Many people may not know this, but Buffalo has two annual film festivals. One happens in spring—The Buffalo Niagara Film Festival (http://thebnff.com/)—and one in fall. Now that October has arrived, it's time to start checking out what the latter has to offer.
Formally founded in 2005 by Edward Summer, The Buffalo International Film Festival is less interested in showcasing new films as much as placing a spotlight on work in a more cultural and historical context. There's still a desire to connect things to the Greater Buffalo region—I saw Buffalo's infamous son Vincent Gallo in Essential Killing a couple years back with the Gallo family in attendance—but much of the programming centers on restored prints or lesser-known classics more attuned with the sensibilities of Summer's Buffalo Film Society members.
The 2014 installment runs October 9-12 at both The Screening Room in Amherst (4524 Bailey) and Casa de Arte in Buffalo (141 Elmwood Avenue). The first houses the festival's main line-up while the second screens a quartet of films starring Mexican singer Jorge Negrete. Full schedule is as follows:
Thursday, October 9, 2014
The Screening Room:
8:00 PM
Modworld
Directed by Jeffrey Turboff
Documentary, 73 min
Opening Night festivities include FREE Southtowns microbrew and Crystal Beach Loganberry and the film's director is expected to be in attendance.
Casa de Arte's "Homage to Jorge Negrete":
7:00 PM
¡Ay Jalisco, No Te Rajes!
Directed by José Rodríguez Ruelas
Country Comedy, 122 min
Spanish with English subtitles
Friday, October 10, 2014
The Screening Room:
7:00 PM
Love & Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere
Directed by Dave Jannetta
Documentary, 73 min
9:00 PM
Phantom of the Paradise
Directed by Brian de Palma
Comedy, 92 min
Introduced by Phantom-enthusiast Joe Ferrelli.
Casa de Arte's "Homage to Jorge Negrete":
7:00 PM
La Madrina Del Diablo
Directed by Ramón Peón
Country Drama, 90 min
Spanish with English subtitles
Saturday, October 11, 2014
The Screening Room:
1:00 PM
The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz
Directed by Brian Knappenberger
Documentary, 105 min
3:00 PM
The Heart of Bruno Wizard
Directed by Elisabeth Rasmussen
Documentary, 69 min
5:00 PM
Westfield: Struggles to Success
Directed by Sonja Tonpea
Documentary, 54 min
7:00 PM
True Son
Directed by Kevin Gordon
Documentary, 72 min
9:00 PM
Give & Take
Directed by Scott Andrew Kurchak
Comedy, 82 min
Reception and Q&A to be held after the screening.
Casa de Arte's "Homage to Jorge Negrete":
7:00 PM
Historia de un Gran Amor
Directed by Julio Bracho
Romantic Melodrama, 155 min
Spanish with English subtitles
Sunday, October 12, 2014
The Screening Room:
2:00 PM
Hold'em
Directed by Clay DuMaw
Drama, 82 min
4:00 PM
Shorts Program – International and Buffalo made
• Beneath the Surface
• Failure Groupies
• How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
• LemonAid
• Tin Cans
• Buffalo Juggalos
81 min
6:00 PM
The Watchmaker's Apprentice
Directed by David Armstrong
Documentary, 67 min
Casa de Arte's "Homage to Jorge Negrete":
7:00 PM
El Gran Casino
Directed by Luis Buñuel
Musical Drama, 85 min
Spanish with English subtitles
Tickets will be on-sale soon at http://www.buffalofilmfestival.com/. Check there for updates and announcements or visit BIFF's Twitter account @BuffaloFilmFest.
