April 28, 2026

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) filmmakers Jessie Sears, Brandon Swanson and Evan Rodríguez have been honored with a 2026 National Headliner Award for “First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath.” The 30-minute documentary follows a group of Indigenous youth as they kayak the Klamath River from source to sea — the first group to do so after the largest dam removal project in history.

Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards program is one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic excellence. The awards honor journalists, filmmakers, photographers, and creators in print, radio, television and online journalism. The OPB team took third place in the “Local Documentary or Series of Stories on the Same Subject” category.

“Congratulations to Jessie Sears and her team, who went to great lengths to capture on-river footage and interviews for ‘First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath,’” said Jason Potts, OPB senior vice president and chief content officer. “By sharing the emotional, historic, and triumphant journey of a group of Indigenous youth paddlers down the newly restored Klamath River, the film has had a profound impact on a broad cross-section of audiences.”

“First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath,” part of OPB’s “Oregon Field Guide” series, has been viewed more than 240,000 times online, as well as by viewers around the region on OPB TV. The film has increased awareness of the impacts of dams and dam removal – not only on the Klamath River and the wildlife that depend on it, but also on the Indigenous communities that have lived in the Klamath Basin since time immemorial.

“From the first preview screening at OPB, when there wasn’t a dry eye in the room, to a recent sold-out public showing, heartfelt audience reactions have made one thing clear: This story offers a message of hope that resonates far beyond Oregon,” said Aaron Scott, executive producer of “First Descent” and “Oregon Field Guide.”

“First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath” will be shown at the Madras Performing Arts Center on Friday, May 29, in partnership with the Warm Springs Community Action Team. An Ashland, Oregon, screening is planned for July 12-13 in partnership with Southern Oregon University’s Konaway Nika Tillicum. For more information, visit opb.org/events. Schools, nonprofits, film festivals, and other organizations interested in showing the film can contact OPB for details and permission.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/pressroom/opb-filmmakers-garner-a-2026-national-headliner-award/