Red Gold

At the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushagak Rivers in Bristol Bay, Alaska—the two largest remaining sockeye salmon runs on the planet—mining companies Northern Dynasty and Anglo American have proposed to extract what may prove to be the richest deposit of gold and copper in the world, perhaps worth as much as $600 billion. Talented Telluride filmmakers Ben Knight and Travis Rummel (previously at Mountainfilm with The Hatch and Running Down the Man) spent more than two months in Bristol Bay, documenting the tension between native fishermen who oppose the dam and mine officials who say they will build a “clean” mine that will leave the salmon’s habitat untouched. Mountainfilm is thrilled to host the world premiere of this exquisite film that goes beyond the conflict, offering a portrait of a unique way of life that wouldn’t exist if the salmon don't return with Bristol Bay's tide.