Mar 12, 2018
(March 10th, 2018) Paris, France: Filmmakers representing Buffalo, NY were honored at the international 48 Hour Film Project Awards. The team, Partially Submerged Elephants, first learned that their film, Ride of Your Life, was in the top 12 films in the world among 130+ international cities. Hours later at the international awards ceremony held at the Hôtel de Ville, Paris, their film won Best Cinematography, was in the top 5 films nominated for best film, and they were nominated for best editing. Their film next will be screening at the Festival De Cannes 2018.
The 48 Hour Film Project is the largest time-based film competition in the world with 130+ participating cities. In just 48 Hours, filmmaking teams brain-storm, write, produce, edit and deliver a five to seven minute film. They choose a genre out of a hat and are given a prop, character, and line of dialog that they must include in the film.
48HFP Co-Founder Liz Langston, Partially Submerged Elephants team members, Cole Bielecki, Megan Gonsalves, Travis Carlson, Marc Davies, Aaron Rizzo, Maria Claire, Marc Braun, 48HFP Co-Founder Mark Ruppert. Photo by Buffalo City Producer Jordan Lema
Buffalo was represented at Filmapalooza in Paris by the Buffalo City Producer, Jordan Lema and the Partially Submerged Elephants team members, Travis Carlson, Megan Gonsalves, Aaron Rizzo, Maria Claire, Marc Braun, Marc Davies, and Cole Bielecki. The team is compiled primarily of members Pagula Sports and Entertainment. This is the first time since 2008 that a Buffalo team has reached the top 15 at Filmapalooza.
Jordan Lema says “I’m incredibly proud of what Buffalo has accomplished in this competition. Participants from all over the world were singing the praises of a Buffalo Film: ‘It’s amazing,’ ‘I cried!’ ‘what a beautiful film.’ Travis, Megan and the Partially Submerged Elephants team are bringing Buffalo Filmmaking to the international spotlight.”
“The film is just gorgeous, it’s a music driven masterpiece that tugs at your heart strings. No spoilers here… you have to watch the fiilm for yourself.” Ride of your Life:
Ride of Your Life from Travis Carlson on Vimeo.
The Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project city producer, Jordan Lema has also won ‘best social media video’ and was nominated for best ‘social media campaign’ out of 130+ international cities.
Like and follow the Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project on facebook for more information on their journey and wish them luck at Cannes! Keep an eye out for your shot at the Filmapalooza and the Festival De Cannes 2018 Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project in August http://48hourfilm.com/buffalo!
Mar 2, 2018
(March 2nd, 2018) Two great films showcasing the multifaceted talents of Buffalo Niagara’s most seasoned professionals will debut on the big screen at the Aurora Theatre on Saturday, March 24th. Admission is free to all with doors opening at 12:00 pm, screenings start at 1:00pm, and a Q&A to follow both.
LOCKE
Synopsis : Twenty years after his father mysteriously vanished, Locke ventures beyond our world in pursuit of a clue to his father’s whereabouts. This is a sci-fi adventure story, but at its heart, it’s rooted to the strength of family and the struggle we face when those loved ones pass on. It’s a story about becoming your own man and finding your way in the world without someone there to guide you. Having the courage to persevere, even through the times that are almost too tough to carry on.
Key Players :
Directed by Joe Blodgett
Screenplay by Joe Blodgett & Kyle Mecca
Produced by
ND Studios: Bethany Hedges and Matt Fleck
Cinematography by : Matthew A. Nardone
Cast :
– Brian Bernys
– Ayden Herreid
– Camilla Maxwell
– Stuart Williams
– Mu-Shaka Benson
Locke started Principal Photography in May of 2016, and wrapped in August of the same year.
ZERO SHAPIRO
Zero Shapiro is about a 13 year old kid who runs away cross-country in search of the man who raised him.
Cast:
-Martino Renzoni
-Alex Malejz
-Michael Piccirilli
-Anthony Pacella
Filming took place over a week in August of 2016.
The Aurora Theatre is located at 673 Main Street, East Aurora, NY 14052
For more information on both screenings: https://www.facebook.com/events/1598879720165253/
Jan 18, 2018
2017 marked a record breaking year for production in Western New York with multiple national commercial campaigns and many high profile feature film projects.
In March, Buffalo based New Era Cap Company used the Colonel Ward Pumping Station as the backdrop for it’s 2017 NFL Sideline Collection Campaign. Major NFL stars including Khalil Mack , Kelvin Sheppard, Greg Olson and Le’Veon Bell were flown in from around the country to be cast in this commercial. This campaign is airing nationally on network television during game broadcasts.
The Buffalo Niagara Film Office presented a “Production Assistant 101” training session in April which trained over 50 students from local colleges and film programs. The course was an introduction to entry level crew positions. A diverse group gathered to learn the skills needed for film productions coming to Western New York.
1st AD Kyle Mecca, Script Supervisor Adrienne Caminer, Director Mac Cappuccino, and Director of Photography Stevie Ungureanu block a scene at The Buffalo Arts Studio.
The “Malaisia” crew sets up a scene outside of the Ukranian Civic Center on Grant Street.
In May the independent feature film “Malaisia” marked the directorial debut of veteran producer Mac Cappucino, who returned home to Western New York to film this ironic dark comedy staring Leonardo Santaiti (”Allegiant”, “Sleepless”) along with Sarah Baskin (”Who Killed Chandra Levy?”), and Josh Nuncio (”Love Vampires”).
Fred Olen Ray films “Shorecliff” in front of the 30 Mile Point Lighthouse in Barker, NY.
Hollywood director Fred Olen Ray returned to Buffalo to film three made for television thriller’s to air on national cable networks. IStarting off in June was “Deceptive Boyfriend” which starred Katrina Bowden (”30 Rock”), and Jason-Shane Scott (”One Life To Live”). “Killer Son-In-Law” starred Kuri Wuhrer (”General Hospital”) and Adam Huss (”Power”) used downtown Buffalo and a mansion in Snyder as main shooting locations In September. To close off the year in December Ray filmed “Shorecliff” which starred Carly Schroeder (”Lizzie McGuire”) and Philip Keene (”The Closer”) and featured the 30 Mile Point Lighthouse in Barker, NY.
In May, Adidas America chose the football stadium at the State University of New York at Buffalo to shoot its NFL print and video campaign for 2017. Zay Jones and Tre’Davious White of the Buffalo Bills were featured in this national campaign.
The “Coldbrook” crew rig a driving scene with Bill Fichtner and Kim Coates in front of the Buffalo History Museum.
Buffalo native William Fichtner returned home in July to star in and make his directorial debut in the feature film “Coldbrook”. Fichtner used the Buffalo History Museum, East Aurora, Buffalo State College and many other Western New York locales as the backdrop for Coldbrook which also starred Kim Coates (“Sons of Anarchy”) and Harold Perrineau (“Lost”, “Oz”).
“The True Adventure of Wolfboy” shooting in front of the South Buffalo Lighthouse.
“The True Adventures of Wolfboy” actor John Turturro takes in Niagara Falls on a break from shooting.
The “The True Adventures of Wolfboy” starred John Turturro (”Do the Right Thing”), Jaden Leiberher (”It”) and brought “Manchester By The Sea” producers to Buffalo for the first in what could result in many return visits in September. The former Summit Park Mall, Woodlawn Beach, Silo City and other areas throughout Western New York became back drops for this coming of age movie.
“The Purge: Island Experiment” crew smokes up the street at Grant and Ferry in Buffalo.
Also in September – “The Purge: Island Experiment” marked the first major studio theatrical release to shoot entirely in Buffalo since “The Natural.” Many urban locations were used as the back drop for this prequel in the Purge series including the Marine Drive Apartments, Silo City, One Seneca Tower and many more. A record amount of crew and on screen talent were hired for shooting which spanned over 3 months.
The NBA’s Golden State Warriors came to Buffalo to shoot the kickoff video campaign for their 2017-2018 season at the Colonel Ward Pumping Station in Buffalo. Thrilling pyrotechnics were used in front of the massive pumps to reinforce the teams work ethic as they defend their world championship.
Amazon’s “The Grand Tour” celebrities Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May made their way from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport through Buffalo to the brink of Niagara Falls for an exciting transportation challenge involving a train, airplane and car.
Chaz Palminteri, John Abrahams, and Christian George on the set of “Clover” at the Croation Club in Riverside. (Photo: clover_movie on Instagram)
November saw Actor/Director Jon Abrahams (”Scary Movie”, “Meet The Parents”) retruning to shoot his second film in Buffalo called “Clover”. Along with Abrahams, this feature saw actors Chaz Palminteri (”Bronx Tale”), Ron Perlman (”Sons of Anarchy”), and Erika Christensen (”Traffic”) came to Buffalo for their roles. Silo City, the Croatian Club, and Volkers Bowling Alley all made appearances in this movie as set locations.
See the “Behind The Camera” 2017 year in review video hosted by Cindy Abbott Letro below:
Oct 10, 2017
Diverse Programming and Attending Filmmakers Make for a One of a Kind Western New York Film Festival Experience
Buffalo, New York – Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival has announced its most ambitious lineup yet for its 2017 season: 110 films will screen over 11 days. The multi-genre festival, spotlighting the best independent films from around the world, runs Thursday, Nov. 2nd – Thursday, Nov. 9th at Dipson Theaters Eastern Hills Cinema in Williamsville, and Nov. 10th – 12th at the Screening Room Cinema Cafe in Amherst. The festival is the largest of its type in Western New York. One half of the 40 features screening are in the horror genre, with action, animation, comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, family, foreign, science fiction and thriller films represented among the rest
Highlights among this year’s slate include two documentaries from the festival’s Filmmaker of the Year, Adrian Esposito: the Buffalo-Niagara film festival premiere of Diffability Hollywood and the world premiere of Greetings from Tromaville!; the East coast premiere of Lloyd Kaufman’s Return to Return to Nuke Em High aka Vol. 2, filmed in Niagara Falls; the New York State premiere of Buckout Road, Matthew Currie Holmes’s Canadian film about a legendary haunted road in upstate New York; cult filmmaker Brett Kelly’s Countrycide; the film festival premiere of Todd Sheets’s werewolf epic Bonehill Road; Jon Keeyes’s sophiosticated horror thriller The Harrowing; Stephen Biro’s gory exorcism flick The Song of Solomon; and Black Fawn Films’ return to Buffalo with the its latest horror offering, The Heretics.
Festival co-founders Gregory Lamberson and Chris Scioli have scheduled “A Salute to Fred Olen Ray and Chris Olen Ray,” back-to-back screenings of Fred Olen Ray’s classic 1988 cult film Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers and Chris Ray’s recent terror fest Circus Kane. The father and son duo among the most prolific filmmakers in Hollywood, and have played an instrumental role in transforming Buffalo-Niagara into the most active area for film production in the state outside of New York City. The Rays will each do a Q&A.
This year the festival expands its weekday matinee selection of foreign films aimed at the Eatsern Hills Cinema’s regular arthouse crowd, with the exotic thriller You Go To My Head from Belgium/Australia/Germany; the political drama Palyadawasi from India; the coming of age musical All Because of Love from Taiwan; the fantasy Dominika from Russia; and the shot-in-one-take drama Immortality from Iran. Also aimed at the Eastern Hills crowd is the award-winning U.S. documentary Pieced Together, about quilt trails across America and the inspiration they have provided, directed by Julianne Donofrio, who will attend.
Other foreign films at Buffalo Dreams embrace the dark side, like the revenge thriller Offensive and the sensory horror film The Darkest, both from France. Montrak, a vampire/action film having its US premiere, and the action film One Shot Left, are both from Germany. The festival’s final stretch at the Screening Room includes a day of Canadian horror films (the anthology 3 Dead Trick or Treaters, the wilderness slasher film The Lone Paddler, and the psychological thriller Art of Obsession). The closing day is comprised of four outstanding features from the UK: the animated paranormal docudrama Borley Rectory; the dark fantasy The Gatehouse; the supernatural thriller Charismata; and Dogged, a feature film derived from a proof of concept short which screened at the festival last year. Filmmakers from many of these selections will attend, creating a truly international film going experience.
Buffalo Dreams Family Film Festival presents two blocks of programming, Saturday Nov. 4th and Sunday Nov. 5thm at 11:30 am. On Saturday, writer Chris Parish (The King of Queens) presents Thrill Ride, a family adventure ala The Goonies based on stories written by his son. The musical fantasy Princess Sparkly Butt and the Hotdog Kid screens on Sunday Nov. 5th. Both films will be preceded by shorts, some of them produced by young students. All seats for the family films are only $5.
Other World Premieres include the comedy 666 PM, from the team behind last year’s Massacre on Aisle 12, and the locally produced drama Good Times Never Come. Admission for Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival is $10 per film/block ($7 for students, seniors and military ID), $20 for a Day Pass, and $100 for an All Festival Pass. Tickets will go on sale next week on the Dipson Theaters website, and the full schedule will soon be available at www.buffalodreamsfilmfest.com
Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival
11 Days, 110 Films
40 Features, 70 Shorts and Short Features
Nov. 2nd – 9th at Dipson Theaters Eastern Hills Cinema
Nov. 10th – 12th at The Screening Room Cinema Cafe
Features (40)
3 Dead Trick or Treaters – Horror Anthology, Canada – Buffalo-Niagara Premiere
The 60 Yard Line – Comedy, US – Buffalo-Niagara Premiere
666PM – Comedy, US – World Premiere
All Because of Love – Musical, Taiwan – US Premiere
Art of Obsession – Psychological Horror, Canada – US Premiere
Blessed Are the Children – Horror, US – Buffalo-Niagara Premiere
Bonehill Road – Horror, US – Film Festival Premiere
Borley Rectory – Animated Paranormal Docudrama, UK – WNY Premiere
Buckout Road – Horror, Canada – NYS Premiere
Charismata – Horror/Thriller, UK – WNY Premiere
Circus Kane – Horror, US – Chris Olen Ray Salute
Countrycide – Horror, Canada – NYS Premiere
The Darkest – Horror, France – US Premiere
Darken – Science Fiction, Canada – NYS Premiere
Diffability Hollywood – WNY Documentary – Buffalo-Niagara Film Festival Premiere
Dogged – Horror/Thriller, UK – NYS Premiere
Dominika – Fantasy, Russia – WNY Premiere
The Gatehouse – Fantasy, UK – East Coast Premiere
Get My Gun – Revenge Thriller – Buffalo-Niagara Premiere
Good Times Never Come – WNY Drama – World Premiere
Greetings from Tromaville! – WNY Documentary – World Premiere
Hablar Con Los Muertos (Talk to the Dead) – Film Festival Premiere
The Harrowing – Horror/Thriller – NYS Premiere
The Heretics, Black Fawn Films – Horror, Canada – NYS Premiere
Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers – Cult Classic – Fred Olen Ray Salute
Immortality – Drama, Iran – US Premiere
The Lone Paddler – Horror, Canada – US Premiere
Mercy Christmas – Horror/Comedy – East Coast Premiere
Mickey Reece’s Alien – Experimental Drama – WNY Premiere
Montrak – Action/Horror, Germany – US Premiere
Offensive – Revenge Thriller, France – NYS Premiere
One Shot Left – Action, Germany – NYS Premiere
Palyadawasi – Drama, India – NYS Premiere
The Phoenix Incident – SF, US
Return to Return to Nuke Em High aka Vol. 2 – Horor/Comedy, US – East Coast Premiere
Six-Pack Sam – Action/Crime/Thriller, US – World Premiere
The Song of Solomon – Horror, US – NYS Premiere
Thrill Ride – Family Adventure, US – NYS Premiere
The VelociPastor – Comedy, US – World Premiere
You Go To My Head – Thriller – Belgium/Australia/ Germany – East Coast Premiere
total
Short Features (4)
Pieced Together (Documentary, US)
Princess Sparkly Butt and the Hotdog Kid (Family, Canada)
Tangent Room (Science Ficton, Sweden)
The Outlaw 7: Death of SIXX (Fantasy, WNY)
Animated Shorts (5)
Fierce (France)
Light Sight (Iran)
Murder Zone (WNY)
The Pine Tree Villa (Germany)
The Servant (Iran)
North American Shorts (19)
2BR02B: To Be Or Naught To Be
Banshee
Breaker
Bride of Frankie
The Call of Charlie
Candyland
Chronoception
The Eliminadora
The Hobbyist
Icarus
Imbroglio
The Last Hurrah
Once Upon a November
Off the Rails
Scraps
Slapface
The Tinwife
Walking Supply
Walk of Shame
International Shorts (16)
2AM (Australia)
Acheron (Germany)
Alfred J. Hemlock (Australia)
Black Ring (Turkey)
Blood Shed (UK)
Desfunctionary (Spain)
Einstein Rosen (Germany)
An Eldrich Place (Belgium)
Go Paul (Germany)
Hada (Spain)
Julkita (Mexico)
Near Keplar (Germany)
The Peculiar Sensibilities of Mr. Mahler (Germany)
Rahowa (Canada)
Strangers on the Road (Spain)
Zona-84 (Spain)
Western New York Shorts (9)
Punch Andy
Filling In
Hunted Pride
In the Death Room
No One Has to Know
The Pearl of Tia Megdelena
Tales of Darkened Light: A Friendly Wager
Venatus Mars
Wait
Micro-Shorts (11)
Daddy’s Girls (Canada)
Es Rever (US)
Ghoulish (Canada)
Metube2 August sing Carmine Burana (Germany)
Monster (US)
Mrs. Rafferty’s Red Roses (Canada)
Paul’s Bad Day (US)
Punch Andy (WNY)
Red Maze (US)
Still (UK)
The Summit (US)
Young Student / Student (6)
A Boy Named Sue (WNY)
Gone (US)
Greatest Zombie Movie Ever (US)
Sleeptalker (US)
Lily Hits the Road (Canada)
Human Outbreak (Australia)
Feature Film Premiere Status
World Premieres (5)
US Premieres (5)
East Coast Premieres (3)
New York State Premieres (10)
Western New York Premiers (3)
Buffalo-Niagara Premieres (4)
Film Festival Premieres ( 2 )
