Patagonia, since its inception, has been dedicated to protecting and conserving natural places around the globe. In the last decade or so, the company has been behind some groundbreaking films bringing these issues into the forefront of conversation through exceptional storytelling. Over the years, Patagonia has released several of these feature-length films on their Youtube channel. We’ve gathered our favorite films that are always on repeat in our offices!
Il Pescatore Completo | The Complete Fisherman
“A homemade 15-foot cane rod, lines meticulously braided from the tail of a stallion, simple flies tied by hand without the aid of a vise—this is pesca alla Valsesiana. Originating on the small mountain streams of northern Italy, this simple, beautiful style of fishing has been in practice since at least the 16th century. Led by the sport’s elder statesman, Arturo Pugno, it is still practiced by a small number of devotees on those same streams, using the same materials and techniques employed since the beginning. It is fishing at its most basic and refined, and it is only mastered by anglers Arturo Pugno calls “complete fisherman.” The new Patagonia film, Il Pescatore Completo, introduces us to this timeless angling technique, its enduring maestro and the special places where it is practiced with the same devotion and reverence as it was centuries ago.”
Blue Heart
The Balkan Peninsula is home to the last wild rivers in Europe. However, a deluge of more than 3,000 proposed hydropower developments threaten to destroy the culture and ecology of this forgotten region. Blue Heart, now in its first digital release, documents the battle for the largest undammed river in Europe, Albania’s Vjosa, the effort to save the endangered Balkan lynx in Macedonia, and the women of Kruščica, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, who are spearheading a months-long, 24/7 protest to protect their community’s only source of drinking water.
Artifishal
Artifishal is a film about people, rivers, and the fight for the future of wild fish and the environment that supports them. It explores wild salmon’s slide toward extinction, threats posed by fish hatcheries and fish farms, and our continued loss of faith in nature. Thanks for watching our film, and for your comments — our primary goal with the film was to shine a spotlight on these issues, to spark dialogue and encourage changes in the way we think about river and fish conservation and fishery management. The common ground we all seem to share is a love of rivers and an interest in seeing wild fish return in greater abundance. Patagonia has been working to protect wild rivers and wild fish for over 40 years. We were founded by an avid fly fisherman – and we’re proud of all our connections to the fish world, which range from our fly fishing and salmon product lines, to the over $20 million in grants we’ve given to local groups working on these issues in communities around the world.
To that end, whatever your point of view, we hope you visit Patagonia Action Works, to learn more about and support groups working to protect wild rivers and wild fish –
Check out our interview with the director of Artifishal, here!
DamNation
This film explores the evolution of our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of wild rivers.
Fishpeople
Fishpeople tells the stories of a unique cast of characters who have dedicated their lives to the sea. Featuring Dave Rastovich, Kimi Werner, Matahi Drollet, and more.
Support Trout Unlimited by Renting the 2019 Fly Fishing Film Tour
Off the Grid Studios’ Films Available to Stream Online [Links and Trailers]
