Jan 15, 2024
Buffalo, New York – Amazing Fantasy Fest, a new film festival created by cult filmmaker and Buffalo resident Gregory Lamberson (Slime City, Killer Rack) will debut in the Nickel City in September 2024. Lamberson previously co-founded Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival, which ran for three years, and Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which just concluded an acclaimed ten-year run. Amazing Fantasy Fest (AFF) is his first festival as solo director.
Like its predecessors, Amazing Fantasy Fest will be a week-long celebration of independent films from around the world in the genres of Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action, Animation and Experimental. Lamberson will continue to spotlight the work of local artists, including Western New York students. Appropriately, the inaugural 2024 edition will launch on Friday the 13thth of September at Dipson’s Amherst Theatre.
“I love all the genres that embrace the impossible,“ says Lamberson, “and plan to bring the same qualities to this festival that I brought to the events I co-produced: world premieres, professional presentation, in-depth Q&As, and a welcoming atmosphere for filmmakers. I also plan to introduce several programming ideas which will be unique to Amazing Fantasy Fest. And I’ll continue to support filmmakers in the city where I live.”
In 2024, Lamberson will also celebrate his 40th year as an independent filmmaker. In 1984, at the age of 20, he worked as the production manager on I Was a Teenage Zombie. Two years later, he wrote and directed the midnight movie cult classic Slime City in New York City. In Buffalo, he has been a driving force for locally produced films, directing Slime City Massacre, Dry Bones, Killer Rack, Johnny Gruesome, Widow’s Point and Guns of Eden, and working in different capacities on other productions. His fifteen books include twelve horror novels and the filmmaking guide Cheap Scares: Low Budget Horror Filmmakers Share Their Secrets. He is an advocate for film production in Western New York and currently teaches Screenwriting at University at Buffalo.
“Every major arts city hosts a festival devoted to genre filmmaking so Buffalo should have one too,” Lamberson continues. “I devote a lot of energy to these events for the same reason I make movies: this is what I live for. When filmmakers attend screenings I program, they know they’re going to be treated with respect by someone who understands the sacrifices they’ve made for their art. And I love using film festivals as a platform for our local filmmaking community.”
AFF is now accepting film and screenplay submission from creators via FilmFreeway, and Lamberson is seeking sponsors. “Sponsors are crucial for a startup venture like this. I’m a small business owner, so I generally don’t receive the same sort of financial support that nonprofits do. I need to rely on the generosity of the community I serve.”
AFF is not the only Western New York bearing the Lamberson name: Valkyrie International Film Festival (VIFF), showcasing films directed by women, was created by Lamberson’s wife Tamar and daughter Kaelin, who host their second edition March 21st – 25th at the Screening Room in Amherst.
AFF Website: www.amazingfantasyfest.com
AFF FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/AmazingFantasyFest
AFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amazingfantasyfest
VIFF Website: www.valkyriefilmfest.com
VIFF FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/ValkyrieInternationalFilmFestival
VIFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriefilmfest
Nov 29, 2023
COULD THIS BE BUFFALO’S YEAR? FILMMAKERS CONSIDER THE “UNBILLIEVABLE!” IN NEW COMEDY
Blue & Red Carpet Premier Dec. 2 @7 p.m./Buffalo’s historic North Park Theatre
November 28, 2023 — BUFFALO, NEW YORK: Yes, this is really happening. In the alternate reality conjured by the movie UNBILLIEVABLE! there is a world where Buffalo’s football team gets their inevitable victory over the forces of evil and the AFC East.
Now, the public can view the official trailer and pre-order the movie before its release this Saturday, December 2, 2023. Just go to unbillievablethemovie.com for more info.
- A Digital Premiere Pass and UNBILLIEVABLE! logo t-shirt ($19.95)
- Ticket to the Blue & Red Carpet Premier Screening at the North Park Theatre ($19.95)
- VIP Package: A Digital Premiere Pass, Poster-Art-T-shirt, and VIP ticket to the Blue & Red Carpet Premiere Screening at The North Park Theatre on Saturday, December 2, at @7:00 p.m. ($34.95).
“I decided to write the script because I’m a lifelong Bills fan, and I’m losing my mind,” says UNBILLIEVABLE! filmmaker Scott Rubin, who served as the Editor-in-Chief of National Lampoon for ten years. “How many times can your heart be broken as a sports fan? With the Bills, it seems endless. There has to be a way out of this, and if they can’t win a world championship in the real world, at least I can try to make them win in the movie world.” Co-directors J. Garrett Vorreuter and Scott Rubin take you on a wild ride as they unmask the generational pain, hope, heartache, and perhaps glory that awaits every Bills fan when that long-awaited special Sunday returns. The film has been shot entirely in Buffalo, of course.
The movie has been crowdfunded by the fans, invested in by the fans, and sponsored by the support of local Buffalo Businesses. It is a project driven by the love of the Bills and the city of Buffalo. “I realized that so much of the story is about us, the fans,” Rubin says. “Players come and go, but we’re still here. I’ve been a fan since 1964! It turns out that we’re much more interesting, at this point than the actual football team: How we survive as fans, year after year; our interesting quirks and coping mechanisms that make us come back the next season even more committed and insane.”
www.unbillievablethemovie.com
Oct 18, 2023
Robbins Stunt Team is holding a John/Joan Wick style stunt bootcamp at The Sportsplex in North Tonawanda. Saturday and Sunday October 28th-29th actors and stunt performers will take a high-octane stunt bootcamp with professional stunt performers/fight choreographers, armorers, and firearm safety experts.
Founder, Greg Robbins is leading the bootcamp along with his professional stunt team. “Greg Robbins and his team are very knowledgeable, safe and are the go-to stunt team for the projects that come to Buffalo.” said Buffalo/Niagara Film Commissioner, Tim Clark.
Mr. Robbins has been preforming stunts, stunt coordinating and armorer for decades with credits that include, stunt coordinator on Hail Mary, Bad Cupid, Givers of Death, Bunker, Bound and was a stunt performer on The Terminator, Clover and Cabrini. Just to name a few.
“The film industry in Western New York needs more stunt performers” says, Greg Robbins. “This is the perfect time to bring up the next generation of stunt performers, firearm safety experts and future coordinators. We have wonderful support crews that complement the film tax credit and our beautiful city attracts the motion picture industry. We need more stunt people here, so we don’t have to hire outside of our area. This bootcamp will help with that need.”- Greg Robbins
To register email Greg Robbins: GregvRobbins@gmail.com
Website: www.robbinsstuntteam.com
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua29brLjU1tWsywsF-QTwg
Sep 28, 2023
17th Annual Buffalo Int’l Film Festival Announces Full Lineup of 160 Film Premieres from 30 Countries + Offscreen Events + Panels – in venues across Buffalo, NY
Highlights include made-in-WNY films The Puppetman, Heartbreak Falls, A Decade At DBs, WNY Stories, Local Portraits, 98 Degrees West, Tradition, Trauma & Tenderness, [six years], Starting from Zero,
Festival favorites include If You Were the Last, Maria Schneider, 1983, Fancy Dance, Chasing Chasing Amy, Kim’s Video, Alien Food, Eat Bitter, Only the Good Survive, unseen
Buffalo, NY, September 22, 2023: The 17th annual Buffalo Int’l Film Festival (BIFF) is excited to announce its 2023 festival lineup, which includes festival favorites from Cannes, Sundance, Hot Docs, SXSW, and Tribeca; and world, US, and regional premieres! The festival will present five days of film, art, music, performances, panels (and more!) from October 5–9th in Buffalo.
For the first time since the pandemic all of BIFF’s programming will take place in person, with the exception of hybrid events like panels and Offscreen art and performances that will be presented live and also live streamed. To better serve our community and accommodate for the growth that we’ve experienced these last few years, BIFF is thrilled to be extending our offerings to new neighborhoods within the City of Buffalo and working with new community partners, as well as long term collaborators.
In addition to the festival’s three core venues – the North Park Theatre (1428 Hertel Ave), Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center (341 Delaware Ave), and Burchfield Penney Art Center (1300 Elmwood Ave), and new for 2023 – BIFF will also present screenings and panels at Buffalo Toronto Public Media (140 Lower Terrace St), Mason O. Damon Theater at the Buffalo & Erie County Downtown Central Library (1 Lafayette Sq), The Buffalo History Museum (1 Museum Ct), and Journey’s End Cinema at the Tri-Main Center (2495 Main St #530).
BIFF 2023 Festival Trailer from Buffalo Int’l Film Festival on Vimeo.
We’re so excited to share this year’s program which offers a celebration of creativity and connection as we return to a fully in-person event. The line-up offers quality films for everyone from seasoned cinephiles to the next generation of movie lovers and makers. – John J. Fink, Artistic Director.
“We’re so thrilled and honored to present these phenomenal films to the WNY community, and to welcome new and old friends to our beautiful city for this year’s Buffalo Int’l Film Festival! Our team has been working hard for the last year to curate several highly anticipated titles, many of which will be accompanied by live filmmaker Q+As. There is so much incredible content – something for every age and taste. Everybody is invited to Buffalo’s city-wide celebration of cinema – we can’t wait!” – Anna Scime, Executive Director
Seats can be reserved for free programming, and tickets and passes can be purchased at buffalofilm.org or at each venue’s box office on the day of the screening. Tickets are $12 for all in person screenings, $7 for select matinees. BIFF also participates in Arts Services Inc’s Arts Access Program, which allows program participants to reserve free tickets to all festival events. BIFF’s popular All-Access Bison Pass is also on sale for $55 and provides access to the festival’s 150+ film screenings, official events, and more.
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SPOTLIGHT + CENTERPIECE FILMS:
OPENING NIGHT GALA
IF YOU WERE THE LAST
Director Kristian Mercado, and Producers Andrew Miano and Dan Balgoyen in attendance.
Friday October 6, 7:00pm – North Park Theatre
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ARTHOUSE SPOTLIGHT
MARIA SCHNEIDER, 1983 + THE PASSENGER
Director Elisabeth Subrin in attendance.
Friday October 6, 1:00pm – Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center Cinema
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CITY CENTERPIECE
THE PUPPETMAN
Director Brandon Christensen in attendance.
Saturday October 7, 9:30pm – North Park Theatre
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LATE NIGHT SPOTLIGHT
ONLY THE GOOD SURVIVE
Friday October 6, 9:30pm – North Park Theatre
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CLOSING NIGHT – DECOLONIAL SPOTLIGHT
FANCY DANCE
Monday October 9, 7:00pm – North Park Theatre
*In celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Seneca/Haudenosaunee lands, this is a free screening. RSVP is encouraged and donations/pay-what-you-can welcome.
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SCREENINGS IN BUFFALO OCT 5-9:
*Alphabetical order – please check individual film pages for date/time/venue, and filmmakers in attendance.
Narrative Features:
Alien Food
Eight Eyes
Everybody Wants To Be Loved w/ Learning to Dance
Fancy Dance
Heartbreak Falls
If You Were the Last
Maria Schneider, 1983 + The Passenger
Meera
New Strains
Only the Good Survive
Poundcake
Scrap
Under the Influencer
Unfriending
Where The Road Leads w/ Midnight Ride
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Documentary Features:
98 Degrees West – Zamir Discovers Bourdains America
A Decade At DBs
A Thousand Pines
Aurora’s Sunrise
Break the Game w/ Pronoia
Chasing Chasing Amy
Eat Bitter
Go On, Be Brave
I Like It Here w/ Gone Before Your Eyes
Into the Spotlight
Kenyatta Do Not Wait Your Turn
Kim’s Video
Love is Not an Orange
Plan C
Razing Liberty Square
[six years] w/ Accordion
Starting from Zero
The Golden Thread
The Only Doctor
Tradition, Trauma, & Tenderness
Unseen
ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ / We Will Speak
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Shorts Blocks:
Coming of Age
Community
Connections
Danger Zone
DMS@50+
Episodic Stories
Experimental
Family Films
Film on Film
Homefronts
Local Portraits
Next Gen
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Students
Racial Justice in View
Vast Confinements
WNY Stories
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Free Film Programming:
BIFF Shorts: Next Gen
BIFF Shorts: Racial Justice in View
Fancy Dance
Free Offscreen, Panel + Party Programming:
Award Ceremony
BIFF Offscreen: II
BIFF Offscreen: Cage Match Dress Rehearsals
BIFF Offscreen: The Flicker
BIFF Offscreen: Starjuice
BIFF Offscreen: Stress Dolls
BIFF Offscreen: woolgathering
Community-Focused Nonfiction Panel
In Focus + On Location: The Puppetman
Space Is the Place Party
Spare Key Party
Sunday Funday Party
*More exciting free programming (Offscreen art, music and performance events, panels, roundtables, workshops, parties + more) TBA soon!
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About Buffalo Int’l Film Festival:
Buffalo International Film Festival (est. 2006) champions regional, national, and international films that push the limits of independent cinema – presenting quality films from around the world to WNY residents and visitors. BIFF is committed to amplifying diverse voices and exhibiting cutting-edge programming in narrative, documentary and experimental film. A proud supporter of local filmmaking and the arts; BIFF also offers workshops, seminars, industry panel discussions, fiscal sponsorship and professional development opportunities, as well as an Offscreen series of art, music and performance.
For more info, please visit buffalofilm.org.
Press Contacts:
John Fink, Artistic Director, 973-615-3124, john@buffalofilm.org
Anna Scime, Executive Director, 716-316-8510, anna@buffaloifilm.org
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Buffalo International Film Festival
A celebration of cinema!
