New Feature Film Celebrates Natural Wonders and Diversity of 30A
By: Lauren Sage Reinlie | Posted Jan 13, 2022
The Paper Bear shines a light on the stunning biodiversity found in Florida's panhandle.
Filmmaker Arix Zalace had been wading chest-deep up a creek in the panhandle of Florida for about six hours when it really struck him.
He had caught on film plants and animals that could only be found in this particular part of the world. He was witnessing something so precious, so beautiful. And so few people even knew it existed. He felt a swell of pride for the place where he had grown up.
Zalace was collecting footage, as he has been for over a year now, for an upcoming full-length feature film set in the 30A area. The Paper Bear is a coming-of-age story about a father and son and is slated for release sometime in 2022.
The inspiration for the film is the little-known fact that the panhandle of Florida has more biodiversity than anywhere else on the continent, which means a broader range of species of plants and animals call this area home.
Also, some species that live here can’t be found anywhere else on the planet.
