Black Bear Film Festival 2007 in Milford, Pennsylvania

The eighth annual Black Bear Film Festival was held in Milford recently and what a turn out they experienced. With films being shown in the main theater as well as in the Salon and at Envirofest, there were plenty of films to entice a film fanatic.

This year was the first year that Envirofest was held at the Grey Towers National Historic Site and it was a big hit with all movie goers. There were three film areas at Envirofest and a trolley car took people to and from Envirofest and the main theater. Envirofest took place on Sunday only.

On Saturday, children films were played for children of all ages. That was a special treat for families in the area.

The Black Bear Film Festival's mission is to "support innovative and independent films while recognizing Pike County's history as the birthplace of the American conservation movement." The films that were showcased at Envirofest were all free to anyone that wanted to enjoy them. All of these films were environmentally friendly films.

A first year volunteer at Envirofest, said "I saw a lot of people come through and a lot of them were families with children. I saw all ages but not many teenagers." Envirofest co-coordinator, said "The leap to Grey Towers has been a good move for us with a free trolley ride to and from the theater. This is our first year here and attendance has been wonderful."

One of the featured Envirofest movies this year was "Nature's Keepers", which was shot entirely in Pike County. This was a director's cut film and is still in production with a release date late next year. The film focuses on wildlife and Pike County environmental issues. It also features Milford shopping and outdoor activities as well. The film states, "This way of life is under great pressure." It also sent the message that Pike County is the fastest growing county in all of Pennsylvania. Much of Pike County land is protected but many developers are winning that battle. Development shrinks habitat and that is a concerning problem. The film features the many passionate people of Pike County coming together to help and they are considered the nature's keepers.

Tables were set up on the ground of Grey Towers by different area environmental organizations. Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, PEEC, National Park Service- Upper Delaware, Gifford Pinchot Audubon Society, Lackawaxen River Conservancy, the shops of Milford, PA, The Eagle Institute, Delaware Highlands Conservancy, and Pike Conservation Partnership were all in attendance. Grey Towers Heritage Association, Delaware Valley Eagle Alliance and Michael Gadomski Photography also had tables set up with information.

Miss Pike County, Caitlan Vill was in attendance to help kick off a few movies. "This was my first time here and the event was great. It was very informative and fun for all who attended. I really enjoyed the day." Vill said.

The trolley ride to and from the Grey Towers and the main theater was a big hit for many families. It was free transportation from Golden Carriage Limited of Hopatcong, NJ. Driver, Al, said "There is so much activity going on. It is a very nice event and the weather turned out to be great for the day." The children that attended the festival loved the trolley ride especially.

Each year, the film festival hosts a bear photography contest. This year's winner, a resident of Dingman's Ferry, also won in 2005. She said, "We happen to have a lot of bears in our neighborhood. I carry my camera everywhere I go and I keep my distance." Her photo was displayed in the silent auction tent right outside of the main theater.

During Saturday's events, movie goers got a special treat. A bear was stuck in a tree in downtown Milford for a good part of the day. Many flocked around to see the live bear at the Black Bear Film Festival. It seemed as if he knew what was going on and wanted to be a part of the action. It took a while to get him down since there were so many onlookers but he did eventually leave the tree, unharmed and moved along with his life. What a treat for those in the right place at the right time.

Businesses along Rt. 209 in downtown Milford all benefit from the festival with added business. Jorgenson's Deli saw extra business, especially on Saturday. All of the shops along the main road also saw extra customers. Something that is welcomed by all.

A featured film at the free film Salon, outside of the main theater was Ghost Waters. Director Nick Patrick and Associate Producer/actress, Aimee Lacy were on hand to promote the film as well as answer any questions that viewers had. Patrick is a native of Sussex County. They passed out free DVD's of the movie trailer to entice viewers. Lacy said, "The film tells the story of such an important part of history. Hearing the story from people involved in it is just amazing." The movie is surrounding the Tock's Island events on the Delaware River. The movie is still a work in progress, about half way through with production. Once it is completed, the movie will be donated to area schools and libraries to educate our children on the history of the area.

The film was shown at the Dusty Film Festival in NY and was nominated for best documentary and won for best editing. Patrick is well known in the NY community for working on a lot of small independent films. He hopes that this one will be completed in the near future and educate as many as possible.

The Black Bear Film Festival is one of Milford's biggest events each year. It brings awareness to the Pike County area as well as entertainment for all film fans. All ages can enjoy the festival and are encouraged to take part in it each year. For more information, go to www.blackbearfilm.com .