Screening Information

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Start Time: 10:33 AM
Runtime: 17 minutes
Location: Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center
50 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201

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Film Description

Bears in Hot Tubs is a poetic and emotionally resonant short film that follows Maddie Bear and her wild kin as they navigate the suburban landscapes of Los Angeles. From soaking in backyard hot tubs to wandering through neighborhood gardens, these black bears move through human environments with curiosity, intelligence, and quiet grace. Rather than portraying wildlife as intruders, the film invites viewers to see these animals as neighbors adapting to a world reshaped by human development. Through intimate imagery and observational storytelling, the film reflects on the possibilities of coexistence and shared life between humans and wildlife.

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Director:

Claire Musser is a filmmaker, environmental photographer, and Executive Director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project. Her work explores relationships between humans and wildlife through collaborative storytelling and visual media. Her research focuses on co-thriving between humans and large carnivores, and she has led coexistence projects with wolves throughout the western United States. Bears in Hot Tubs was co-created with Maddie Bear of Monrovia, California, whose presence and movements helped shape the film’s narrative and perspective.