Friends of the White River Paddling Film Festival

Celebrate diverse and compelling narratives from paddling communities worldwide with the 2024 Friends of White River Paddling Film Festival Presented by Discover White River. This series of short films has been a worldwide phenomenon since 2006, being brought to the Indianapolis Independent Film Scene to inspire participants to Make Indy A River City. This unique event offers the chance to watch a special trailer from local storyteller and cinematographer, Jerald Harkness, from his documentary “When Everyone Swims.” All proceeds from this event will benefit Friends of White River in their mission to protect, preserve, and promote our vital resource for communities in Central Indiana by connecting people to the White River. 

The Paddling Film Festival World Tour brings award-winning films to communities around the globe. Through stories that can only be told from the water, this short film program presents the characters and communities for which our rivers, oceans, and lakes are life. From African canyons to Canadian peaks and frozen coasts, join us as we listen to the voices of paddling.  Be inspired to explore rivers, lakes, and oceans, push extremes, appreciate wild places, and fully embrace the paddling lifestyle. The Paddling Film Festival is what it’s truly about, a celebration of paddling culture that encourages more people to explore rivers, lakes, and oceans. The mission of all the paddlers in these short films is clear – we must enjoy, protect and preserve our rivers, lakes and oceans for future generations. We invite you to come and watch the films in the 2024 Program for inspiring and thought-provoking storytelling from people who paddle with purpose, passion, and a deep reverence for the environment. 

Join us at the Kan-Kan Cinema and be part of the adventure as you watch a World Tour screening event that is happening in more than 135 cities around the globe. Then, go paddling. We’re pretty sure you’ll want to.

The Festival is located at the Kan-Kan Cinema, 1258 Windsor St. Indianapolis, IN.