Upstream Battle


a documentary film by Ben Kempas

Native Americans on the Klamath River
fight for their fish
– against an energy corporation.
Their struggle may trigger
the largest dam removal project in history.
> Read more.

Editor's note

This website contains information on UPSTREAM BATTLE last updated in 2009.

> For all the latest information, please visit the film's Facebook page.

First broadcast dates

A 59-minute version of UPSTREAM BATTLE called STROMAUFWÄRTS will be aired on Bayerisches Fernsehen in Germany on Saturday 1 August at 21:45. A 26-minute cut for the WITNESS series will be broadcast worldwide on Al Jazeera English from Sunday 19 July at the following times GMT: Sunday 14:00; Monday 06:00 and 19:00; Tuesday 03:00.

An award-winning documentary

UPSTREAM BATTLE just received the Grand Jury Prize in the Environmental Film category at the Santa Cruz Film Festival. Previously, this documentary won the OSCE-sponsored Human Rights Award in Kosovo, Best Environmental Film at a Czech festival, and a Second Place in Alaska. Also, UPSTREAM BATTLE was one of four films nominated for the Al Gore Reel Current Award. The former Vice President himself watched these four documentaries.

> See the list of all screenings

MEDIA ALERT: Agreement on removal of Klamath dams

Warren Buffett's PacifiCorp just signed an "agreement in principle" with the federal and state governments which is aimed at the removal of all four dams on the Klamath River in 2020.

> Read the "historic announcement" by the Secretary of the Interior.
> Watch Governor Schwarzenegger's press conference.
> Read a press release by tribes, farmers, and fishermen (PDF).

North American Premiere in Toronto

> Ben Kempas wrote for the TIFF Doc Blog.
> MEDIA ALERT: PacifiCorp reacts to UPSTREAM BATTLE.
> Read the press coverage (posted on Facebook®).