LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The mountains and forests of southern West Virginia have become the setting for a medieval fantasy kingdom in an award-winning independent film scheduled to make its world premiere in Lewisburg in December.
The Kingdom of Rexmonte, a $750,000 fantasy comedy written and directed by Rebeccah Crabtree, was filmed partly at the West Virginia Renaissance Festival grounds near Lewisburg, where existing village buildings, stables, and wooded landscapes provided settings for a fictional kingdom threatened by invasion.
“Bringing this sprawling medieval world to life alongside the incredibly welcoming communities in West Virginia and New York has been an unforgettable experience,” Crabtree said. “We can’t wait to share the final vision on the big screen.”
Crabtree, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker with longstanding ties to the Greenbrier Valley, spent considerable time in the region while growing up. In an earlier interview with the West Virginia Daily News, she described the area as a second home and said its mountains, creeks, caves, and scenery helped inspire her decision to film there.
The feature, Crabtree’s directorial debut, has since received honors at the 2026 Los Angeles Film Awards and SoCal Film Awards. Its world premiere is scheduled for December 10 at the Lewis Theatre, with additional screenings December 11 and 12.
Renaissance Festival becomes a film set
The renaissance festival grounds supplied much of the medieval village depicted in the film, including streets, an inn exterior, a knife shop, stables, and an encampment occupied by invading soldiers.
The production also used the surrounding countryside for horseback scenes in which members of the royal family rode to confront the invaders. Greenbrier State Forest provided nighttime woodland settings, while aerial footage captured near Union in neighboring Monroe County helped establish the kingdom’s mountainous landscape.
Local residents participated as extras and helped the filmmakers obtain resources and coordinate production activities, according to earlier reporting.
Additional filming took place in Pennsylvania and New York. Filmmakers shot castle exteriors and sword battles in Altamont, New York, while filming interiors near Lake George. The filmmakers also shot other scenes in Doylestown and Dover, Pennsylvania.
The filmmakers report that the production cost $750,000 and was completed in September 2026.
Six years in development
The 151-minute film follows a fractured royal family forced to confront its differences after an invasion threatens the kingdom. The story combines action and adventure with comedy about the family’s relationships.
Crabtree spent six years developing the screenplay, which initially belonged to a different genre and setting. Although the central characters remained largely unchanged, she eventually decided to place them in a fantasy world influenced by the films and television programs she had enjoyed since childhood.
A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Crabtree cited classic cinema—Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones among her influences.
“One day we’re galloping on a horse through a field in the sunshine, and the next day our horse is stolen by forest goblins,” she wrote in her director’s statement.
The cast includes Maria Alej Alva, David W. Rice, and JeaDa Lay, who portray Sylvie, Prince Frederick Rexmonte, and Princess Monica Rexmonte, respectively.
The film received awards for directing, original story, and fantasy filmmaking at the 2026 Los Angeles Film Awards. It also earned an Award of Excellence for Best Feature Film at the SoCal Film Awards, along with recognition for directing and its original score by composer Hunter Chang.
Lewisburg premiere scheduled for December
The Lewis Theatre will host the world premiere Thursday, December 10, beginning with a red-carpet event at 6 p.m., followed by a screening and question-and-answer session with members of the production.
A second screening and question-and-answer session is scheduled for Friday, December 11, at 7 p.m. A matinee will follow Saturday, December 12, at 2 p.m.
Tickets are listed at $15 for opening night, $13 for Friday, and $12 for Saturday.
Screening details are available on the Lewis Theatre website. The film’s official website includes its trailer and additional production information.
A broader theatrical or streaming release has not been confirmed yet.