Film
Champions of the Golden Valley
About
Director
Ben Sturgulewski
Running time
81 minutes
Country / Nationality
Afghanistan, Germany, USA
Our Judges say:
There is an Afghani skiing scene in the same Bamyan valley where the Taliban blew up the famous 1,500 year old giant Buddha statues, although most of the best skiers are refugees, and this film tells their remarkable story. The film-making is top drawer, with beautiful photography and witty story telling, so it is both eye opening and entertaining, with no pat happy endings: the Taliban have banned women from skiing and indeed all sport. The patriarchy remains boring.Paul Hodgson Music Judge
In the remote mountain villages of Bamyan, Afghanistan, a newfound passion for skiing attracts young athletes from rival ethnic groups to the slopes. With minimal gear and makeshift wooden skis, the determined ski coach Alishah Farhang organizes a thrilling ski race that fosters camaraderie, joy, and triumph. However, after the shocking collapse of their country, many of the skiers are displaced across the globe as refugees, and must call upon the lessons learned in the mountains of their homeland. In "Champions of the Golden Valley," filmmaker Ben Sturgulewski masterfully captures the thrill of a sports rivalry intertwined with the poignant narrative of a community grappling with profound change – revealing what it means to be a champion, in all its forms.