EXCLUSIVE: A river runs through the new documentary The American Southwest – the iconic Colorado.
The vital waterway, which extends through seven U.S. states and two states in Mexico across its nearly 1,500-mile expanse, is considered sacred by many Indigenous tribes. “It is a symbolization of the lifeblood of Mother Earth,” Autumn Gillard, a member of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, has said.
Fin and Fur Films, in association with NativesOutdoors, today released the official trailer for the film directed by Ben Masters and narrated by land protector, Indigenous model, and climate justice advocate Quannah ChasingHorse. Watch it above. The American Southwest open theatrically on September 5 in multiple venues, including AMC, Harkins, Regal, and others across the southwest region — with showings in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Texas, and Colorado. Select screenings will feature community engagement opportunities, educational programming, and Q&As with conservationists, Indigenous leaders, and the filmmaking team.
“The documentary takes audiences on an expedition from the Colorado River’s headwaters to its historic delta, highlighting both charismatic species—like beavers, elk, and jaguars—and the diverse human relationships with the river over millennia,” notes a description of the film. “Alongside its vivid portrayal of desert biodiversity, the film boldly addresses water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of a warming climate.”
Masters’ credits include The River and the Wall (winner of the Louis Black/Lone Star Award at SXSW), and Deep in the Heart. He trained in wildlife biology at Texas A&M University before founding Fin and Fur Films.
“The American Southwest is a love letter to the landscapes and wildlife that have shaped me,” Masters said in a statement. “It’s my best attempt to inspire audiences to conserve, protect, and rewild the region’s ecosystems and the Colorado River. This is a social nature film, one that confronts the challenges of the West while offering a vision of restoration and hope.”
Quannah ChasingHorse (Han Gwich’in and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota) has appeared on screen in Reservation Dogs and stars in the 2025 short Thin Places.
“Being asked to narrate this film—to lend my voice to the Colorado River, its tributaries, the life it nourishes, and the people who have stewarded it for generations—is such a huge honor,” ChasingHorse commented. “Showcasing how essential Indigenous voices are when telling these stories means everything to me. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this wildly beautiful and inspiring film, knowing the impact it will have on those who already love The American Southwest—and those who are just beginning to experience it.”
The documentary was developed in collaboration with NativesOutdoors. Producer Len Necefer, Ph.D. (Diné), and his team “helped shape the storytelling and cinematography to reflect a deep respect for the cultural and ecological richness of the region,” according to a release, “as well as the urgency of the film’s message.”
“The issues facing the Colorado River are not isolated—they’re a preview of what’s unfolding around the world,” Necefer said. “Freshwater systems are under pressure globally, but what’s happening in the Southwest offers a test case: when we give ecosystems the chance to heal, they respond. Stewardship is a choice, and The American Southwest shows us we still have the power to choose wisely.”
The Fin and Fur Films production Deep in the Heart, narrated by Matthew McConaughey, was independently distributed, released exclusively in McConaughey’s native Texas, and earned nearly $500,000 at the box office.
The American Southwest will be released on digital platforms later in the fall. Watch the trailer above.
