(July 15th, 2015) The Buffalo International Film Festival, now entering its 9th year, has tapped Ray Guarnieri, 25, filmmaker and Buffalo native to be its next Executive Director. Guarnieri is known for his 2013 film Buffalo Boys, released worldwide this past January on an array of digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu. The film was shot locally and is based on a true story from the director’s childhood in Clarence, NY.
Last fall BIFF Founder and former Executive Director Edward Summer passed away, leaving the festival without the strong leadership that he provided for many years. As he assumes this position, Guarnieri speaks of the region’s burgeoning film industry, “Buffalo has been steadily rising for a decade. As businesses have come back to the area, so have artists and entertainers. All the pieces are in place for a major national and international film festival to take hold- the geography, the community, and the resources. The only thing left is to provide the region with an organization that ties these elements together and enables people to not only celebrate the moving image- but to bolster those who make it their livelihood.”
Hoping to build on this tradition, Guarnieri has begun to assemble a team of local film professionals including Garrett Vorreuter, Founder of the Pierce-Arrow Film Arts Center, as festival Co-Director. “Together, Ray and I plan to expand the festival to more city venues and take measures to attract a younger and more diverse audience. We hope not only to bring world-class cinema to Buffalo, but to celebrate the ties that Buffalo has to the birth of the medium itself,” said Vorreuter.
The 2015 Festival will be held October 15th-18th. BIFF is currently accepting submissions for films on FilmFreeway.com until the final deadline on August 7th.
The Buffalo International Film Festival has also announced a crowdfunding campaign in hopes of moving to the festival to the prestigious North Park Theatre. To support the festival’s relocation to the North Park Theater and purchase discounted tickets and passes supporters can visit their IndieGoGo page .
Contact
To learn more please contact BIFF staff,
Office: (917) 853-0173
info@buffalointernationalfilmfestival.com
www.BuffaloInternationalFilmFestival.com