It’s Two Decades and Counting for River Bend Film Festival
Writer & Photographer / Lois Tomaszewski
If you are a film buff or curious about the art of film, Goshen is the place to be in April. The organizers for River Bend Film Festival will celebrate 20 years when this year’s four-day event opens on April 20.
“This is the first in-person event since COVID,” Director Adrienne Nesbitt says. “People are ready for it and are excited about it.”
River Bend Film Festival started in 2002 in South Bend as a celebration of independent filmmaking. It was a one-day event at Indiana University South Bend. It moved to Goshen in 2016. In addition to film screenings, the festival offers workshops, discussions and guests from the film industry.
The move to Goshen has proved successful, Nesbitt says. Attendance quadrupled that first year and organizers are hoping for another increase this year.
The walkability of downtown Goshen and the hospitality of the community are some of the reasons Goshen has proved to be a great place for the festival, she says. Seven locations, including the newly renovated, historic Goshen Theater, are venues for screenings and other events, and all are within easy walking distance from each other.
“The nature of our festival is to focus on our filmmakers and what they do,” Nesbitt says. “We treat everyone with respect. We are glad they are here.”
River Bend accepts all genres of films – narrative, documentary, experimental, music video, animation, student films, features and short films. More than 80 films from 15 countries are included in this year’s lineup.
“Filmmakers are storytellers,” Nesbitt says. “They create a film to tell a story.”
This year’s guests include Mary Chieffo, an actress from the “Star Trek: Discovery” series, and Stephen Susco, a screenwriter and director. He is known for his work on “The Grudge” among other films.
On Thursday, April 20, the first day of the festival, two films will be shown. The first chronicles the story of Goshen’s historic Blosser’s Park. The second tells the story of a Goshen family, the Plauts, who helped save 28 Jews during World War II.
Special to this year’s festival is the screening of the film “Rudy” on Friday, April 21. This year marks the film’s 30th anniversary and it will be attended by several people who were involved in making the film. The showing will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Saturday will include “State of Unity,” a documentary featuring the husband-and-wife band The Bergamot, and their quest to perform in all 50 states in 2016. Along the way, they invited people to sign a message of unity on their car. The documentary has won several awards.
River Bend is a popular event that can be enjoyed by anyone, Nesbitt says. It’s not just for those who are actively making films. She encourages those who have never been to take a chance and see what makes River Bend Film Festival a wonderful event for the community.
“There is something for everyone, even if you want to see one block of short films or attend a workshop,” Nesbitt says. “I hope they come to the theater and hear the stories. People can then see what the experience is like.”
During the pandemic, River Bend Film Festival went virtual. Nesbitt and other organizers are happy it is returning to the in-person format again. Being there allows attendees to share the experience with others and take in the stories being told as a collective.
All River Bend events are ticketed. A 10% discount is offered to students, teachers, seniors and the military. Those attending have a variety of options, from a single event to a four-day, all-inclusive pass.
Volunteers are always needed, Nesbitt says. Volunteers can earn a ticket for each shift they work during the festival.
The festival box office officially opens at noon on Thursday, April 20, with the first event set for 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, the festival begins at 9 a.m. and continues through the entire day.
For more information, visit riverbendfilmfest.com. You can also find information on the festival’s social media pages.
