"Rush and his team at River Roots are leading the charge in whitewater cinematography and storytelling."
— JIMMY CHIN
Rush Sturges is a feature documentary director and filmmaker, known for his pristine capture of the natural world and her majesty.
As the founder of River Roots, a full service production media house based in White Salmon, WA, Rush and his team specialize in documentary film, television, branded entertainment and commercial campaigns. Rush has produced and directed seven-figure campaigns for Mexico Tourism and has directed branded content for major companies such as Red Bull, GoPro, Ford, National Geographic, Toyota, and more.
His feature documentary, The River Runner, was released on Netflix in 2021.
Rush’s background as a professional kayaker and experience filming in remote and complex environments make him a go-to director for brands who have ambitions to film in whitewater. And it’s not just paddling, Rush has experience filming almost every adventure or action sport out there.
Six continents from air, land and sea have been his workplace for the past decade.
NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+
Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin (2022)
Credit: Athlete / Cinematographer
This series takes audiences inside the minds of elite adventurers, as they share stories of confronting fear, loss, and Mother Nature at her harshest.
Award-winning documentaries
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Snow Leopard Sisters (2025)
Credit: Executive Producer/Cinematographer
Tshiring Lhamu Lama vows to end retaliatory killings of local snow leopards, but first she must first convince her young apprentice to love the animals that have taken everything from her family. -
The River Runner (2021)
Credit: Director/Producer/Editor
In this documentary, a kayaker sets out to become the first man to paddle the four great rivers that flow from Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash.
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Chasing Niagra (2015)
Credit: Director/Producer/Editor
When pro kayaker Rafa Ortiz pursues his dream to paddle over North America’s Niagara Falls, he can't picture the journey to get there. And he soon realises the path may have a mind of its own.
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Congo: The Grand Inga Project (2013)
Credit: Athlete
Steve Fisher leads a crew of top kayakers on a daring and historic attempt to descend the world's biggest rapids, the Inga, on the infamous Congo River.
Festival Highlights - Snow Leopard Sisters (2025)
Festival Highlights - The River Runner (2021)
Klamath Reborn (upcoming)
Klamath Reborn (currently in production) tells the story of the Klamath River Dam Removal through the eyes of Indigenous Klamath youth and their families. Focused on young participants of the Paddle Tribal Waters program sponsored by Rios to Rivers and building on two previous short films (2022 and 2023), Klamath Reborn is a full-length feature documentary produced and directed by Rush Sturges.
Stay tuned for updates!
Snow Leopard Sisters (2025)
Presented with SC Johnson
Credit: Executive Producer / Cinematographer
Directed by: Ben Ayers, Sonam Choekyi Lama and Andrew Lynch
The Human Side of Plastic: Babacar Thiaw (2025)
Presented with SC Johnson
Credit: Co-Director / Executive Producer
The Human Side of Plastic: Abby Barrows (2025)
Presented with SC Johnson
Credit: Co-Director / Executive Producer
Paddle Tribal Waters II - Bring the Salmon Home (2023)
Presented with Rios to Rivers
Credit: Co-Director / Producer / Editor
Co-directed with Paul Robert Wolf Wilson
A Baffin Vacation (2023)
A Film by Sarah McNair-Landry and Erik Boomer
Presented by Whitewater
Credit: Producer
“Capsized” Music Video (2023)
Credit: Producer / Performer / Writer (music)
Directed by Christopher Browne
Paddle Tribal Waters (2022)
Presented with Rios to Rivers
Credit: Co-Director / Producer / Editor
Co-directed with Paul Robert Wolf Wilson
Before I Die (2022)
Credit: Co-Director / Producer / Editor
Co-directed with Mark Anders
Rush Sturges Director’s Reel
Credit: Director
Land of the Yakamas (2021)
Presented by the Yakama Nation
Credit: Co-Director
Trailer - The River Runner (2021)
Credit: Director / Producer / Editor / Musician
“Get It” Music Video (2021)
Credit: Producer / Editor
Spirit of Wabakimi (2017)
Presented by National Geographic and Explore Canada
Credit: Director, Rush Sturges