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 40th year as an independent filmmaker, his 20th as a published author, and his 14th 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 13th – Thursday the 19th. 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. 13th, 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. 19th 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. 14th.“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. 13th, 9:20pm) What better way to celebrate Friday the 13th 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. 14th, 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. 14th, 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. 14th, 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. 16th, 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. 19th, 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. 15th 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. 28th and Sunday, Sept. 29th. 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 1st. The full schedule is available at www.amazingfantasyfest.com.
Gregory Lamberson Film: www.gregorylambersonfilm.com