Olympics.com Acquires Award-Winning Documentary ‘Champions Of The Golden’ Valley As Film Seeks Podium At Academy Awards
EXCLUSIVE: An iconic institution known for its five rings is encircling Oscar contender Champions of the Golden Valley.
Olympics.com, the official digital home of the Olympic Movement, announced it is acquiring the award-winning feature documentary directed by Ben Sturgulewski, which tells the story of aspiring skiers in Afghanistan. The site will begin exclusively streaming the film on December 19 as Champions seeks to be crowned with Oscar recognition.
“We are proud to offer a home for this beautiful film on Olympics.com,” said Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services and executive director of Olympic Channel Services. “Champions of the Golden Valley is a powerful story of resilience and hope, and a reminder of the unique ability of sport to bring people together. With its stunning cinematography and deeply engaging storytelling, it’s a perfect fit for us.”
The Olympic rings in front of the Olympia delle Tofane ski run on March 19, 2025 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Champions of the Golden Valley centers around Afghan skier Alishah Farhang, born in the Hindu Kush mountains above Bamyan. In the film, he returns to the majestic mountains of Bamyan “after narrowly missing out on becoming Afghanistan’s first Winter Olympian. Farhang’s determination on the global stage, and his efforts to create a unique ski race to bring together a divided region, sparked a vibrant homegrown ski culture that brought inspiration and joy to their community. The story is a testament to the universal power of sport to bring people together, inspire peace and create a shared purpose.”
The documentary shows Afghan kids crafting skies out of wood so they can take part in the sport. We have your exclusive first look at the documentary in the trailer below.
The documentary boasts an impressive team of executive producers including Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and Tony-and Emmy-nominated producer Arian Moayed (Succession, Nobody Wants This), Emmy winner Doug Blush (EP of Oscar winner The Elephant Whisperers), Justin Lacob, Janet Tittiger, Gottfried Tittiger, Peter Tittiger, Chris Temple, Zach Ingrasci, Liz Stiff, Nadia Samadani, and William LaBahn. The film is produced by Baktash Ahadi and Katie Stjernholm.
In a statement, director Ben Sturgulewski said, “We are honored Olympics.com is sharing this story with audiences around the world. The heart of this film is about connection — how sport can unite people, uplift the next generation, and spark hope in places where it’s needed most – something that feels especially meaningful today.”
(L-R) Director Ben Sturgulewski, producer Baktash Ahadi, protagonist Alishah Farhang, and producer Katie Stjernholm attend the ‘Champions Of The Golden Valley’ premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival on June 9, 2024 in New York City.
ason Mendez/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Champions of the Golden Valleywhich premiered at Tribeca Festival, has earned 30 prizes around the world, including audience awards at the Austin Film Festival, Heartland International Film Festival, and the People’s Choice Award at the Denver Film Festival. It won Best Documentary at the 2024 SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the 2024 Anchorage International Film Festival and won a Special Jury Commendation at the Port Townsend Film Festival in Washington state, among many other prizes. At the IDA Documentary Awards this past weekend in Los Angeles, the film was nominated for Best Cinematography, recognizing the work of Ben Sturgulewski.
“A moving and timely story about what joy and unity look like when everything else is falling apart,” EP Malala Yousafzai says of the documentary. “I’m proud to support this film and the young people whose courage and spirit it so beautifully captures.”
Watch the trailer for Champions of the Valley below.
