Gregory Lamberson Announces Slate of 82 Films for Amazing Fantasy Fest

Aug 14, 2024

Buffalo, New York – Filmmaker Gregory Lamberson (Sime City, Guns of Eden) has launched a new film festival, Amazing Fantasy Fest, in Buffalo, New York. AFF continues the mission of Lamberson’s previous film festivals, Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which ran for 10 years, and Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival, which ran for three. AFF is billed as “Buffalo’s festival of imaginative cinema.” Lamberson is celebrating his 40^th year as an independent filmmaker, his 20^th as a published author, and his 14^th as a film festival director.

Showcasing independent Horror, Science Fiction, Action, Animation, and Experimental films from around the world, AFF runs for seven days this September at Dipson’s Amherst Theatre, Friday the 13^th – Thursday the 19^th. Lamberson has programmed 82 films, including 21 features and 61 shorts. One-third of the films were produced in Western New York, and all 21 features are World Premieres, Film Festival Premieres, New York Premieres, or Buffalo Premieres. Eighteen of those features will be followed by filmmaker Q&As.

Some highlights include:

Adrian Esposito(Holding Microphone)

Local Service Award Nickel City Tinseltown: The History of Buffalo, NY Filmmaking (World Premiere; Friday, Sept. 13^th, 6pm) – A documentary about Western New York’s indie film scene, co-directed by Adrian Esposito and Curt Markham. Esposito’s political satire/action-comedy Special Needs Revolt will have its World Premiere Thursday, Sept. 19^th at 6 pm; Markham, named this year’s Filmmaker of the Year, wrote and directed the comedy Ragdoll Assassin, which has its World Premiere 1pm Saturday, Sept. 14^th.“Nickel City Tinseltown is the perfect film to launch this festival,” says Lamberson, who is a member of the Producers Guild of America and teaches Screenwriting at University at Buffalo. “Its title is misleading because this documentary doesn’t cover the big mainstream films that have been filmed in Western New York; it covers the microbudget indie films which are the bedrock of our film community culture. The film industry experiences highs and lows, but the indies continue creating their art regardless. This is a film about the local filmmakers whose work we screen; it’s a film about us.”

Slasher Days of Summer

Slasher Days of Summer (World Premiere; Friday, Sept. 13^th, 9:20pm) What better way to celebrate Friday the 13^th than with a locally produced slasher comedy? Kristen Skeet directed a local cast in this backwoods extravaganza which she co-wrote with co-producer Tyler Cheman. Filmed in primarily Akron, Lancaster and Darien.

Rich Interior Lives – Director/Screenwriter Ken Whiting

Rich Interior Lives (World Premiere, Saturday, Sept. 14^th, 3:20 pm). A unique psychodrama about a dinner party at which one guest just may be a superhero. Director Ken Whiting and screenwriter (and former Depew, NY resident) Andrew Bonazelli will be in attendance.

They Call Her Death

They Call Her Death (Film Festival Premiere, Saturday, Sept. 14^th, 6pm) A violent and crowd-pleasing Euro-style western shot on 16m film, written and directed by Austin Snell, who will attend with co-producer Adam Jeffers. Preceded by the Word Premiere of local filmmaker Paul McGinnis’s short, Forward. Lamberson describes They Call Her Death as “probably the big crowd pleaser of the festival.”

Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susan (New York Premiere, Saturday, Sept. 14^th, 9pm). Cult filmmaker Scooter McCrae (Shatter Dead, Sixteen Tongues) makes his Buffalo debut with this disturbing science fiction thriller about a sex robot. Preceded by the World Premiere of Jane & the Brain, a short film by local filmmaker Hope Muehlbauer.

Inbetweening

Inbetweening (World Premiere, Monday, Sept. 16^th, 8pm) – A dark comedic fantasy by returning filmmaker Mel House (Mystery Spot), about the travails of a bi-racial filmmaker, augmented by puppets, animation, a musical number, and Angelo Moore from Fishbone, playing himself.

The Damnation (World Premiere, Thursday, Sept. 19^th, 9pm) – A Canadian horror film about members of an Indigenous community battling vampire-like creatures. Writer, producer and co-director Chris Darton will be on hand with members of the cast.

An awards presentation free to the public will be held at the theater on Sunday, Sept. 15^th at 5:45 pm. Special Recognition Awards include:

Dedication to Cinematic Excellence – Scooter McCrae, New York City

Filmmaker of the Year – Curt Markham, Rochester

Lois Weber Award – Kristina Nomeika, Rochester

William R. Thompson Film Champion Award – Anna Chinappi & Skip Shea

Local Hero – Bob Bozek, Buffalo

MVP – Chris Cosgrave, Buffalo

Local Service Award– Robert Borgatti, Niagara Falls

Robert Borgatti, Local Service Award

AFF screens four blocks of films every day. Short film blocks include Local, US and Canada, International, and Animation.

A Full Fantasy Pass costs $75 ($60 for students and seniors with ID) and includes two exclusive “Secret Cinema” screenings at the Screening Room at 1:30 pm on Saturday, Sept. 28^th and Sunday, Sept. 29^th. Attendees of these “Secret Cinema” screenings will not know what they’re seeing until the films begin.

A Weekend Pass (Fri – Sun) and Weekdays Pass (Mon – Thurs) are available for $60 ($50 for students and seniors with ID), and individual Day Passes are $25 for Fri, Sat or Sun and $20 for Mon, Tues, Wed or Thurs.  Individual screening tickets will be available through the Dipson Theatres website for $15.00 beginning September 1^st. The full schedule is available at www.amazingfantasyfest.com.

Gregory Lamberson Film: www.gregorylambersonfilm.com

“Casting Buffalo Actors Expo” Returns This Saturday August 3rd

Jul 29, 2024

Buffalo, NY – [June 3rd, 2024] – Casting Buffalo, the leading film and commercial casting company
in Western New York established by Kyle Mecca, Harry Lipsitz, & Peter Johnson is thrilled to
announce the annual “Casting Buffalo Actors Expo” returns on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024, from
noon to 7pm at The Atrium at Rich’s, located at 1 Robert Rich Way, Buffalo, NY 14213.

The Casting Buffalo Actors Expo is a one-stop-shop for local actors and aspiring talent of all
ages, offering pertinent career information and essential skills needed to land roles in film, theater,
and commercial productions occurring in Western New York and beyond. Attendees will have the
opportunities to network, receive new headshots from Film Neighbor Network with Boring
Buffalo photographers, meet local casting directors, speak with professional acting and vocal
coaches, attend a live stunt showcase from Robbins Stunt Team, audition for the
upcoming Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project, and attend business-of-acting seminars and acting
workshops, all while learning about the local film/TV/commercial industry.

With dozens of local vendors and exhibitors from various departments within the entertainment
industry, attendees can interact with union crew members from I.A.T.S.E., reel editors, production
house Buffalo Camera at Expressway Cinema Rentals, brand managers, spokespersons from
area colleges and universities with theater and film programs, talent agencies, and SAG/AFTRA
& Actors’ Equity representatives.

The event also features multiple panel discussions and an exclusive Q&A featuring Buffalo theater & film legend, Stephen McKinley Henderson of Civil War (2024), Dune (2021), Lady Bird (2017), and Fences (2016) and guest speaker Daniel Croix of Tyler Perry’s The Oval, Love Simon, and Manhunt. In addition, the 2024 actors expo will be hosted by ALC Acting Studio owner & Hollywood actor Andrew Lewis Caldwell of How I Met Your Mother, iZombie, Henry Danger, Haunt (2019), and The Matrix Resurrections (2021).

Tickets for the Casting Buffalo Actors Expo are on sale now at www.castingbuffalo.com via Eventbrite. General admission tickets are priced at $40.00, while student tickets are available at a discounted rate of $25.00, with a valid student I.D.

About Casting Buffalo
Casting Buffalo, LLC was established by Kyle Mecca, Harry Lipsitz, & Peter Johnson to be a cornerstone for film and commercial casting in Western New York, as well as expanding state-wide. With an eye for talent and the unique ability to build lasting relationships, from
commercials to feature films, they have had the chance to work on some of the most prestigious movies shot in the Queen City including MARSHALL, THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF WOLFBOY, THE FIRST PURGE, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: NEXT TO KIN, A MAN, CALLED OTTO, CUTMAN, along with the upcoming THE PANIC, and numerous commercials and additional projects.