“Tidal River” Film Premiere

Headwaters Down: TIDAL RIVER is a feature-length documentary that follows five friends as they attempt to finish a multi-year project: documenting Virginia’s James River, one of the most consequential waterways in North American history.

The voyage begins in Richmond, Virginia and continues for 110 miles to the Chesapeake Bay, with the film crew using sea kayaks to explore the tidal waters of the James. While new insights lie around every bend, the project meditates on several key markers along the river as the crew experience them in real time: the site of the Kepone Chemical Disaster, among the worst environmental tragedies in American history; the Battle at Fort Pocahontas, one of many underrepresented battles of the USCT during the Civil War; the gravely threatened Bald Cypress forests; and Jamestown Island, where complex histories are still being uncovered as climate change and sea level rise are already washing them away. As the group encounters various struggles on their journey, they are reminded of the river’s profound presence and its patient march through time.

Headwaters Down is a production company based in Richmond, VA. Founded by friends and colleagues Justin Black, Will Gemma and Dietrich Teschner. The Headwaters Down team is dedicated to creating impactful cinema, fostering community partnerships, and championing the power of visual narratives.