Champions of the Golden Valley

2025

After missing his chance to become Afghanistan’s first Olympic skier, a coach inspires his home village to create their own competition. Young athletes build wooden skis and compete in a mountain race that brings unity, peace, and triumph — lessons they must call upon when their world is upended.

Country

USA, Afghanistan

Awards

Grand Prix of the City of Domžale

The film’s stable cinematography and deliberate use of black-and-white/color contrast provides a compelling basis for spectators to engage with the stories of the protagonists, both emotionally and intellectually. Moreover, it successfully broadens its scope by combining the joy of ski mountaineering with the devastating realities of war and forced migration, reaching audiences of all races and generations.