GOSHEN — The annual River Bend Film Festival will return to Goshen from May 2 to 4. This year, the cinematic showcase coincides with the city’s downtown First Friday celebration.

Goshen’s May First Friday theme is “Taste of Goshen” and will include a variety of international-themed food vendors.

The film festival kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the Goshen Theater, with a showing of “Don’t Be Nice,” a film about five African-American, Afro-Hispanic and queer poets. The movie will be followed by a Q&A session with producer Nikhil Melnechuk on the theater stage. Admission is $12 or a festival pass.

The film festival will feature multiple appearances by Rudy Love and the Love Family. A “funkumentary” about The Love Family titled “This Is Love” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, at The Goshen Theater. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Rudy Love and Shawn Rhodes. Admission is $12 or a festival pass.

Additionally, Rudy Love and The Love Family will be in concert at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at The Goshen Theater. Tickets cost $20 and are available online or at the Goshen Theater ticket office. At 2 p.m. May 4, there will be a listening party featuring Rudy Love and Rhodes at the downtown venue Ignition Music Garage. Admission is $12 or a festival pass.

At 2 p.m. Friday, May 3, award-winning makeup artist Sarah Elizabeth will be at Art House leading a workshop titled “Makeup for Film” The workshop focus will be on fantasy creature creation. Elizabeth is a Goshen native and Goshen College graduate. Admission is by festival pass only.

A conversation with artist Robert Townsend is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Art House downtown.

The public is also invited to enjoy a Taste of Goshen from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 3, in the 100 block of East Washington Street.

For more information about this and other upcoming local events, visit downtowngoshen.com.