Mayor Brown Names IATSE Local 52 President John Ford “Honorary Buffalonian”

Mayor Brown Names IATSE Local 52 President John Ford “Honorary Buffalonian”

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IATSE Local 52 President John Ford (left) receives “Honorary Buffalonian” award from City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown (right)

(October 12th, 2012) John Ford, President of IATSE Local 52 was in Buffalo on Wednesday (10/12) and Mayor Byron Brown made him an “Honorary Buffalonian” for his many contributions to the film industry in Western New York.

Buffalo International Film Festival Returns October 7 – 10

Buffalo International Film Festival Returns October 7 – 10

(September 30th, 2016) Next week marks the return of the Buffalo International Film Festival for it’s 10th year.  From October 7th through the 10th festival goers will have a chance to see an incredible array of films from many different genres submitted from around the world. Screening venues include the North Park Theatre, Squeaky Wheel, and Hallwalls.

BIFF-PROGRAM-08232016-05Of special interest will be several films shot entirely in Western New York including The Alcoholist, Mercy, Winter’s Dream, The Runner, Trew Calling, and Dwelling.  This is real testament to the growing regional production community which includes a truly seasoned crew base.  These films also highlight the diverse set of locations available to local and international film producers.

See the 2016 line up here: http://buffalointernationalfilmfestival.com/lineup/

For tickets and info: http://buffalointernationalfilmfestival.com


 

 

 

TWO FOR ONE: Buffalo Debut November 4th at Buffalo Dreams Festival

TWO FOR ONE: Buffalo Debut November 4th at Buffalo Dreams Festival

(September 30th, 2016) Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival will host the World Premiere of the drama Two for One as its opening night feature. The festival runs Nov. 4th – 10th at Dipson Theatres’ Eastern Hills Cinemas, located in the Eastern Hills Mall, 4545 Transit Road in Williamsville, and Saturday Nov. 12th and Sunday Nov. 13th at the Screening Room Cinema Cafe, located in the Northtown Plaza in Amherst. Two for One stars Jon Abrahams, who also directed, and co-stars Annie Potts, Erika Christensen, Sasha Fralova and Nicole Elizabeth Berger, with additional performances by Scott Caan, Jason Biggs, Martin Donovan and local actor Stephen McKinley Henderson.

Two for One was written by Michael Testone, who produced the film with Abrahams, cinematographer Matthew Quinn and Bethany Hedges, and filmed primarily in Buffalo. The film tells the story of a young up and coming artist in New York City whose life and dreams are forever altered when the tragic events of 9/11 take the lives of his two best friends and he accepts guardianship of the couple’s two young daughters. Eleven years later, he raises the girls as his own, but the financial grind of living in Manhattan is too great, and he moves the girls to Buffalo, where he grew up. This non-traditional family must now adjust to a new life in the Queen City while trying to find themselves along the way.

“We’re thrilled to give Buffalo area residents their first opportunity to see this wonderful film,” says Buffalo Dreams co-founder Chris Scioli. “It’s a comedy-drama with an excellent professional cast, and offers a positive portrayal of Buffalo and its people. Patrons will relate to these characters as well as the familiar locations. It’s a first rate film that will get this year’s festival off to a strong start.”

Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival is a multi-genre event with a twofold mission: to bring the best independent films from around the world to Western New York, and to shine a spotlight on the most talented filmmakers in the area. Scioli anticipates screening as many as 30 feature films, including the 30th anniversary screening of the cult classic Street Trash, hosted by screenwriter-producer Roy Frumkes, plus shorts. The full roster of Official Selections will be announced next week.

www.buffalodreamsfilmfest.com

 

CURTAINS:  Fred Olen Ray Wraps His 4th Feature Shot in WNY

CURTAINS: Fred Olen Ray Wraps His 4th Feature Shot in WNY

(September 29th, 2016) Hollywood Director Fred Olen Ray has wrapped his 4th feature film shot in Western New York.  Following the success of “A Prince for Christmas”, “Mother’s Revenge”, and “The Apprentice”, Ray came back for more of what he feels is the best array of locations anywhere outside of Hollywood.

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Jordan Ladd (on couch) gets ready for a scene shot in a downtown Buffalo office.

For “Curtains” starring Jordan Ladd (Cabin Fever), Brody Hutzler (Days of Our Lives) and Bob Rusch (Sons of Anarchy), Ray chose North Tonawanda’s Riviera Theatre as the main setting for this thriller about a retired opera singer who receives some unwanted attention.

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Curtains shoots in the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.

Other locations featured include the Lockport Cave, the Barton Mansion in Lewiston, and the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.  Look for a spring 2017 release on a screen near you.

THE RUNNER: Debuts at the Buffalo International Film Festival October 7th

THE RUNNER: Debuts at the Buffalo International Film Festival October 7th

(September 29th, 2016) In October 2014, LA-based filmmaker Justin Berardi returned to his hometown of Buffalo to shoot his short film THE RUNNER, a dynamic and ambitious project that called for numerous location changes, street closures, public notification and integrated support from the Buffalo Police Department.  Berardi and his team worked closely with the Buffalo Niagara Film Office, which offered full-scale support of the production from scouting and prep to shooting highly-coordinated action sequences on-location in and around several Buffalo neighborhoods.

THE RUNNER – Official Extended Trailer from Justin Berardi on Vimeo.

Back in Los Angeles, Berardi tapped a tight-knit team of experienced collaborators who ushered THE RUNNER through post-production, and since then the finished film has played at film festivals around the world. On October 7th at The North Park Theater THE RUNNER will be returning home again to Buffalo to have its North American Premiere at the Buffalo International Film Festival.  Berardi and his team are currently coordinating an integration & release strategy for THE RUNNER through which it can continue to make a positive impact and jumpstart the conversation around the important community topics touched on in the film.

For Tickets:  http://buffalointernationalfilmfestival.com/

The Runner Official Site: www.TheRunnerShortFilm.com

 

 

Ken Block’s Gymkhana Nine Shot In Buffalo

Ken Block’s Gymkhana Nine Shot In Buffalo

(13 September 2016) When professional stunt driver Ken Block was looking for a raw industrial playground to shoot his next Gymkhana video, he sent his producers to the Buffalo Niagara Film Office who gave them more than they ever could have imagined.   Starting at the Central Terminal with a journey that spanned a railroad in Eden, to the  NFTA Waterfront Terminal, and ending on the elevated South Park lift bridge,  Block takes viewers on a ride that they won’t soon forget.

With support from City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and his department of Public Works, Mark Lewandowski and the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, and the Buffalo Southern Railroad –  Western New York rolled out the red carpet for Block and his crew to make Gymkhana 9 a come to life.  Production Company Hoonigan employed over 100 local professional crew members along with a large out of town contingent.

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Helicopter stunt at the NFTA Terminal Building on Buffalo’s waterfront.

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Ken Block’s Ford ready to launch from Buffalo’s Central Terminal.

The exposure this video has received has been immense.  As of September 23rd over 11 million views have been recorded on YouTube.

Gymkhana Nine was presented by Hoonigan and Forza Horizon 3 along with support from the Ford Motor Company and Monster Energy Drink.