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New Bedford Film Festival presents Sinister Cinema. A celebration of New England's most spine-chilling short films!

Welcome Reception

We invite you to our opening reception! Light snacks and beverages will be available. Browse otherworldy artwork at Gallery X, take a photo at our custom backdrop, and chat with the featured filmmakers. A selection of local vendors and freebies from the films will be offered.

5 PM - 6:30 PM, Gallery X (Main Gallery)

SFX Workshop - TICKETS NEEDED

Have you ever wanted to learn how to create a gnarly scar or wound? Now is your chance! Join us for a hands-on workshop with master SFX artist Paola Cucurullo. ALL experience levels are welcome. In this class, you’ll follow along as Paola walks you through how to create a wound, blood, and all. Wow, friends, at a Halloween party or begin your journey into the SFX movie world!

5 PM - 6 PM, Gallery X (Downstairs Gallery)

Spirit of Halloween | Short Film Block #1

These bone-chilling short films are sure to get you in the Halloween spirit! This block is for thrill seekers whose favorite spot is on the edge of their seats.

Films screening in Spirit of Halloween are:

• Within the Walls

• The Witch on Bridge St

• First Born

• Pictures on the Wall

• Face Off

• Lunar Dark

• Only Me on TV

• Sound of Fear

• Frankenskin

• Sunday Dinner

Filmmaker Q&A to follow.

6:30vPM - 7:30 PM, Gallery X (Main Gallery)

Fright Night | Short Film Block #2

Be prepared to check under your bed tonight. Our Fright Night short film block is screening the best (and scariest) New England horror.

Films screening in Fright Night are:

• Padre Nuestro

• A Grim Descendant

• 44

• The Disappearance of Lara Stanley

• Sleepy Head

• New Born

• The Evil Unleashed

• Ouchie

• Inside the Walls

• The Text

• Writers Block

Filmmaker Q&A to follow.

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Gallery X (Main Gallery)

After-Party at PLAY Aracade

Follow us to PLAY Arcade for an after-party! PLAY is a chocked bar-cade with nostalgic arcade games, craft cocktails, and karaoke. Let's keep the good haunts going!

9:30 PM - 11 PM, PLAY Aracade (34 Union St, New Bedford, MA 02740)

Parking

Street parking is available on William St. for FREE after 6 p.m. Additional parking is available at the City Hall lot next to Steeple Playhouse (on the corner of William St and N 6th St). Only park in metered spots; plaque spots are reserved.

Event Details

Gallery X is handicap accessible. Please let NBFF voulenteer know if you need assistance. Bathrooms avaible on-site.

There may be content shown that is inappropriate/frightening for children. We caution families and encourage anyone to step out if needed.

Nominations are already in, and you’ve seen notable films throughout the festival; now, come witness and celebrate the film achievements of the official selection of the New Bedford Film Festival.

Join the New Bedford Film Festival for an hour of cocktails and networking before the award ceremony. (21+)

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• IMPUNITY | Narrative Short

• WHICH HUNT | Narrative Short

• WHERE THE DEAD GO | Narrative Feature

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• RIDESHARE | TV Series

• A FISH STORY | Narrative Short

• OR, THE WHALE | Narrative Short

• COURAGE | Narrative Short

• REMEMBER ME | Narrative Short

Presented By: Harry McEnerny V

Description:

Experience this exciting introduction to acting with performer, acting coach, and assistant director, Harry McEnery! Learn how to apply your acting talents to film and get a sense of what goes into on-screen acting from both a performance and business perspective. This engaging and interactive workshop will leave you ready to make your on-screen debut!

About Harry:

Harry McEnerny V is a 1st Assistant Director and Acting Coach with 10+ years of experience both on camera and on stage. Before moving behind the scenes, he was a working actor in New York City. During the pandemic, Harry transitioned on set as a Covid Compliance Officer, before switching to working as a 1st AD full time. He’s worked around the world, from New York, to the Caribbean, to Tokyo and China. His talents both behind and in front of the camera make him a multifaceted instructor.

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• THE CLUNKER | Narrative Short

• MONOGAMISH | Narrative Short

• CAST & CREW | Narrative Feature

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• THE LOST WEEKEND | Student Short

• ANTARCTICA | Narrative Feature

Presented By: Ethan de Aguiar

Description:

New Bedford Film Festival founder Ethan De Aguiar will lead a panel discussion with the NBFF ‘24 Best New Bedford Filmmaker nominees. We will discuss each panelist's project in detail, learning how the whaling city has impacted their journey as filmmakers. In addition, the panel will touch upon the legacy of filmmaking in New Bedford and the hopes for its future.

Panelists:

Mackenzie McCree | A Video Essay on Ballroom | Documentary Short

Julia Harley Francisco-Simoes | Widow’s Peak | Animated Short

Elenora Bianchi I One Step At A Time | Documentary Short

Bill Hendricks | Monogamish | Narrative Short

Garry Medeiros | Plaga Zombie American Invasion | Narrative Feature

Adam P. Cray | Which Hunt | Narrative Short

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• ONE STEP AT A TIME | Documentary Short

• SCRAP | Narrative Feature

Co-Creative III is sponsored through Adopt-A-Screening by The Cocktail Guru.

Join New Bedford Film Festival and School of Yoga New Bedford for Yoga for Makers!

This class will include stretching, moving and breathing to help creatives/makers feel connected to their body. We believe a better connection to moving is a better connection to creating, crafting, curating, and making your mark in the world of making. An accessible and dynamic way to fuel your tank with inspiration!

Join us for a night of networking and to experience the art of storytelling through the lens of independent filmmakers at the New Bedford Film Festival's "Story in a Frame" exhibit. As part of this unique exhibit, official selection filmmakers were asked to submit a film screenshot and a brief description explaining its significance and why it represents the entire film.

Join us at 8:30 PM, as we showcase the music behind some of our selected film in our “MUSIC OF THE FILM” event where we will share the songs and present the award for Best Song of a Music Video and Best Original Song in a Film.

During this screening block the following films that were completed during the inaugural NB48: Filmmaking Challenge will be featured:

• ONE LAST TIME

• FRANKENSKIN

• THE APPOINTMENT

• SHARING

• FISH CON

• HOME VIDEO

The awards for Best 48 Hour Short, Best Ensemble, Best Use of Location, Best Director and Best Story.

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• INVISIBLE | Narrative Short

• THE MUSE | Student Short

• PICKLE | Student Short

• HER TIME | Student Short

• WHAT NEXT? | Student Short

• JOSIE | Student Short

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• DEMONS & DRAGANS: MARK PATINKIN’S CANCER JOURNEY | Documentary Short

• SISTER | Narrative Short

• THE PRINCIPAL'S ASSEMBLY | Narrative Short

• CANARY | Narrative Short

• THE UNIFORM | Narrative Short

• FLUSH | Narrative Short

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• DON’T FALL FROM GRACE | Narrative Short

• TO DUST ALL RETURN | Narrative Short

• PLAGA ZOMBIE: AMERICAN INVASION | Narrative Feature

Presented By: Vincente DiSanti

Description:

Panelists demystify how to turn a short-form project into a Feature film or Television Series. Many of us have heard the term “proof of concept.” What exactly does that mean, and is it an effective strategy? Let’s find out! We will discuss the ups and downs of this rigorous and rewarding process.

Panelists:

Vivian Kerr | Scrap | Narrative Feature

Keith Bearden | Antarctica | Narrative Feature

Devin Montgromery | Monsters Within | Narrative Feature

Frank Smith | Open to It | TV Series

Korby Lenker | Morse Code I TV Series

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• BANANA TRIANGLE SIX | Narrative Short

• MORSE CODE (PILOT) | TV Series

• PICKLEBALL IS LIFE: DILL WITH IT! (PILOT) | TV Series

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• ALICE | Music Video

• ASCENSION | Music Video

• BACK IN TIME | Music Video

• BETTER DAYS | Music Video

• DAROW - FATHER'S DAY | Music Video

• DON'T TOUCH MY HAIR | Music Video

• EAST COAST AQUARELA | Music Video

• FAMOUS | Music Video

• HAUNTED | Music Video

• IMA GROOVALOTTO (ASK YO' MAMA) | Music Video

• LUNGS, HEAD, and HEART | Music Video

• POLAROID DREAMS | Music Video

• RATTLE | Music Video

Presented By: Alecia Orsini

Description:

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:

Sally Edelstein | Perpetual | Documentary Short

Pamela Jayne Morgan | The Principal’s Assembly | Narrative Short

Karen Gottschange | Even the Women Must Fight | Documentary Short

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• QUIET | Narrative Short

• THE PIECE | Narrative Short

• NEVER HIKE ALONE 2 | Narrative Feature

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• BETTER THAN ME | Student Short

• OUT: A SHORT FILM | Narrative Short

• REVELATION | Narrative Short

• OPEN TO IT | TV Series

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• APPALACHIAN HORROR | Animated Short

• ELECTRA WASP | Animated Short

• FLOWER | Animated Short

• THE DARK HORIZON | Animated Short

• THE FAM | Animated Short

• THE TOAD IN THE HOLE | Animated Short

• TRUTH DETECTOR | Animated Short

• WIDOW'S PEAK | Animated Short

Presented By: Elizabeth Searle

Description:

Screenwriters at any level of experience are welcome in this workshop with award-winning screenwriter Elizabeth Searle (co-writer on the feature film I’ll Show You Mine). Elizabeth will offer screenwriting tips as well as in-class exercises and mini-workshopping. Students can bring one copy of 1-3 script pages to class for in-class reading and quick constructive discussions. Students are also encouraged to share their favorite snack foods and their ‘bite-sized’ screenwriting samples in a fun, relaxed, and supportive class!

About Elizabeth:

Elizabeth Searle is co-writer of "I’ll Show You Mine," a feature film from Duplass Brothers Productions, which was released in 2023 in select theaters, drawing strong reviews in the New York Times and more. Her scripts have won recognition in numerous competitions, including Academy Nicholl and Massachusetts Independent Film Festival. She is a longtime resident of Massachusetts and loves the ocean.

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• A BRIEF COMMERCIAL BREAK | PSA

• THE GREY SPACE | PSA

• WASH YOUR HANDS! | PSA

• WE WERE WHALES | PSA

• SOS SAVE OUR SEAWEED | Animated Short

• WITH & WITHOUT: A CORAL STORY | Documentary Short

• EARTH DAY | Narrative Short

During this screening block, the following films will be featured:

• BARBETTE & FONTAINE I Documentary Short

• WOMAN RISING  I Documentary Short

• PERPETUAL I Documentary Short

• EVEN THE WOMEN MUST FIGHT I Documentary Short

Join us for a night of networking and to experience the art of storytelling through the lens of independent filmmakers at the New Bedford Film Festival's "Story in a Frame" exhibit. As part of this unique exhibit, official selection filmmakers were asked to submit a film screenshot and a brief description explaining its significance and why it represents the entire film.

Starting at 8:00pm, join us for “FROM PAGE TO SCREEN: HONORING THE SCREENWRITERS” as we showcase the writing behind some of our selected films and present the awards for Best Screenwriting for a TV Series, Best Screenwriting for a Short and Best Screenwriting for a Feature Film.