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.
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]
Photo Archive
2023 River Bend Film Festival Sponsors
Charter Audio • Common Spirits • Constant Spring • Daycap • Electric Brew • Elephant Bar • Fairfield Inn • GoDance Studio • Goshen Brewing Company • Goshen Health Foundation • Don and Theresa Gunden • Geof Landis and Liz Gunden • Ignition Music Garage • Inn on South 5th • Jojo's Pretzels • Gordon and Laurie Lord • Maple City Market • Maple Indian Restaurant • Jim and Janet Rieckhoff • Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn • Table @108 • Venturi