Journey Down the Gila

JOURNEY DOWN THE GILA is the first full-length film that visually captures the beauty of the Gila River through the 37-mile river run through the Gila Wilderness. The documentary, directed by Albuquerque film maker, David Garcia, tells the story of three local, New Mexico teens, who died in service to the wild places they loved, their mothers’ trip down the river they sought to protect, and the struggle to keep the Gila flowing free.

Four years and multiple river trips in the making, JOURNEY DOWN THE GILA is a lush cinematic, river-level journey down one of America’s great natural treasures. This 90-minute documentary is a love letter to the Gila and a rallying call to protect it.

“My desire is that the river our children held dear will be protected. I want people to see the beauty of the Gila Wilderness through our eyes—and most importantly, through the eyes of our three children,”said, Jennifer Mahl, one of the mothers featured in the film, “Our children can no longer speak for themselves. It is now our duty to carry on their legacy and share their vision with the world. This film is a very effective way of sharing that message.”