Calling all filmmakers: New Bedford has a challenge for you on March 22-24.

NEW BEDFORD — The downtown area is about to become a mini Hollywood studio with the launch of the NB 48: Filmmaking Challenge set for March 22.

In collaboration with the New Bedford Film Festival, and sponsored by UMass Dartmouth, the film challenge aims to highlight the beauty and diversity of downtown New Bedford as the perfect setting for film narratives, by assigning filmmaking teams different businesses to create stories around.

"The 48 Competition is an excellent opportunity for local talent in New Bedford to not only showcase their skills, but also to spotlight the cultural and economic diversity we have here in the city through their films," said Alyssa Botelho, who co-chairs the event and is on the board from the New Bedford Film Festival.

Botelho said she has personally participated in five 48 Hour competitions in Rhode Island, and each time has grown as a filmmaker while having a ton of fun with the experience.

"I think people should participate to strengthen their filmmaking skills, have fun, meet new people and prove to themselves what they’re really capable of," she added.

What is the filmmaking challenge?

Competing filmmaking teams will be assigned a specific location in the downtown area on Friday, March 22nd at 7pm, then will have to pitch their stories for approval at 10am on Saturday, March 23rd, before filming for eight hours in the assigned venue.

Teams will have until Sunday, March 24 at 7pm to submit completed films, which will be screened during the New Bedford Film Festival on April 18-21.

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"It's not just an exciting creative challenge but it's also a microcosm of what New Bedford Film Festival is trying to do as an organization in the long term," said Ethan de Aguiar, founder of the festival.

"We are connecting a team of filmmakers with the resources they need to make a film happen, while activating local businesses as the backdrop, which will help show the community of New Bedford and show the community that they have a place in the film industry."

Filmmakers can still sign-up their teams or on their own

Filmmaking teams can sign up by March 10, to participate in the challenge. If you can't create a team, but want to still participate, filmmakers can sign up to be part of the recruitment pool on March 22, to potentially be recruited into an already formed team.

Filming locations include New Bedford Harbor Hotel, PLAY Arcade, Mass Escape, No Problemo and AprilEvan's Beauty Lounge, among the 12 locations teams could be assigned.

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"It’s been great collaborating with our locations. They all have an eagerness to promote local film and to be a part of something fun for our community," Botelho said.

NB 48 also seeking local actors to register and participate

Not an official entity of the national 48 Hour Film Project, the NB 48: Filmmaking Challenge's goal is to offer an opportunity to showcase the thriving independent film scene in the New Bedford area and connect with like-minded local filmmakers, actors, and volunteers.

NB 48: Filmmaking Challenge is also seeking actors to participate in the films. The website has a registration form for interested actors, of all ages, interested in being cast. Actors interested should be available for the full 48 hour timeline, including a possible overnight shoot.

"As creatives when we put limitations on ourselves it allows us to think outside of the box and outside of the normal conventions of how we normally would approach a situation like making a short film," de Aguiar added.

"I think that by challenging ourselves to do a film in such a short time, we really can sharpen our skills In ways like being more decisive, thinking on your feet, being resourceful and sharpening our swords as filmmakers."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford Film Festival challenges filmmakers to make a film in 48