Sturgefilm founder Ben ‘Sturge’ Sturgulewski grew up on a rugged and remote island in Alaska’s Aleutian Chain, inspiring a life dedicated to the exploration of the world’s wild side, and the people who call it home. Infused in all aspects of filmmaking as a director, cinematographer, editor, and writer, he’s worked in definitively rough and awe-inspiring conditions around the globe — bringing a unique cinematic perspective to a wide range of filmmaking mediums, be it documentary, narrative, action sports, or commercial production. Champions of the Golden Valley is Ben’s first documentary feature.

Born and raised in Colorado, Katie Stjernholm is storyteller at heart, a strategist by trade, and a producer in action. She has had the privilege of creating documentaries, commercials and impact campaigns for a range of clients including: National Geographic, BBC, the Smithsonian Institute, Arc’teryx, Exposure Labs, and the Discovery Channel. Her film EDGES screened at over 50 festivals worldwide, winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Short Documentary at Heartland International Film Festival. She is the founder of the production company and consultancy Tideshift Studio.

Baktash Ahadi is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, facilitator, and human rights activist. He was born in Kabul in 1981, and his family fled during the Soviet invasion in 1984, starting a new life in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His films, including 2022’s RETROGRADE, have screened at Telluride Film Festival, SXSW, BFI London Film Festival, AFI DOCS, and hundreds of other festivals. These films have won dozens of jury and audience awards, Cinema Eye Honors nominations, short-listed at the Oscars, and the Peabody Award.

Doug Blush is an award-winning editor, director, producer and writer whose filmography includes 2018 Oscar-winning ICARUS, 2013 Oscar-winning 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, and 2012 Oscar-nominated THE INVISIBLE WAR. He has also been a vital contributor to many Emmy, Grammy and Peabody award-winning films and television shows. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and has been invested in sharing stories about Afghanistan since 2015’s FRAME BY FRAME.