The New Bedford Film Festival celebrates authentic cinematic stories, cultivates bold storytellers, and champions the city’s growing creative economy. NBFF takes place in the vibrant city of New Bedford on the South Coast region of Massachusetts.
New Bedford Film Festival is committed to, our vision is spotlighting the diverse human experience through cinematic storytelling such as short & feature films, episodic, music videos, documentary and PSA shorts through a yearly film festival.
The New Bedford Film Festival will utilize spaces at New Bedford Ground Work, second floor in the New Bedford Creative offices, New Bedford Harbor Hotel and the Co-Creative.
The screening areas will allow for blocks of films to screen simultaneously as well as have a room for panels and a room for networking during and in between screenings.
In the evening, we invite everyone to the Ground Floor Coffee for our "Story in a Frame" networking event where we ask filmmakers to submit a screenshot that best represents their project to be framed and discussed during the festival's run.
Throughout the day, explore our downtown small business scene in which filmmakers will be offered discounts and promotions when presenting their official NBFF badge.
The opening will be held at the prestigious state-of-the-art New Bedford Whaling Museum theater, and the closing night Academy Award-style award ceremony, featuring a red carpet arrival, will take place at Steeple Playhouse.
NOTE TO NEW BEDFORD FILMMAKERS: If you are a current New Bedford resident, submit your projects via the "New Bedford Project" category. Then, e-mail a license when you submit with the title of your project in the subject line. Failure to send a license within 72 hours of entry may result in disqualification.
We will host a LIVE award show at the Steeple Playhouse on Sunday, April 21 where we will share nominated clips and give out trophies for the following categories:
FEATURE FILM
Best Feature Film
Best Actress in a Feature Film
Best Actor in a Feature Film
Best Director
Best Screenwriter
SHORT FILM
Best Short Film
Best Actress in a Short Film
Best Actor in a Short Film
Best Director
Best Screenwriter
TV SERIES
Best TV Series
Best Actress in a TV Series
Best Actor in a TV Series
Best Director
Best Screenwriter
STUDENT SHORT
Best Student Short Film
Best Student Director
DOCUMENTARY
Best Documentary Short
Best Subject of a Documentary
Best Voiceover Performance in a Documentary or PSA
ANIMATED FILM
Best Animated Short Film
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Best PSA
MUSIC VIDEO
Best Music Video
Best Song for a Music Video
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Supporting Actress in a Feature, Short Film, Digital Series
Best Supporting Actor in a Feature, Short Film, Digital Series
Best Ensemble in a Feature, Short Film, Digital Series
Best Youth Performer in a Feature, Short Film, Digital Series
Best Original Song in a Feature, Short Film, Digital Series
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Wardrobe
Best Production Design
Best Original Score
*Please note some categories may be added/updated and may be shifted as to what is presented during or before the LIVE award show.
Not all awards will be handed-out at the Sunday award ceremony such as technical awards that will be announced before the ceremony for winners to pick-up their prizes at Steeple Playhouse. This includes categories such as Best Screenwriting, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Wardrobe, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Public Service Announcement.