Champions of the Golden Valley: Film and Panel Discussion

Join Bozeman-based nonprofit Central Asia Institute for a private screening of the acclaimed documentary, “Champions of the Golden Valley” on Friday, November 1st at 7:00 pm MST at the historic Ellen Theatre in Bozeman.
Champions of the Golden Valley tells a deeply moving story of how a passion for skiing helped bridge ethnic divides in war-torn Afghanistan (where CAI works) and how those dreams were shattered when the country fell to the Taliban.

Honored as an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival and heralded in reviews as “a heartfelt exploration of community, resilience, and the unexpected intersections of sport and cultural unity”, as well as “a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit”, the film takes place in the remote mountain villages of Bamyan, Afghanistan, where a newfound passion for skiing attracts young athletes from rival ethnic groups to the slopes.

With minimal gear and makeshift wooden skis, the determined ski coach Alishah Farhang organizes a race like no other that fosters camaraderie, joy, and triumph. However, after the shocking collapse of their country, many of the skiers are displaced across the globe as refugees and must call upon the lessons learned in the mountains of their homeland to find a way forward. Champions of the Golden Valley captures the thrill of a sports rivalry intertwined with a poignant portrait of a community in profound transition — parallel stories converging to explore what it means to be a champion, in all its forms.

The film will be followed by a brief panel discussion featuring the film’s producer, Katie Stjernholm; Ambassador Richard Boucher, former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia; and Alice Thomas, CAI Executive Director.

Tickets for the event are $19.50 each and can be purchased directly through the Ellen’s box office: https://theellen.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket#/.