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Documentary. 85 minutes. USA. English.
“River Ways” explores the lives of regular working people affected by the issue
of whether to remove four dams on the Snake River in Eastern Washington. Environmental
groups and fishing interests criticize the dams for their negative impact on salmon
populations, but agricultural communities dependent on the dams oppose efforts to remove
them. Combining interviews with careful everyday observation, and set against the scenic
backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, “River Ways” introduces us to a set of
characters with a surprisingly complex mix of perspectives. Frank Sutterlict, a Native
American fisherman living in an encampment on the Columbia River, struggles to make ends
meet in the face of dwindling salmon numbers. Ben Barstow, a family farmer in Washington,
fears the effect of dam removal on his already marginal business. And Mark Ihander, a
commercial fisherman, hangs on to an industry in economic decline. Other subjects include
environmental activists, irrigators, sport fishermen, and salmon biologists. What emerges
is a complex portrait of an issue that reaches to the heart of the ideological differences
that characterize and divide the Pacific Northwest, and indeed many environmental issues
throughout the world.Awards
Best International Documentary Everglades International Film Festival, September 2007
Best Feature by a Northwest Filmmaker Eugene International Film Festival, October 2007
Conservation Award BendFilm Festival, October 2007
Best Environmental Film Astoria International Film Festival, October 2007
Runner-up, Audience Favorite Tallgrass Film Festival, October 2007
Nominated, Best Documentary Treasure Coast International Film Festival, February, 2008
Nominated, Best Editing Treasure Coast International Film Festival, February, 2008
Nominated, Big Sky Award Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, February, 2008
Nominated, Best Documentary Mid-Valley Video Festival, February, 2008
Best Endangered Species and Habitat EarthVision Environmental Film Festival, March, 2008
Honorable Mention for Compelling Issue International Wildlife Film Festival, May, 2008
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