About the River Bend Film Festival

Established in 2002, the River Bend Film Festival originated in South Bend, Indiana, as a collaborative effort by a dedicated team of filmmakers and film enthusiasts. In 2016, the festival relocated to Goshen, Indiana, where its opening season surpassed all previous attendance records, and it has continued to flourish ever since.

The Festival is a four-day event that brings together independent filmmakers in a celebration of cinematic artistry. Each year, the festival showcases between 50 and 75 films spanning various genres, including narrative, documentary, experimental, music video, animation, student, features, and short films. With a focus on promoting local and regional talent, the festival also features films from across the United States and around the world. 

Today, the festival takes place at the historic Goshen Theater, along with seven additional venues in downtown Goshen, showcasing over 80 films from 15 different countries. Through screenings, workshops, and special events featuring industry guests, the River Bend Film Festival has fostered a vibrant community of filmmakers and film lovers for more than two decades.

River Bend Film Festival, Goshen, Indiana
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Festival Facts

  • The festival was founded in 2002 out of South Bend, Indiana.
  • The festival moved to Goshen, Indiana in 2016. The inaugural season in Goshen shattered all previous attendance records, and has been growing ever since.
  • An average of 50 to 75 films are screened at the festival per year.
  • Previous special guests include Academy Award®-winning writer and actress Rachel Shenton (The Silent Child), Academy Award®-winning director Chris Overton (The Silent Child), actress Beth Grant (The Artist, No Country for Old Men, Donnie Darko), screenwriter Wes Jones (Billions, The Brink), writer/director Jim Strouse (The Incredible Jessica James, People Places Things), producer/director Leila Djansi (Like Cotton Twines), and many more.

2023 FESTIVAL PRESS RELEASES

 

– IN THE PRESS –

MEDIA CONTACT

Adrienne Nesbitt
Festival Director
(574) 238-5572
[email protected]

A great place to meet and talk
Photo credit: Grant Beachy
The Goshen Theater
Photo credit: Grant Beachy
On the red carpet!
Photo credit: Grant Beachy
Coffee Talk with filmmakers at Ignition Music
Photo credit: Fabio Santos

2023 River Bend Film Festival Sponsors

Community Foundation of Elkhart CountyFive Core MediaThe Goshen NewsGoshen Theater
Globe Radio 91.1 FMArt HouseCherokee Rose PartnersCity of GoshenEyedart Creative StudioWNIT
Elkhart County CVBMiller PoultryFroggy 102.7Duley PressDon and Theresa GundenGreencroft CommunitiesTom Naquin Auto Group

Charter AudioCommon SpiritsConstant SpringDaycapElectric BrewElephant BarFairfield InnGoDance StudioGoshen Brewing CompanyGoshen Health Foundation • Don and Theresa Gunden • Geof Landis and Liz Gunden • Ignition Music GarageInn on South 5th • Jojo's Pretzels •  Gordon and Laurie Lord • Maple City MarketMaple Indian Restaurant • Jim and Janet Rieckhoff • Shirley's Gourmet PopcornTable @108Venturi

20th Anniversary of the Festival!