The Longest Continuously-Running Film Festival in Northeast Pennsylvania!

Opening Night Documentary Continues To Make a Large Splash

For more than 200 years, the Borough of Milford, a small county seat in northeast Pennsylvania, venerated Tom Quick Jr., who was in 1733 the first white child born in the region. Quick was famous for having murdered Delaware (Lenni Lenape) Indians in the upper Delaware River Valley, after having witnessed his father’s death at the hands of the Lenape.

Now, Mayor of Milford, Pennsylvania Sean Strub, Director Christopher King and Associate Producer Daniel Strongwalker Thomas Present ‘Burying the Hatchet: The Tom Quick Story,’ about how one majority-white community comes to terms with its violence past as a means to grow, march forward into the future, and heal.

That’s a Wrap! Thank You For Making the 25th Anniversary Black Bear Film Festival a Massive Hit!

Access the Main Stage, Salon, and Ticketing Schedules Below!

Join Us for the Silver Anniversary Festival at the Opening Night Silver & Black Gala and Film Premiere!

Announcing our Opening Night Film

Burying The Hatchet: The Tom Quick Story

Produced by Sean Strub

Written and Directed by Christopher King

Associate Producer, Daniel Strongwalker Thomas 

For more than 200 years, the Borough of Milford, a small county seat in northeast Pennsylvania, venerated Tom Quick Jr., who was in 1733 the first white child born in the region. Quick was famous for having murdered Delaware (Lenni Lenape) Indians in the upper Delaware River Valley, after having witnessed his father’s death at the hands of the Lenape.

In the decades following, Tom Quick became part of local lore, lionized in books, articles, songs and on stage. In 1889, an eight-foot zinc obelisk monument was erected in Milford in his honor. Over time, the monument increasingly became a point of deep conflict and re-evaluation, especially in recent years. 

This new documentary puts history in context and tells the fascinating story of how the community of Milford sought to redress an ugly chapter in history. It began with Milford’s Mayor, Sean Strub, who reached out to the leadership of the Lenni Lenape tribes that had been dislocated from their Milford homeland in the late 18th century and invited them to discuss how this history could be responsibly addressed.

Burying The Hatchet: The Tom Quick Story is about how one largely white community and disenfranchised tribal leaders worked together to reconcile the past and forge a shared path forward to reestablish a Lenape presence in Lenapehoking, their original land, based on trust, friendship and an inspiring and healing vision of the future.

Don’t Miss Out on Meeting Black Bear’s 2024 Celebrity Guest: Illeana Douglas!

A special announcement from long-time Black Bear Film Festival personality and board member John DiLeo outlining the Black Bear Film Festival Classic Film Screening and actress Illeana Douglas’ special guest appearance, highlighting her family’s storied legacy in Hollywood as well as her vibrant career!

To access all of Black Bear’s film events and to receive a copy of Illeana Douglas’ book Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream Houses to Dark Suburbia, purchase a silver pass below!

The 2024 Artful Bears Make a Splash!

Check out all of the BBFF 2024 Artful Bears in town! With large crowds and a memorable event, the bears received a welcoming ovation!

The Silent Auction will open Saturday, October 19 at 10:00am and close Sunday, October 20th at 12pm at the festival tent at the Milford Theater!

View each bear at the link below!

Come See the Artful Bears!

After their debut at the Community House on Saturday, August 24th, the Artful Bears will be placed at locations throughout Milford for the public to enjoy.

If you miss the debut, the Artful Bear map will be available at the Community House and below.

25 Years of Friendship and Community!

We danced, we dined, we had a grand old time celebrating 25 years of friendship & community!

For more pics and videos of this party, join our email list. It’s the only way to keep up with all the news and excitement as the Silver Anniversary Festival approaches!

Follow this link to join our email list!

http://eepurl.com/goAus1

ALL-ACCESS SILVER PASS AVAILABLE NOW 

$225.00 until full program is announced, includes a copy of Connecticut In The Movies written by this year’s guest - Illeana Douglas!

Save on entrance to all film events with a Silver Pass on Eventgroove:

Celebrity Appearance at BBFF 2024

Illeana Douglas

Actor, Author, and Filmmaker, Illeana Douglas, will be our special guest at this year's 25th annual Black Bear Film Festival.

The granddaughter of two-time Oscar-winning actor Melvyn Douglas, Illeana has excelled in movies (CAPE FEAR, TO DIE FOR), on television (SEINFELD, SIX FEET UNDER), and in print (I BLAME DENNIS HOPPER). Her latest book is CONNECTICUT IN THE MOVIES: FROM DREAM HOUSES TO DARK SUBURBIA.

Choose a new level of Patron’s Den Membership for the exclusive opportunity to join Illeana Douglas for cocktail hour and much more!

We Are Now Welcoming Sponsors To Our 25th Anniversary Black Bear Film Festival!

Each October, for over two decades, Black Bear Film Festival attracts thousands of film lovers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts to the charming and historic Milford, PA, nestled along the Delaware river in the eastern part of the Pocono Mountains.

Join us as we screen local, national and international films on the Main Stage or at our Salon, spreading joy and building community through film.

*Video footage courtesy of Pocono Tourism