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Classic

A century-old tradition bonds the people of Nenana, Alaska, who bet on the arrival of spring during the Ice Classic: When the river ice melts, the winner can take up to $350,000. This heartwarming documentary considers the contest as an important source of not only community pride but autonomy.

  • Tim Kaminski
    Director
    Being Evel (asst editor), Rolling Papers (editor), Chasing Coral (asst editor)
  • Tim Kaminski
    Producer
  • Mitch Dickman
    Producer
    Hanna Ranch, Rolling Papers
  • Zack Armstrong
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 7, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    120,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Denver Film Festival
    Denver, Colorado
    United States
    November 1, 2019
    North American Premiere
Director Biography - Tim Kaminski

Tim Kaminski was born and raised in Alaska, but now calls Colorado home. Not unlike many, he chased the wrong person's dream for years before remembering that telling stories was his oldest passion. With that, he focused every ounce of energy (and his fiancee's patience) into switching careers and attending the Colorado Film School.
Since that fateful decision, Tim's energy and his now-wife's patience, proved a worthwhile gamble. Tim has had the pleasure and privilege to work under and alongside director/producers Mitch Dickman (Rolling Papers), Daniel Junge (Being Evel) and Jeff Orlowski (Chasing Coral) as well as the editor for all aforementioned directors, Davis Coombe.
The fortuitousness of these opportunities and introductions could not be taken for granted, and every opportunity to learn and gain experience is indeed what drove Tim toward his documentary directorial debut with Classic.

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Director Statement

The experience of directing my first film, Classic, was so life-changing in ways that are immeasurable. As someone who finds responsibility to be its own reward, directing a film which depicts an entire community may be just about as much reward as one can handle. From settling on the right story to telling it genuinely and to owning the trust placed in you as the storyteller.
And when I took a film I was proud of back to a town I had asked to trust me and received overwhelming feedback of praise and pride, I realized a very important thing: Of all the criteria that can measure a film's success, the one that tells you you made the right film takes top honors.