Official Selections Speak

  • “This is the first festival we have been accepted to and it is an honor!”

    — Harrison Chinchar, Status: Addicted

  • “Absolutely so thrilled to see my film based on New Bedford at the Film Festival! A true dream come true.”

    — Julia Harley Francisco-Simoes, Widow’s Peak

  • “We're thrilled that Or, The Whale is coming to the whaling city - thanks so much for having us!”

    — Mark Kiefer, Or the Whale

  • “I'm thrilled that "East Coast Aquarela" will be part of the New Bedford Film Festival!.”

    — Viktor Herrmann, East Coast Aquarela

  • “I am honored and blessed to have been chosen and be part of such an amazing event. I won't take this moment for granted.”

    — Rulx Noel, Forever Twins

  • “I'm beyond grateful to the New Bedford Film Festival for selecting me and giving me the opportunity to be able to share personal stories to an audience of creative and talented individuals.”

    — Jake Tollman, Better Than Me

  • “I am excited to be selected for the first New Bedford Film Festival. It’s great to see such a well run event happen locally and I’m excited to see all the talented filmmakers it attracts.”

    — Gary Lawrence, Backyard Pilots

  • “We are thrilled that are magical series LUNA, THE WITH is an official selection in this festival's inaugural year. We are excited to be part of the NBFF's origin story.”

    — Seth Chitwood, Luna the Witch

  • “I am thrilled to be a part of the inaugural New Bedford film festival. I grew up on the coast and feel a strong connection to the New England sea shore. I can’t wait to come see the other films selected in this solid program.”

    — Chris Lang, The Blackened Charte

  • “The "Truth" is out. I am delighted that my animated short, "Truth Detector," will be part of the New Bedford Film Festival for the first time ever. It is an honor to be among all the films selected for this special event.”

    — William Reliford, Truth Detector

  • “Incredibly grateful to be included! The film was made possible by networking through both educational institutions and local area talent. To have it play in the area it was created is a real honor. Very excited!”

    — Tommy Whalen, Impunity

  • “It’s an honor and it’s humbling being selected because it makes me know people have enjoyed my team and I’s work. Thank you, New Bedford Film Festival for selecting Pickles for your inaugural festival!!”

    — Ben Vasion, Pickles

  • “So happy to have been selected for the inaugural New Bedford Film Festival. Their passion and love for cinema really comes through in everything they do. Honored to be a part of it and can't wait for April!”

    — Dylan Gary, The Uniform

  • “I'm very excited to have my debut feature Scrap screen in New Bedford's inaugural festival! My favorite festivals are ones like these -- well-curated, small, independent, and run by passionate film-lovers!”

    — Vivian Kerr, Scrap

  • “What started out as journal entry with no intention of going beyond the shelved diary, has shown in screens all over the US. We are grateful for all the love and support of our little short that could.”

    — Samantha Valletta, Earth Day

  • “How exciting to be screening at the Inaugural Year of the New Bedford Film Festival. Can't wait to screen our pilot to the New Bedford audience in a town that is known for its Art and Cultural Vibes! Thank You for this honor!”

    — Carol Ann DeMarco, Pickleball is Life: Dill with It!

  • “I'm honored that "we were whales" was chosen to be be screened during NBFF. I hope it will inspire viewers to imagine themselves as whales, and whales as people, for our fates and outcomes are inextricably entwined.”

    — Elaine Alder, We Were Whales

  • “Thank you for selecting Barbette + Fontaine for your inaugural year. Our main mission when we decided to make this documentary was to share the stories of these two drag icons. You're helping us do that. We appreciate it.”

    — John-Carlos Estrada, Barbette + Fontaine

  • “Being selected in this festival is a source of pride for us also because it means having the possibility of bringing an experimental concept of animation, where almost dreamlike images are added to a psychological plot.”

    — Wasan Hayajneh, Electra Wasp

  • “I'm eagerly anticipating the film festival and deeply grateful for selecting my documentary. I can't wait to showcase how the power of music can profoundly impact people. Thank you for this opportunity to share my passion with others.”

    — Derek Boyd, The Rebirth

  • “I'm honored that my family's documentary, that I filmed at 16, and later edited at 17, was selected for the first ever New Bedford Film Festival. Ever since I made this my mission has been to share my family's story and my Uncle's memory.”

    — Mackenzie McCree, The Fall of 1985

  • “Now is the perfect time for the New Bedford Film Festival to begin, and I am honored to be a part of its inaugural year. I'm thrilled to meet talent from across the world, to enjoy each others work, and to further strengthen the film scene here in New England.”

    — Alyssa Botelho, To Dust All Return

  • “I'm so excited to participate in the inaugural New Bedford Film Festival! Especially because our series is queer-themed, and you are the first non-exclusively queer-themed festival to accept us. We are grateful for the kind recognition!”

    — Frank Arthur Smith, Open to It

  • “I’m so beyond thankful for the opportunity to share my passion with others. This was the first big project I had tackled in a while so it is surreal to think that something I made on my own was considered good enough. It reaffirms the message of the film: that I’m still capable of creating art.”

    — Adam Marashio, What Next?

  • “It's an honor to be selected and included with so many great filmmakers. Our team is looking forward to attending the festival and being part of this inaugural event. We can't wait to join such a vibrant artistic community! Our deepest thanks for including our film.”

    — Robert Mattson, The Clunker

  • "We are thrilled to be included among the outstanding filmmakers honored by the New Bedford Film Festival. The experience has been world class, up to and including the amazing selection announcement video. We're looking forward to attending what we know will be a memorable event."

    — John Martin, Perpetual

  • “Being selected to be a part of such a monumental event in the city's history is something that I personally hold near and dear. The New Bedford Film Festival isn't just another film festival, but a chance to expand the rich creative community that we're already so proud of.”

    — Ryan Nunes, After The Beep

  • “The cast and crew of The Lost Weekend is excited to partake in the inaugural year of the New Bedford Film Festival! As a south shore MA native myself, it is exciting to see the city of New Bedford spotlight storytellers from across the globe and provide hands on resources for local filmmakers to excel in their craft.”

    — Charlie Norton, The Lost Weekend

  • “As local, Massachusetts filmmakers, our team is very excited and honored to be selected to the New Bedford Film Festival. We are especially grateful the women featured in our film and their stories will be shared with a wider audience. We look forward to discussing the film with your community!”

    — Dr. Karen Turner, Even the Women Must Fight

  • “I am thrilled beyond words to have my film selected for the first run of this festival! The local independent film community is full of heart and excitement for art that otherwise would be missed by so many. I'm so excited to participate in what I hope becomes a long-standing pillar of the indie film community!”

    — Julia Tutko-Balena, Fortune Teller

  • “We're honored to be included in the inaugural New Bedford Film Festival! It's a dream to screen our project in the city we filmed in. From the beginning, The Whalehouse and the energy of New Bedford was an inspiration for the story. I'm thrilled to bring our cast and crew back for this joyous celebration of independent film!”

    — Carley Byers, Don’t Fall From Grace

  • “I'm excited that my new, adopted hometown has its own film festival, and one that will help bring exposure and recognition to area filmmakers, as well as those from other places. I'm doubly excited that a song and video I poured my heart and soul into was selected for the very first New Bedford Film Festival.”

    — Scott Bishop, Polaroid Dreams

  • “The New Bedford Light is honored to participate in the New Bedford Film Festival, first of all because the festival highlights our community. It also gives us the opportunity to share the important journalism that we do to a broader audience. Our work on this documentary gave a voice to those vulnerable in our community who otherwise would have none.”

    — Eleonora Bianchi, One Step At A Time

  • “It is a true privilege to be an Official Selection at the inaugural NBFF. I grew up in Fall River - just 20 minutes from New Bedford - and two of our locations were in Massachusetts, so this is like a hometown festival for us! It's exciting to share our film and its story with our local community. Bravo to the NBFF for bringing the festival experience to the Southcoast in Massachusetts!!”

    — Pamela Jayne Morgan, The Principal’s Assembly

  • “I'm thrilled that my short film has been chosen for the first-ever New Bedford Film Festival. As a filmmaker with experience in previous festivals, this selection reminds me again of far I can go as a creative as I currently plan out my bachelor's thesis film. As well how people are interested in seeing what I have to offer as a storyteller. I look forward to sharing my film and getting my name out there to new audiences.”

    — Inaki Amechazurra, Mimic

  • “What an incredible honor. For many years, I worked as the head chef in a local restaurant in Newport, RI. However, I made the decision to return to school to pursue something different, and being recognized by this festival marks a significant milestone for me. I am sincerely grateful for your consideration and eagerly anticipate viewing all of the submissions as my schedule permits. Thank you immensely.”

    — Alex Haggert, Burning of the Mishoon

  • “I am absolutely excited for "Monsters Within" to be a part of the inaugural NBFF! My sister Daniella, who has Down syndrome, plays my character's sister in our feature film. She is my biggest inspiration in life, and I'm so excited for the audience to see her impact. We are an independent horror/drama film that had such an amazingly talented cast/crew from Oklahoma and Texas. So excited to showcase what we made!”

    — Devin Montgomery, Monsters Within

  • “Honored to be selected for the inaugural edition of the NBFF. We circled New Bedford as one of our film fest dream scenarios…so our dream has come true! The city holds a special place in the heart of Adam P. Cray. Though Adam grew up in Westport, he got his filmmaking start in the late 1990’s by producing the feature length trilogy, MUTE ELATION in New Bedford and surrounding areas. We are both beyond excited!”

    — Alberto G. Rodriguez, Where the Dead Go

  • “As a young student in film, I want to express my gratitude in being a part of the inaugural year of the New Bedford Film Festival. It's truly an honor to be included in an exciting new venture of the festival scene, and I am thrilled to contribute to the blossoming art network of New Bedford. Thank you for this incredible opportunity to share my work with the audience. I am deeply appreciative of your recognition and support!”

    — Shannon Doyle, Onset

  • “The “Woman Rising” film's inclusion in the festival lineup is a powerful endorsement of its narrative that deeply inspires change and action through storytelling. This is an incredible opportunity for "Woman Rising" to engage a wider audience, sparking essential discussions on human rights, women's empowerment, and the significant impact of community support in overcoming tremendous challenges.”

    — Matilde Simas, Woman Rising

  • “The Berlin Equity Action Team is thrilled to have our film “The 29th Connecticut” participate in the inaugural New Bedford Film Festival. Our film’s theme of emancipation seems like a natural fit with the Abolitionist movement in New Bedford and is a key reason we chose this festival. We’re excited about the networking and workshop opportunities and hope to broaden our reach by telling this remarkable true Black History story about heroes from Connecticut’s early African-American community.”

    — Chris Barlow, The 29th Connecticut