ShAFF 2021: Water Films 4 - The River Runner

The River Runner 86 minutes

I started splashing around in kayaks before I could walk and devoted myself to paddling full time at the age of 14. Like most kayakers of my generation, I regarded Scott Lindgren as one of the greatest filmmakers and kayakers our sport has ever known. Much like Warren Miller did for skiing, Scott redefined the genre of whitewater films. But he was not content just staying behind the camera, he was also breaking boundaries on the river, paddling some of the most difficult whitewater in the world. I had posters of his movies on my bedroom wall. I never thought I'd be making a documentary about him. "The River Runner" follows Scott's twenty-year quest to become the first person to kayak the four great rivers that flow off the flanks of Tibet's Mt. Kailash, a sacred site that pilgrims from four major religions visit in search of enlightenment. Scott had a tough upbringing and was notorious for his sharp edges. On the river, that unsentimental attitude helped him do things no one ever had. But off the river, he struggled with the same challenges many of us face: trauma, addiction, and, most significantly, a brain tumor. It was only by learning to open his heart that Scott was finally able to accomplish his goals, a lesson we can all appreciate on our journey down the toughest river of all, the river of life. I hope my audience feels the weight of Scott’s personal journey and the lengths he went to become the person he is now. It’s never too late to change, and it’s never too late to follow your dreams. I believe this film is a testament to that. -Rush Sturges, Director