A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
& GLOBAL IMPACT CAMPAIGN

THE FILM

In the remote mountains of Afghanistan, a newfound passion for skiing attracts young athletes from rival villages to the slopes. With minimal gear and makeshift wooden skis, the determined coach Alishah Farhang organizes a ski race like no other that unites the community in a moment of joy and triumph, just before the country’s collapse.

Champions of the Golden Valley captures the spirit of a classic underdog sports story with the heartfelt portrait of a community finding hope amid disrupted dreams. Revealing a stunning unseen side of Afghanistan, it is an uplifting exploration of what it means to be a champion – in all its forms.

“THE ULTIMATE UNDERDOG STORY!”

“A DEEPLY HUMAN, ROUSING AND FORWARD-THINKING, SENSITIVE SPORTS STORY.”
— TRIBECA FESTIVAL

“A HEARTFELT EXPLORATION OF COMMUNITY, RESILIENCE, AND THE UNEXPECTED INTERSECTIONS OF SPORT
AND CULTURAL UNITY…. A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.”
— OVERLY HONEST MOVIE REVIEWS

“THE FILM SHOWCASES HOW SPORTS — AND SPORTSMANSHIP — UNITE PEOPLE AND BUILD SOLIDARITY. THIS POIGNANT DOCUMENTARY UNDERSCORES THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE
AS THEY NAVIGATE PROFOUND TRANSITIONS IN THEIR HOMELAND."
— INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE

“A NECESSARY FILM THAT INVIGORATES, CHALLENGES, DEMANDS THOUGHT, AND INSPIRES HOPE.”
— THE INDEPENDENT CRITIC

“THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE AFGHANISTAN ANY OF US THOUGHT WE KNEW,
AND WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR SEEING IT ON FILM.”
— SCREEN COMMENT

"FOR ITS MESMERIZING VISUAL AESTHETIC, CINEMATIC VIBRANCY, AND DISTINCT STYLISTIC PERSPECTIVE,
THIS FILM WONDERFULLY CAPTURES THE HUMOR, JOY, AND SENSE OF FREEDOM ON THE SLOPES OF AFGHANISTAN
SET AGAINST THE CONSTRICTING REALITY OF A REFUGEE AND HIS FAMILY'S EXISTENCE.”
— PORT TOWNSEND FILM FESTIVAL
JURY AWARD

SALES CONTACT

Josh Braun & Ben Schwartz
SUBMARINE ENTERTAINMENT
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 212 625 1410
ben@submarine.com

PRESS CONTACT

Sylvia Desrochers
MPRM COMMUNICATIONS
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323 933 3399
champions@mprm.com

PRODUCTION & IMPACT PARTNERS

Film Team

Ben Sturgulewski, Director, DP & Editor

Sturgefilm founder Ben ‘Sturge’ Sturgulewski grew up on a rugged and remote island in Alaska’s Aleutian Chain, inspiring a life dedicated to the exploration of the world’s wild side, and the people who call it home. Infused in all aspects of filmmaking as a director, cinematographer, editor, and writer, he’s worked in definitively rough and awe-inspiring conditions around the globe — bringing a unique cinematic perspective to a wide range of filmmaking mediums, be it documentary, narrative, action sports, or commercial production. Champions of the Golden Valley is Ben’s first documentary feature.
Katie Stjernholm, Producer

Born and raised in Colorado, Katie Stjernholm is storyteller at heart, a strategist by trade, and a producer in action. She has had the privilege of creating documentaries, commercials and impact campaigns for a range of clients including: National Geographic, BBC, the Smithsonian Institute, Arc’teryx, Exposure Labs, and the Discovery Channel. Her film EDGES screened at over 50 festivals worldwide, winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Short Documentary at Heartland International Film Festival. She is the founder of the production company and consultancy Tideshift Studio.
Baktash Ahadi, Producer

Baktash Ahadi is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, facilitator, and human rights activist. He was born in Kabul in 1981, and his family fled during the Soviet invasion in 1984, starting a new life in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His films, including 2022’s RETROGRADE, have screened at Telluride Film Festival, SXSW, BFI London Film Festival, AFI DOCS, and hundreds of other festivals. These films have won dozens of jury and audience awards, Cinema Eye Honors nominations, short-listed at the Oscars, and the Peabody Award.
Doug Blush, Executive Producer

Doug Blush is an award-winning editor, director, producer and writer whose filmography includes 2018 Oscar-winning ICARUS, 2013 Oscar-winning 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, and 2012 Oscar-nominated THE INVISIBLE WAR. He has also been a vital contributor to many Emmy, Grammy and Peabody award-winning films and television shows. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and has been invested in sharing stories about Afghanistan since 2015’s FRAME BY FRAME.

“AFGHANISTAN IS A COUNTRY FULL OF WAR AND DANGER, BUT THESE MOUNTAINS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. IT’S A FEELING OF JOYFULNESS, NOT A FEELING OF FEAR.”

Hussain Ali, Potato Farmer & Skier

IMPACT CAMPAIGN

OPTIMIST
LOS ANGELES, CA 90039
CHRIS@OPTIMIST.CO

If you are interested in becoming an Executive Producer, sponsoring a private screening or educational event, or getting involved in our impact campaign focused on supporting refugees, please get in touch.