Synopsis:

In the context of our current socio-ecological crises, sharing and inspiring actions to restore caring and reciprocal human relationships with water, ecosystems, and all living beings is of utmost importance. Through this film we aim to generate curiosity and inspiration about how people can communicate with rivers — recognizing water bodies as living entities with a soul, a language, and the capacity to communicate.

Central to the documentary are the questions: How may we listen to and understand the messages of rivers? And: How may communicating with rivers shape us and our communities and guide us in healing and in creating sustainable and equitable societies? To explore answers to these questions we are beginning by connecting with local communities including the Lenape nation and grassroots organizations on the river to deep-listen and connect with the river as well as facilitate conversations on water management and care for local waterways.

We believe this project will not only enrich our understanding of human-river communication but also empower individuals to foster deeper connections with their local waterways.

We are documenting our journey as directors (and as humans) reconnecting with the ways we can communicate with rivers, investigating how deep listening to rivers, each other, and the living beings surrounding us can transform individuals, communities, and societies. Our path follows the rivers, and along the way, we have met Chief Chuck, Uma Shelley DePaul, her son Adam Waterbear DePaul, Stone-Bear Acevedo, and many others from the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania. Through their connection with the Delaware River, they are building networks of care, cultural revitalization, and community.

Our film is a living exploration; while the full story continues to emerge, its emotional and spiritual arc centers on relationality and remembrance. For us as filmmakers, this journey has been transformative—we have spent the last two and a half years building a relationship with the Delaware River. This evolving relationship guides us toward hope and action, suggesting a more equitable and reciprocal future with our waterways.

Timeline:

In early 2023, we began a collaboration with Shelley and Adam DePaul of the Lenape Nation. We visited them at Lenape Cultural Center in Easton, PA, engaging in dialogue and listening to their stories. Shortly after, we secured our first grant from The New School, which allowed us to schedule our first shoot in the summer of 2023. We invited the community to kayak a stretch of the Delaware, sharing stories and songs along the way as we captured the day on film. With the footage from this journey, we created the first teaser trailer for this project. During the shoot, we experienced how many deep conversations and relationships were formed by our time on and with the river, and this helped us realize that the rivers are showing us the story of this film. It is the voice of the river, and the places and people that the river takes us to that will guide the development of this film.

In 2024, we secured fiscal sponsorship with UnionDocs and have since raised over $2,000 by crowdfunding through UnionDocs.

In early 2025, we received a grant from Mountain Watershed Alliance, which allowed us to schedule another community kayaking day. We invited the community to kayak and participate in a post-paddle discussion, which we filmed. These conversations and journeys with the river and its people have been guiding us to orient our film towards approaches of healing our relations with ourselves, each other and the rivers, especially in challenging and critical times as we are living today. We are currently continuing to fundraise in the hopes of participating in the Delaware River Journey with the Lenape during the summer of 2026.

If you are interested in financially supporting us as a producer, reach out and we can share the amount options and corresponding producer credits we have available.

 Visit the When the Rivers Speak Website

Find the filmmakers Kayla Franklin and Maria F. Pulido-Velosa on Instagram: @WhentheRiversSpeak   

Facebook: When the Rivers Speak