A cinematic and musical odyssey that explores the remarkable relationship between humans and rivers. Written by Robert Macfarlane with music by Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) and featuring music by Jonny Greenwood and Radiohead and narration by Willem Dafoe.
Director / Writer / Producer: Jennifer Peedom
Narrator: Willem Dafoe
Writer: Robert MacFarlane
Producers: Jo-Anne McGowan, Jennifer Peedom and John Smithson
Co-Director / Co-Writer: Joseph Nizeti
Editor: Simon Njoo
Music by: Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood, Richard Tognetti, and William Barton
“A visually majestic, significantly airborne journey over a wide variety of rivers around the world.” – Deadline
“Staggering … every bit as pleasing to the ear as it is the eye” – The Moveable Fest
Throughout history, rivers have shaped our landscapes and our journeys; flowed through our cultures and dreams. RIVER takes its audience on a journey through space and time; spanning six continents, and drawing on extraordinary contemporary cinematography, including satellite filming, the film shows rivers on scales and from perspectives never seen before. Its union of image, music and sparse, poetic script will create a film that is both dream-like and powerful, honouring the wildness of rivers but also recognises their vulnerability.
Jennifer Peedom is well known as a writer and director of gripping non-fiction films, including SHERPA, which was nominated for a BAFTA Award for best documentary in 2016 and won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary Feature at the London Film Festival as part of a very successful festival run. She is now moving into drama with companion piece TENZING, which is on the Netflix slate of Higher Ground Productions, the company belonging to former US president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Jen was on Mt Everest in 2014 making SHERPA from the point of view of the Sherpa people when 16 Sherpa guides were killed in an avalanche. The new film is the true story of Tenzing Norgay, the man who first reached the summit of Everest, along with Sir Edmund Hillary. Jen’s other credits include MOUNTAIN, the precursor to River, MIRACLE ON EVEREST, LIVING THE END and SOLO, which played in several major documentary festivals including IDFA and Sheffield and won numerous awards. Jen was a commodities trader until she was chosen as one of the competitors on the ABC TV series Race Around Ozin 2000. She has been Managing Director of IF Media,publishers of IF Magazine and producers of the IF Awards was New South Wales Young Business woman of the Year in 2003 and was inaugural recipient of the David & Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship in 2010.She is represented by Bec Smith at United Talent Agency.
“Peedom makes it a feast for the senses with the stunning footage she’s assembled coupled with gorgeous music played by the Australian Chamber Orchestra” – Collider
Telluride 2021
Bergen IFF 2021
Kendal Mountain FF 2021
Sedona FF 2022
CPH:DOX 2022- Highlights Section
Docville 2022- OUTSIDE THE DOX
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