The 23rd annual Black Bear Film Festival will take place at the Milford Theater from Oct. 14 – 16. The festival will feature local, national and international films. The festival will display eight feature films on the main stage and 39 short films in the film salon at Good Shepard’s Episcopal Church.

     Based in Milford, the Black Bear Film Festival is a non-profit organization that builds community by providing a place for a variety of film artists to display their work. The organization’s website states that the Festival is, “dedicated to spreading joy and building community through film.” 

     The Black Bear Film Festival was started in 2000 by casting director Jerry Beaver with the help of some friends including the mayor of Milford, Sean Strub. Now, around 2,000 to 3,000 people come to Milford each year for the Festival.

     The historic Milford Theater has been the home of the festival since 2011. The festival has brought many traditions to Milford such as the artful bears that can be spotted around local businesses.

     Each year new bear sculptures are decorated and placed outside of local businesses in Milford. Community members can take a photo with one of their favorite bears and post it with the hashtag #artfulbears or #blackbearfilmfestival. The winning photo will receive Black Bear Film Festival swag.