EXCLUSIVE : The Shepherd And The Bear , the BFIA nominated documentary about the reintroduction of brown bears in the French Pyrenees, has secured U.S. distribution with Willa , and will be available on the Criterion Channel to stream in spring 2026.

Set in the French Pyrenees, The Shepherd And The Bear explores a conflict provoked by the reintroduction of brown bears in the midst of a traditional shepherding community. The film follows an aging shepherd who struggles to find a successor as bears prey on his flock, and a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with tracking the bears. Deadline praised the film as “unforgettable and visually stunning”.

The U.S. theatrical release will kick off in early 2026 in both theater and non-traditional screening venues in mountain, rural and ag

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