New Bedford Film Festival Expands for 2026 Event

The New Bedford Film Festival, founded three years ago by city filmmaker Ethan de Aguiar, continues to grow heading into the 2026 edition. The festival is showcasing more films, enjoying increased attendance, and celebrating a commitment to cinematic storytelling.

New Bedford Film Festival Continues to Grow

The four-day event runs from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12, launching with a free opening event at the Steeple Playhouse on William Street in New Bedford in collaboration with AHA! Night.

Martha Yules, a member of the festival's board of directors, stopped by Townsquare Sunday to share some of the film festival's highlights.

Global Films Highlight This Year’s New Bedford Film Festival

"We had over 200 films submitted this year, and 105 have been selected to be shown during the festival," Yules said. "In addition to local and national films, we've had films submitted from Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Iran."

With the internet shut down in Iran because of the war, two films submitted from that country were delayed. Yules said one finally arrived last week, and organizers are hopeful the second film will be here soon.

The types of films to be shown include short and feature films, student shorts, music videos, documentary films, and public service announcements.

Where to Watch Films and Attend Events

Film screenings and panel discussions will take place April 10-12 at Steeple Playhouse and Gallery X. On April 10 and 11 at 8 p.m., networking sessions and awards will be handed out at the New Bedford Harbor Hotel. Other venues include the New Bedford Art Museum and the Whaling Museum.

Closing night awards, complete with a red carpet, will be held at Steeple Playhouse. The complete schedule of events and ticket information are available on the New Bedford Film Festival website.

"It's a great opportunity for this group of filmmakers to collaborate and network, and build upon what they've done," Yules said.

How Young Filmmakers Can Get Involved

Another component of the film festival involves young people aspiring to become filmmakers. "The festival is issuing a challenge called 'NB48,'" Yules said. "It's a 48-hour challenge where a group of young people come forward with an idea. They're assigned a location in downtown New Bedford and tasked with creating a film." Those films will be shown Saturday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m. at the Whaling Museum.

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