Hudson River Riders
Work In Progress
Supported by Nature Connection Pitch 2024
The Redford Center
Mountainfilm
Synopsis:

After being threatened at knifepoint, a teenage Chevaughn finds himself in the company of sea-kayakers, and discovers a way to make New York City feel a bit more like his childhood home in Jamaica. Now, he’s on a mission to reshape the future of the city by reconnecting it to the water and is bringing a group of local kids on a source-to-sea kayaking mission from the headwaters of the Hudson to the Statue of Liberty.

Filmmakers:
Sonia Szczesna

Sonia Szczesna is the co-director of “Hudson River Riders” and is best known for her award-winning feature film "Godspeed, Los Polacos!". She runs Sourland Studios where she brings her background in environmental policy and experience as a community organizer to her work in documentary. She recently wrapped a PBS Digital Studios series about Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS) called "Sharks Unknown with Jasmin Graham”.

Rita Hawk

Rita Hawk is the executive producer of Hudson River Riders, and brand manager of the online platform, #blkcreatives; A digital community, resource and media company founded in 2010. She has worked across industries as a cultural producer, writer, and socio-environmental consultant for 15+ years to create opportunities and access throughout marginalized communities. She has a knack for keeping folks honest by facilitating communications that campaign for true equity through both policy, pay, and visibility.