Forget Sundance and forget Cannes; Buffalo is the new star.
This week marks the kick off to the fourth Buffalo International Film Festival. Featuring numerous film genres as well as several awards to be handed out, the City of Good Neighbors has become the city of good movies.
Formed in 2003, the Buffalo International Film Festival, or BIFF, is a not-for- profit charity event that displays some of the best amateur and professional cinematic works from around the world.
BIFF, however, is more than just an outlet for dozens of filmmakers to show off their latest works. The festival is an event, which, through the collaboration of various individuals from varying backgrounds, represents and encourages the use of international cooperation. This is something that the world as a whole could take a note on.
Even though BIFF includes indie features, motion picture classics, comedy, animation, and documentary style films, the festival places its priorities elsewhere and takes its international title to heart.
The festival takes the works of lesser-known filmmakers and brings them to the forefront to shed some well-deserved light on their work. In addition, BIFF also takes special interest in films that hail from diverse cultural, ethnic, and educational origins and how the motion pictures affect the international community around them.
BIFF takes place at several theaters scattered throughout Buffalo and the surrounding towns. Among the theaters participating in the festival are The Screening Room in Amherst, HD Video Café in Williamsville, North Park Theater, and Market Arcade Film and Arts Center in Buffalo.
For any cinema fan, this is one event you don't want to miss. BIFF runs until Oct. 10 so this weekend is your last chance to make it out and see some of the best films around.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
