Friday, April 24, | Screening at 1:30 pm | Panel discussion at 2:30 pm
Free with general admission | Cook Memorial Theater
The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience and Hope
Film screening and panel discussion
Friday, April 24, | Screening at 1:30 pm | Panel discussion at 2:30 pm
Free with general admission | Cook Memorial Theater
Organized to coincide with Massachusetts Right Whale Day, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is pleased to host a free (for general admission ticket holders) screening of the documentary The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience and Hope followed by a panel discussion.
Produced by Cheryl and Nick Dean, The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience and Hope is a one-hour documentary that celebrates the enigmatic lives of right whales as they navigate the world’s oceans. We meet individual whales who are as intrepid as any human explorer and witness groundbreaking new behavior including intimate moments between mothers and their calves. The documentary is an unprecedented portrait of one of the ocean’s most remarkable and imperiled giants. Filmed across the frigid sub-Antarctic waters south of New Zealand, the gulfs of Patagonia, Argentina, the southern coast of Australia, and the industrialized eastern seaboard of North America, it is the first documentary to bring together right whale stories from around the world. Southern right whales represent one of the greatest conservation success stories of our time, but their Northern cousins face mounting threats from ship strikes, entanglement, and industrial noise. Filmed in collaboration with scientists, The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience and Hope is both a celebration of resilience and a powerful call to action, revealing the intelligence, grace, and vulnerability of these magnificent creatures, the threats they face, and the urgent need to protect them.
About the panelists:
Passionate about ocean wildlife, and in particular about raising awareness of the beauty and danger being the largest mammal in existence: whales, Cheryl and Nick Dean are award-winning independent filmmakers and co-founders of Spindrift Images, LLC, a documentary production company dedicated to telling powerful stories of the ocean and its wildlife. Their documentaries have earned international acclaim and been featured by the BBC, the UN World Wildlife Day Film Showcase, and on Capitol Hill in DC. In 2025 they founded Spindrift Images Foundation, a nonprofit using film, education, and strategic outreach to protect ocean wildlife and ecosystems, currently the North Atlantic right whale. They hope to inspire people to act in support of animal welfare, biodiversity, and wilderness conservation.
Robert Rocha, Associate Curator of Science and Research, has worked at the New Bedford Whaling Museum since 2004, and was previously employed at Buzzards Bay Coalition. Rocha holds an MS in Environmental Science and is a science communicator, educator, and museum professional, passionate about bringing marine biology, conservation, and environmental science to life for learners of all ages. His career has centered on connecting people with the natural world—through exhibits, programs, and storytelling that spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and build lasting relationships. Rocha has led regional education initiatives, contributed to national and international science conferences, and published content that has shaped both public dialogue and academic research. He recently curated the temporary exhibition Up from the Depths: Natural History Selections from the Collection and the permanent gallery installation Exploring our Ecosystem: Climate Change, Whales, and Us.
