Panels + Workshops

Check out the amazing panels and workshops of New Bedford Film Festival 2026.

Details of each can be found below!

Friday 4/10

GALLERY X

  • Curious about what goes through a judge’s mind when they’re watching and scoring your film? Join our panel of NBFF community judges as they discuss what they’ve witnessed while reviewing festival submissions.

    Discover the most common missteps filmmakers make, the qualities that can earn your project a higher score, and practical tips for optimizing your FilmFreeway profile to stand out from the competition. We’ll also dive into the role of cover letters, should you send one, and what should it say?

    Bring your questions and get inside access to the judging process!

    Panelists:

    John Vasconcellos

    Pamela Jayne Morgan

    Leigh Anne West

    Selena Mars

    Elizabeth Escobar

  • Presented By Joy Walsh

    Born and raised in New York with Barbadian roots, Joy is a dedicated visual storyteller holding a BA in Film Production from CUNY Brooklyn.

    In this session, Joy brings her expertise as a producer to the table, sharing practical techniques and insider tips to help you streamline your next film project and ensure a successful shoot from start to finish.

  • Moderated By: Selena Mars

    Join us for an engaging panel where selected filmmakers share their experiences working with actors, offering insider tips, techniques, and advice for building strong director-actor relationships.

    Hear firsthand from actors as well, as they discuss what helps them feel supported, creative, and comfortable on set.

    Panelists:

    Rachel Kordell (“Mori”)

    Mike Pratt & Rachelle A. Dermer (“The House of the Seven Gable”)

    Marco Aguirre (“Blue”)

    Curtis Reid (“Listening In”)

    About Selena:

    Selena Mars is an award-winning actor, producer and musician whose credits include American Horror Story and Abel Ferrara's 444 Last Day on Earth. Her Grammy nominated single Perfect Storm features The Tennessee Three (Johnny Cash).

169 William St,

New Bedford, MA 02740

Saturday 4/20

GALLERY X

169 William St,

New Bedford, MA 02740

  • Presented By: Dan Goldsmith

    Join colorist Dan Goldsmith to explore the core concepts of color grading! The workshop will review the hardware, software, and calibration needed to have a color-accurate workflow, as well as the importance of setting up your grading environment and proper monitor calibration.

    The class will then head into DaVinci Resolve, where Dan will do a live grading demonstration and discuss LUTS, color management, scopes, and workflow. Following that, the floor will be open for a Q&A session.

  • Moderated By: Ethan de Aguiar

    Select filmmakers discusses how they brought a specific subject to life in their documentary shorts or film narratives.

    Panelists:

    Derick Lozano-Walker (“A Peanut in Palm Beach”)

    Michael Grasela (“Killing Kilamanjaro”)

    Joe Berkeley (“The Last Islander”)

    Eli Sherman, Tim White (“The Last Don of Providence”)

    Caleb Tobin (“Through Their Lenses”)

    Julien Elliot (“After the Reading”)

    About Ethan: A self-proclaimed “ARTrepreneur” & New Bedford native, Ethan de Aguiar is an experienced filmmaker, with a laser focus on the art of storytelling. He brings the essence of the subject matter to life with cinematic visuals that create a unique experience for audiences.

  • *** HOSTED AT SHIMMER (187 Union St, New Bedford, MA)

    Moderated By: Miriam Olken

    Join us in celebrating female-driven narratives with this inspiring panel of storytellers! We will learn about the women behind these stories, why they chose the topic of their film, their experiences throughout the process, and their vision for the project's future.

    At the end of the discussion, there will be time for an audience-led Q&A.

    Panelists:

    Rachelle A. Dermer (“Galilee”)

    Ali Kenner Brodsky (“Your Love: Beside Me”)

    Bridgette Cannell (“Shift”)

    Kristen Semedo (“Vermin”)

    Gwenn Hope (“Daydream”)

    Kira DeLand (“A Trapdoor”)

    Kateryna Sazonova (“2389: Coming Home”)

    About Miriam: Miriam is a film worker in film, tv and commercials in Boston/New England and has worked on dozens of studio and independent film sets. She also writes and directs short films usually in the horror comedy genre. Her work has screened at many film festivals including Shawna Shea, Boston Underground, Boston Scifi, Grrl Haus and NH Film Festival.

187 Union St

New Bedford, MA, 02740

SHIMMER (3:30pm - 5:00pm Panel Only)

Sunday 4/21

GALLERY X

169 William St,

New Bedford, MA 02740

  • Presented By: Rob Houllahan

    Owner of the company Cinelab Boston, located in New Bedford, Rob oversees one of the few labs left in America that develop motion film and will share the experience of working with 22 mm film.Panelists:

    About Rob: A product of Providence public schools and a blend of cultures, I run Cinelab in New Bedford, one of the few full-service motion picture labs in the U.S. With roots in Westchester, NY and Olneyville, RI, I write, direct, and shoot on everything from Super 8 to modern digital, working across mediums from interviews to VFX.

  • Presented By: Vincente DiSanti

    Looking for inspiration to fund your next creative project? You’ve found it with this engaging and honest panel discussion about film financing. Our panelists will discuss their strategies for independent film funding. We will end the session with an audience-led Q&A.

    About Vincente: Vincente DiSanti is an award winning director, writer, and producer who created Womp Stomp Films in 2016, He is best known for his directorial work on Never Hike Alone (2017), Imagine (2018), Disappear (2019), Never Hike in the Snow (2020) and Never Hike Alone 2 (2023).