Last year North East Canoe Club hosted the first Australian screening of the international film tour, now in its 12^th year, and offer a selection of short films from this year’s festival at Oxley Shire hall on Saturday, October 7.

“We were surprised about how much of a social event it was because what the club does is fairly niche,” organiser and club secretary and festival  Allison Parkinson said.

“It’s a very casual night. The idea is everyone is paddling during the day and  then everyone gets together in the evening and has some local food, beer and wine and show the films.”

Audiences will see hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, northern river canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, gruelling kayak fishing battles and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life.

This film festival includes a weekend of paddling activities on the rivers of the North East of Victoria and will include whitewater adventures, canoe tours, competitions and more. 

“Within an hour of Wangaratta there’s five of six really good white water stretches we can do. The King River is one of our favourites, the Ovens at Bright, the Upper Buffalo,” she said.

“There’s a lot within our region which are very accessible.”

The club will host paddling activities as well as the film night, to give interested people a taste of the action. 

For more details on the festival films and the Oxley hall screening visit necanoeclub.canoe.org.au.