Paddle to Seattle: Journey Through the Inside Passage

(USA, 2009, 86 mins, digital video)

Wisconsin Premiere

animation: Brent Droog
producer: J.J. Kelley, Josh Thomas, Ben Gottfried
writer: Ben Gottfried
editor: Ben Gottfried
director of photography: Spencer Boyle, Brian A. Dixon
original music: Chris Beaty

The Inside Passage waterway from Alaska to northern Washington is 1,300 miles long and holds North America’s only rainforest. J.J. and Josh are going to conquer it in homemade wooden kayaks (top speed: 3 miles per hour). Filling their kayaks with food and camping supplies, the two embark on a journey that will last almost a hundred days, through pristine waters, raging storms, and a few quaint coastal towns. The trip becomes more grueling than the kayakers expected (well, of course), but they never lose their sense of humor. That’s not just an expression — these guys are entertaining (stick around for the credits). It’s great fun joining them in their adventure from the comfort of your dry movie-theater seat. Producer/editor Ben Gottfried is a UW–Madison alumnus and producer J.J. Kelley attended high school in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Winner, Audience Award 2009 Port Townsend Film Festival; Independent Spirit Award 2009 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Winner, Golden Badger, 2010 Wisconsin Film Festival.

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