Champions of the Golden Valley

Champions of the Golden Valley 

Following its World Premiere at the renowned Tribeca Festival, Champions of the Golden Valley has screened at more than 100 film festivals around the world -- earning 52 Jury and Audience Awards, including 26 Grand Prizes, and the 2026 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Documentary. 

Champions of the Golden Valley captures the emergence of a homegrown ski culture in the snow-capped peaks of Afghanistan. The film reveals a breathtaking and seldom-seen side of the country -- a remote region where joy, resilience, and community are forged in the mountains.

At the heart of this movement is Alishah Farhang, a former Winter Olympic hopeful whose dream of being the first to represent Afghanistan in alpine skiing transforms into a mission to bring his passion for the sport to his homeland. Equipped with handmade wooden skis and secondhand gear, young athletes from rival villages come together to compete in a ski mountaineering race like no other. The event becomes a powerful catalyst for unity and hope, showcasing the transformative power of sport to bridge deep divides. And when their world is suddenly upended, Alishah and the athletes must call upon those lessons learned on the slopes.

Riveting, uplifting and deeply human, this is a story about how champions can be made by more than medals. With the spirit of an underdog sports story, Champions of the Golden Valley is a visually stunning and utterly unique perspective on the Olympic dream -- showing how competition can strengthen communities, unite cultures, and bring light to even the most unexpected corners of the world.

The film is executive produced by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Malala Yousafzai and acclaimed actor Arian Moayed (Succession, Nobody Wants This). Earlier this year, the film was acquired and distributed by the International Olympic Committee in advance of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina.

A PUEBLO HOMECOMING  —  ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Champions of the Golden Valley was made over five years as a passion project by a small, independent team. Katie Stjernholm -- who was born and raised in Pueblo -- produced the film, and director Ben Sturgulewski shot, edited, and directed the film. The director-producer team is based outside of Boulder, and they are bringing the film to Pueblo for a special homecoming screening. Ben grew up in Alaska and has his own Colorado connection as a graduate of Colorado College (‘08). Katie and Ben will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screening.