Wildcat Mansion, the historic 24-acre Franklin estate owned by Jon Bernstein, is gaining recognition as a destination for filmmakers and other creative entrepreneurs. Most recently, Wildcat Mansion earned Best Production Design at the 2026 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project for its role in A Shot in the Dark, which received First Place for Best Film.

The estate’s distinctive architecture, artistic flair, and one-of-a-kind atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for the award-winning production, helping bring the filmmakers’ vision to life.

It’s exciting to see a Venango County business recognized on such a creative stage.

Congratulations to Jon and everyone at Wildcat Mansion on this well-deserved honor!

This article was published the Venango Chamber’s July 2026 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.