Mtn Craft Film Festival returns to Clarksburg — Free to attend thanks to title sponsors

PRESS RELEASE

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — October 2026 — The Mtn Craft Film Festival returns to the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center in Clarksburg on the 2nd – 4th, bringing together filmmakers, artists, and audiences from across the region for a celebration of Appalachian storytelling. Thanks to title sponsors Deal Solver by Bid Lightning and Coat of Arms, this year’s festival will be free to attend.

Founded in 2023, The Mtn Craft Film Festival showcases films made by Appalachian filmmakers, shot in Appalachia, or reflecting the region’s distinct heritage. The festival has grown into a signature cultural event for North Central West Virginia, supported by venue partner Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center and fiscal sponsor the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County.

At the heart of this year’s festival are 39 short films submitted by filmmakers from across the region, which will screen over two days (Friday and Saturday). At the end of the festival, audiences can hear directly from the winning filmmakers during a live Winners Q&A session on stage.

The festival will also feature an on-site art gallery, Frameworks, curated by Betsy Spellman. The gallery showcases still frames from the submitted short films, printed and displayed as standalone works of art.

Additional programming includes the annual Heritage Screening, a Sunday tradition honoring an Appalachian filmmaker through a special screening and live panel discussion. This year’s Heritage Screening will honor the late Danny Boyd. The Mtn Craft Film Festival will also host five workshops led by Appalachian creatives, covering topics such as pitching your film for funding, animation workflows, making projects happen on low budgets, and more.

Rounding out the festival experience, Short Story Brewing returns as the official beer sponsor with the festival’s signature IPA, Audience Choice, while Almost Heaven Deserts joins as the official coffee and food vendor.

“The goal this year was to make the festival free, and we did it! This reduces hurdles for the community at large to have access to film and the amazingly talented filmmakers the festival brings together. At the end of the day, this event is about the film community and providing a space and a platform for that to flourish,” said Ben, Director of the Mtn Craft Film Festival.