New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Dock-u-mentaries film series continues Friday, December 16th at 7 PM with “A Fish Story”, a 54 minute film by Courtney Hayes and Tim Gallagher. “A Fish Story” is the tale of two women who lead their communities in a battle for control of the ocean. Dock-U-Mentaries are films about the working waterfront, and are shown on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7:00 PM at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s Corson Maritime Learning Center, 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. The films are open to the public and free of charge. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the Working Waterfront Festival.
Angela Sanfilippo of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Shareen Davis of Chatham, Massachusetts were born into fishing families and married men who continue to make a living from the sea. Fishing defines who they are and has sustained their communities for generations. But their way of life is threatened when a powerful coalition of national environmental groups file a lawsuit that could put hundreds of fishermen out of business. Three hundred years of fishing tradition and the health of the ocean hangs in the balance. “A Fish Story” delves into the behind-the-scenes world of politicians, environmentalists, journalists, and fishermen. The film first aired on PBS as part of the Independent Lens series. Film makers Hayes and Gallagher have produced documentaries for PBS, the Discovery Channel and History Channel.
The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, a non-profit organization. The free festival, a family friendly, educational celebration of New England’s commercial fishing industry, features live maritime and ethnic music, fishermen’s contests, fresh seafood, vessel tours, author readings, cooking demonstrations, kid’s activities and more. It all takes place on working piers and waterfront parks in New Bedford, MA, America’s #1 fishing port, on the last full weekend in September, this year on September 24 and 25. www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States. The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-3 PM. The newest exhibit, Communities of Whaling, explores the connections between this city and five local ethnic communities whose roots trace back to whaling: African Americans, Cape Verdeans, Azoreans, Native Americans and West Indians. The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov, or visit the park’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP
You can also watch A Fish Story on Hulu FREE:
