From Taylor Swift to film awards, Seamen's Bethel is back in the spotlight.
NEW BEDFORD — Seamen's Bethel has been receiving widespread attention as of late, thanks to its connection to Taylor Swift and its recent participation in the inaugural New Bedford Film Festival.
During the New Bedford Film Festival on April 20, the short film "Sharing," which utilized the Seaman's Bethel in March 2024, received two awards for Best Ensemble and Best Film.
According to Kimberly Aubut, operations manager, the Bethel had not been featured in a movie in over 100 years. This marked a significant moment for the Seamen's Bethel and the local film industry since 1922.
The iconic building was featured in the film "Down to the Sea in Ships" starring the actress Clara Bow, who was also recently highlighted in Taylor Swift's latest album.
Swift’s lyrics, "You look like Clara Bow in this light/Remarkable/All your life, did you know/You'd be picked like a rose,” has made the late actress trend across social media since the album dropped on April 19.
According to People.com, Bow was born in 1905 and faced a turbulent childhood, including her mother's struggles with mental health. Despite this, she found success in the film industry after winning a beauty contest and starring in several silent films such as “Mantrap” and “Wings,” earning her the nickname "The It Girl."
However, her outspoken nature and personal life often set her apart from her peers and made her a target for tabloid gossip.
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Back on the map as a filming location
"We welcome any new or established filmmakers who are interested in utilizing our historic facilities to help preserve both our city's rich maritime history and the enduring connection to our community," said Philip Oliveira, President of the New Bedford Port Society.
Prior to the New Bedford Film Festival, held April 18-21, the NB48 Filmmaker Competition was held, where six skilled filmmakers and their teams were given 48 hours to write, film and produce their films. Each team was assigned a different location such as PLAY, AprilEvans Boutique, No Problemo and Harbor Hotel.
"Sharing" was produced by Wacky Hat Productions and directed by Drew Furtado, with a screenplay written by Furtado, Chris Gauthier and Amanda Pedersen. The heartwarming film tells the story of a man sharing his experience witnessing a toddler wedding at the Bethel and the strange happenings that ensued.
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"After five years of leave, our film team dusted off the cobwebs to produce a 48 hour film for this year's New Bedford Film Festival's 48 Hour Film Challenge," said Furtado on an Instagram post.
"We were assigned to film in the Seamen’s Bethel and we knew we wanted to use our team’s growing family and children.... I want to thank our team for an awesome weekend of filming, and want to express my gratitude to the New Bedford Film Festival team who made this film festival amazing for the city of New Bedford."
Guests can now watch both films at the Seamen's Bethel
The Seamen's Bethel, founded in 1830, is one of two cherished landmarks owned by the Non-Profit New Bedford Port Society that proudly preserves the city's rich maritime heritage, according to the website. Along with the Mariner's Home, which has been providing a refuge for sailors since 1789, the Seamen's Bethel has served as a spiritual haven for mariners for almost two centuries. These landmarks stand as a testament to New Bedford's historic nautical traditions and its enduring connection to the sea.
As a cherished landmark in the community, the Seamen's Bethel is thrilled to once again be a part of the big screen. The New Bedford Port Society is dedicated to supporting the local arts community, and their involvement in the film festival highlights their commitment to helping budding artists and filmmakers.
Films such as "Sharing" and "Down to the Sea in Ships" can be viewed at the Seamen's Bethel during regular hours, open to the public.
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: Taylor Swift connects New Bedford's Seamen's Bethel in new song
