken Whiting, Beachburg, Ontario – “Playboating with Ken Whiting”

Charles B. Taylor, Portland, Oregon – PDXKayaker,

Dan Piano, Steamboat Springs, Colorado – PADDLEFEST 2K2

Dylan Levy – Boyd & Arthur Bass, Portland, Oregon – “Foamy Boater: Foaming at Mouth”

Ryan Linehan, Westport, Maine – “A Bit of Downtime”

Alex Kinsey & Goudi Vandal, Middlebury, Vermont – “White Noise”

Tedmund Drulard, Easton, Pennsylvania – “2003 Mystery Nationals (or Just the Parts LV Crew Care About)”

Thomasine Tangen, Hansville, Washington – “Grand Canyon 2002 – Canyon Days”

Carey Robson, Burnaby, B.C. Canada – “Tunnel Rapid on the Tulameen”

David Norell, Meridian, Idaho – “The North Stein Experience” & “2003 Idaho Whitewater Wrapup”

For a complete synopsis of each of the films and to view the Image Contest and click on “2004 Entries.”

The Still Image competition has some inspiring pics from your friends and the field’s top professionals!  You are invited to participate by going to our web site and voting. The top 6 photos will be displayed at the festival. The final votes to crown this years NPFF “Best Image” will be cast at the Festival. Their image will be used in upcoming NPFF articles and ads through out the USA and Canada.

The film makers and photographers have made this the strongest NPFF ever! THANKS!

We are excited to have as this year’s guest host Corran Addison.  Corran is a 2-time world silver medallist in freestyle kayaking, 1-time world bronze medallist in freestyle kayaking, 4-time USA national champion in freestyle kayaking, 2-time European champion in freestyle kayaking, former World record holder for highest waterfall run in a kayak Ð 101ft, 1992 Barcelona Olympics competitor and finalist in slalom kayaking and

3-time South African champion.  Corran is an expedition paddler, whitewater kayak designer and one of the world’s most prolific documentary, entertainment and instructional whitewater film makers and digital artists.  A contributing artist in previous National Paddling Film Festival, Corran Addison has an impressive list of river productions including: “Operation Zulu”, “Channel Surfing”, “Searching for the Gee Spot”, “Searching for the Pro State”, “End Game”, and “Legend of the Falls” along with several current in progress film projects including “Aire Force Wan” an advanced play boating instructional film. Corran will be speaking about his considerable experiences as a filmmaker and relating the special physical and technical challenges of filming whitewater paddlers in remote locations, along with exploring the aspects of editing, production and marketing of his whitewater films.

This year’s silent auction is packed with gear!  Our sponsors have graced us with an unbelievable pile of great gear and a Liquid Logic boat from Phillip Gall’s Outfitters in Lexington, Mt. Surf tops and skirts, mapping programs, Necky kayak, Esquif canoe, Madawaska instructional classes, cave and canoe trips, and a trip to Chile!  Don’t be surprised if you see a lot more J3 Helmets around after the NPFF!  Please check out our web site; click on “Attend” for more information about the Auction.

Tickets to the Festival and Awards Party are going fast!  You can go to Tickets On-Line  and clicking on attend ‘Attend.”

The films start precisely at 10 AM and run until 6 PM Saturday, February 28, 2004.  The Awards Party will begin at 9 PM at the Limestone Club just a few blocks away in beautiful downtown Lexington, Kentucky.  We have a great group of “Presenters” for the Awards Party.  Bring you boat – you never know – and Sunday is wide open!

The event is supported through the volunteers from the Blue Grass Wildwater Association, and proceeds from the event go to AW, ACA and other river projects. Please visit the NPFF Website and click on “Attend” for more information about the films, event and our sponsors. Help support our rivers by attending the NPFF.  I’ll see you at the show.

We are saddened by the resent loose of John Lord a friend to many, resident of Elkhorn City and Russell Fork supporter. John’s close friends have provided a film in his memory.

David Margavage

NPFF Director