From superstitions to slashers to psychological horror and beyond, the first wave announcement for Buffalo, New York’s new Amazing Fantasy Fest this September offers tantalizing genre-film fare galore. Following is the official press announcement.
Gregory Lamberson (Slime City, Johnny Gruesome) has announced the first wave of feature film selections for Amazing Fantasy Fest, the new genre film festival he founded to replace long running Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which ended last year after a decade. Sponsors for AFF include Uncork’d Entertainment, filmmaker/author Kristen Skeet, and Dean Beltrano.
Amazing Fantasy Fest celebrates independent horror, sci-fi, action, animation, and experimental films. AFF runs seven days this September, Friday the 13th – Thursday the 19th at Dipson’s Amherst Theatre in Buffalo. Official Selections will screen the first six days, with “secret cinema” offerings on the last day reserved for seven-day pass holders. Submissions are still being accepted via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/AmazingFantasyFest
The Outlaw Cinema Award will be presented in memory of Ace Genovese, a Western New York filmmaker and musician who recently passed away following a long illness. Genovese created The Outlaw: The Living Comic Book series, a popular staple of Buffalo Dreams. An award category has also been added for Best Canadian Film.
“Our first wave includes local features and features directed by out-of-town filmmakers who have become known to our community over the years,” says Lamberson. “There is definitely a feeling of familiarity and family among several of our choices.”
The First Wave Official Selections include three World Premieres and three New York State Premieres. Lamberson anticipates announcing six additional features in addition some retro titles and shorts.
World Premiere: Nickel City Tinseltown: The History of Buffalo, NY Filmmaking, directed by Rochester filmmakers Adrian Esposito and Curt Markham. This documentary examines the wave of indie films created by Buffalo area filmmakers over the last 15 years, particularly in the realm of horror. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/895628932
World Premiere: Slasher Days of Summer, directed by Kristen Skeet, who co-wrote the screenplay with producer Tyler Cheman; an 80’s style slasher film centering around a murderous character known as The Woodsman. The film stars Alyssa Grace Adams, Paul McGinnis, Chad Ridgely and Eugene Bofill. Skeet and Cheman are Western New York filmmakers.
World Premiere: Florence, directed by Skip Shea (with Luigi Cozzi!): A woman experiences a confusing journey into her own psyche and Dante’s circles of Hell while a masked killer circles closer, pushing her to the brink of insanity. Starring Aurora Grabill.
World Premiere: First Person Savior, written and directed by Ramzi Abed, shot in Pasadena and starring Rochester native John Karyus, is described as “An American tragi-comedy birthed by video games, guns, poverty, metal illness and nature.” Lamberson likens it to internal 70’s fare such as Taxi Driver and Joe. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/802523437
New York Premiere: Voices Carry: a Canadian thriller written and directed by Derek Lukosius about a man who becomes a prisoner at a BNB.
New York Premiere: The Pocket Film of Superstitions: United Kingdom filmmaker Tom Lee Rutter’s surreal tour through the imagination features Caroline Munro and Lynn Lowry.
