The Paper Bear, a feature-length film and conservation initiative by The Paper Bear nonprofit, the film combines live-action wilderness footage with 2D animation to explore Florida’s ecosystems through the eyes of a father and son on a journey to find the Florida black bear. As they travel, stories shared around the campfire transform into animated sequences that offer a unique perspective on the region’s biodiversity. The film features rare, close-up footage of wild Florida black bears in their natural habitat, captured by Zalace, who spent over two and a half years documenting their behavior in the field. Informative and accessible for all ages, The Paper Bear encourages audiences to connect with nature and better understand the importance of conservation.
SYNOPSIS
Deep in the wild forests of Florida’s Panhandle, a father and son embark on a journey that neither expected. Tasked with tracking a rare female black bear, the father brings along his screen-obsessed son—who suddenly finds himself cut off from the digital world when cell reception fades. Stranded together for a week in the backcountry, the boy is drawn into his father’s nightly storytelling, spun from an old family journal passed down through generations. As campfire tales of vanished worlds, ghostly legends, and ancestral secrets begin to blur with the mysteries of the forest itself, the boy slowly awakens to a deeper connection—with nature, with his family’s heritage, and with the black bears that still roam the pines. But when an unforgettable encounter with the wild changes everything, he must decide what kind of legacy he wants to carry forward.
About The Paper Bear
The Paper Bear is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the natural beauty and biodiversity of Northwest Florida through storytelling, film, and education. Through a blend of creative media, community engagement, and science-based advocacy, the nonprofit aims to inspire a deeper connection to nature and mobilize support for conservation efforts. Learn more at www.thepaperbear.org or follow us on Instagram at @ThePaperBearFilm.