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The Red Creek Sessions

Red Creek is the elusive Class V+ whitewater gem flowing from the Dolly Sods Wilderness in the West Virginia highlands. Join Dr. Philip Prince, an expert in Appalachian geology, as he takes an in depth look at the rock structures of this region through the rare descent of Red Creek by a group of local whitewater kayakers on Cheatfest Weekend 2022. The film then explores the entire Cheat River Watershed, showcasing the world class whitewater offered in this area as a result of the unique geology of Northern West Virginia. The Red Creek Sessions is an educational documentary comparing the timeline of humanity with the timeline of geology, highlighting the rare opportunities presented to whitewater kayakers thanks to millions of years of geologic evolution.

The Red Creek Sessions is the winner of the Accomplished Film Award at the 2023 National Paddling Film Festival, the Viewer's Choice Award at the 2023 NPFF, a featured program on West Virginia PBS, and the winner of countless film festival awards throughout the world.

  • Justin Harris
    Director
  • Justin Harris
    Writer
  • Justin Harris
    Producer
  • Christopher "Ness" Collins
    Producer
  • Max Bauer
    Producer
  • Philip Prince
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Prince "
  • Andrew Gunnoe
    Key Cast
    "Kayaker"
  • Nick McGettigan
    Key Cast
    "Kayaker"
  • Christina Kossis
    Key Cast
    "Kayaker"
  • Art Barket
    Key Cast
    "Kayaker"
  • Jesse Shimrock
    Key Cast
    "Kayaker"
  • Kyle Mandler
    Key Cast
    "Kayaker"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 17, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Lane Doc Fest
    Jackson, Tennessee
    United States
    October 5, 2024
    Tennessee Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Raw Science Film Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    November 4, 2023
    Finalist
  • Waterwalker Film Festival
    Alberta
    Canada
    October 18, 2023
    Winner Best Kayaking Film
  • Eugene Environmental Film Festival
    Eugene, Oregon
    United States
    October 2, 2023
    Oregon Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Maine Outdoor Film Festival
    Portland, Maine
    United States
    July 30, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Mountain Craft Film Festival
    Fairmont, West Virginia
    United States
    September 30, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Chesapeake Film Festival
    Easton, Maryland
    United States
    October 2, 2023
    Mid Atlantic
    Official Selection
  • Indigo Moon Film Festival
    Fayetteville, NC
    United States
    October 13, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Bedford International Film Festival
    Bedford, Virginia
    United States
    July 1, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Pittsburgh Film Festival
    Pittsburgh, PA
    United States
    October 27, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Festival Internacional de Cine del Cono Sur
    Valparaíso
    Chile
    May 20, 2023
    South American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Scorpiusfest
    Park City, Utah
    United States
    January 16, 2024
    Utah Premiere
    Best Director of a Documentary Short Film
  • Orlando International Film Festival
    Orlando, Florida
    United States
    July 13, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Dumbo Film Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    Semi Finalist
  • Iconic Images Film Festival
    Vilnius
    Lithuania
    September 20, 2023
    Finalist
  • Nature Without Borders International Film Festival
    Rehoboth Beach, DE
    United States
    June 21, 2024
    Exceptional Merit
  • National Paddling Film Festival
    Frankfort, Kentucky
    United States
    February 18, 2023
    World Premiere
    Winner Accomplished Film Award
  • National Paddling Film Festival
    Frankfort, Kentucky
    United States
    February 18, 2023
    World Premiere
    Winner Viewer's Choice Award
  • Sofia International Film Festival
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    May 1, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Top Shot International Film Festival
    Warsaw
    Poland
    September 24, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Crown Point International Film Festival
    Chicago, Illinois
    United States
    Winner Best Documentary
  • Swedish International Film Festival
    Arvika
    Sweden
    May 16, 2023
    Winner Best Documentary Short
  • Imaginarium Convention
    Louisville, Kentucky
    United States
    July 16, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Golden Short Film Festival
    Abruzzo
    Italy
    Official Selection
  • Tamizhagam International Film Festival
    Tamizhagam
    India
    March 18, 2023
    Asian Premiere
    Winner Best Documentary Short Film
  • South Film and Arts Academy Festival
    Rancagua
    Chile
    March 25, 2023
    South American Premiere
    Winner Best Documentary Short Film
  • Indo Singapore International Film Festival
    Singapore
    India
    Winner Best Debut Short Film
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Honorable Mention
  • More Than Decent Film Festival
    Newberry, South Carolina
    United States
    April 22, 2023
    South Carolina Premiere
    Winner Best Documentary Short
  • Your Way International Film Festival
    Valletta
    Malta
    April 29, 2023
    Malta Premiere
    Winner Best Sports Film
  • Snow Leopard International Film Festival
    Madrid
    Spain
    March 25, 2023
    Spanish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • New River Film Festival
    Fayetteville, West Virginia
    United States
    May 12, 2023
    New River Premiere
    Winner Best of Fest
  • Blueberry International Film Festival
    Karaikal
    India
    June 3, 2023
    Winner Best Documentary Short
  • Blueberry International Film Festival
    Karaikal
    India
    June 3, 2023
    Winner Best Nature/Environmental Feature Film
  • Bollywood International Film Festival
    Mumbai
    India
    May 30, 2023
    Winner Best Director
  • Mayavaram International Film Festival
    Tamil Nadu
    India
    June 3, 2023
    Winner Best Documentary Short
  • Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
    Canaan Valley, WV
    United States
    May 26, 2023
    Screening
Director Biography - Justin Harris

Justin Harris is a photographer, content creator, and first time filmmaker living deep in the mountains of West Virginia. He is an avid kayaker and skier and began his career in action sports photography. His exploration into video came during his tenure as the Media Director of a small West Virginia ski resort. Over the last two years Justin has carved a niche in the Mid Atlantic whitewater scene through a river report video series documenting the elusive Class IV-V steep creeks of his home state. This is his first short film, and it showcases a glimpse into one of the most dangerous and logistically challenging steep creeks in West Virginia, as well as highlighting the beauty and unique aspects of the Cheat River Watershed.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"This project is the culmination of a decade of work in West Virginia whitewater. I wanted to combine the adventure aspect of kayaking with the geologic science of the surrounding land, and help others discover how Mother Nature formed, over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, the steep creeks we paddle and call nature's playgrounds."