Local Director and entrepreneur Bill Cowell has puts an infinite amount of time and energy into the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival each year. The cost of admission is $10 per movie, other packages available, and if you think of the time spent hand selecting the films you are about to see, it’s a very minimal price to pay.
The slow process begins with receipt of hundreds, maybe thousands, of submissions by filmmakers from Buffalo to Tibet. Bill and his staff watch them all. They bring their favorites to the table and then carefully narrow the list down to only the best to be shown over the ten day event. Some of this year’s documentaries include Autism: Made in the USA, Signs of the Times and Divorcing God (pictured above). The feature films are a wide variety of dramas and comedies such as Adventures of a Teenage Dragon Slayer featuring our own Buffalo native Wendie Malick, Christina, a post-World War II story about a young German with a secret, and Hot Tamale for those needing their yearly dose of spicy women like Carmen Electra.
BR: Do local Filmmakers take priority when selecting films each year?
BC: No, local filmmakers do not take priority, that wouldn’t be fair, they are chosen strictly on merit, just like the others. They have to be really good to be chosen.
BR: Is there one film in particular that shouldn’t be missed?
BC: There is no one particular film in mind, but there are several very exceptional films. Christina, Broken Dreams, Under My Garden, The Devil and Jewsus are some of my favorites.
BR: Do tickets often sell out and should attendees be purchasing them ahead of time on your website?
BC: Yes it would be wise to buy tickets online. There have been many showings in the past that have sold out with large crowds and it’s only getting busier!
BR: Were any new venues added this year, or features?
BC: Yes, the Tonawanda Castle where we will be doing a film market & expo the last three days of the festival concurrent with the showings at the Riviera Theatre. Also, for the first time ever, we are opening the awards ceremony up to the public to experience what we experience. There will be many celebrities and special guests participating with the awards with Grammy Award Winner Joanne Shenendoah heading up a special singing performance to start it off.
Be sure to plan out your movie seeing adventure ahead of time by downloading the schedule here: 2010 FILM SCHEDULE.pdf. Enjoy the show!