The Amazing Fantasy Fest (AAF) was created by cult filmmaker Gregory Lamberson. That was in September of 2024. Since that time, Lamberson has been building up the momentum for this film festival to a point where it is now breaking new grounds for regional filmdom.
In 2026, Amazing Fantasy Fest will screen 106 films, with 36 produced right here in WNY. Film genres will include horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, comedy, animation, and experimental. Altogether, there will be 15 features and 91 shorts screened at Dipson’s Amherst Theatre from Friday, September 11 to Thursday, September 17.
“We screen all types of local films, in all styles,” said Lamberson. “Our seven-day schedule gives us the flexibility to devote extra time local artists.”
Some of this year’s highlights include:
- Mindflip (World Premiere, Fri, 9/11, 7pm) – A horror/sci-fi comedy written and directed by Niagara Falls filmmaker Ken Rowe, starring cult siren Lynn Lowry as an aging horror movie queen seeking to transplant her mind into a younger body. Chad Ridgely, Bob Bozek and Isabel Deschamps co-star. A Q&A with Rowe follows the screening.
- Broken Spear (New York Premiere, Fri, 9/11, 9:30 pm) – An epic Chinese historical martial arts film set during the twilight of the Tang Dynasty. A legendary spear-master must take up his broken weapon when ghosts from his past hunt him. Directed by Chuanlin Sun.
- Segments of Jonah Presents… “Journal of the Homunculus” (World Premiere, Sat, 1pm) An experimental fantasy in the tradition of surrealist Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo, Santa Sangre) from New Jersey director Tommy Graef, starring Lowry again, with cult actor Debbie Rochon. Q&A with Graef. “It’s a truly mind boggling film,” promises Lamberson, “unlike anything we’ve shown before.”
- Raging Midlife (Sat, 4pm) – A wrestling comedy starring co-screenwriter Nic Costa, Paula Abdul, Eddie Griffin and Walter Koenig. Two mid-lifers set out to recover the tank top of their favorite 80s wrestler while pursued by a big game hunter. Q&A with Costa.
- The Demonatrix (Horror, Tuesday, 7:45 pm) – Popular goth musician Voltaire co-wrote and co-directed (with Jeff Feller) this creature feature and stars as a priest who joins forces with his mentor to stop a dominatrix possessed by a demon. Q&A with Voltaire.
- It’s Always Almost Over (Wed, 7:30 pm) – A romantic dramedy about a man preparing to leave his upstate New York small town when he finally meets his perfect match. From the team behind Break Glass, a previous selection at the festival. Q&A with director Jay Leonard.
“My goal with this festival is to support independent films, and to give filmmakers the chance to screen their work on a big screen,” Lamberson imparted. “I love genre films, but I’m even more excited by films that transcend categorization, that give people something they’ve never seen before. Patrons remember these films and the people they engage with who made them.”
This year, a number of special awards will be bestowed upon people who have significantly contributed to the local film industry. The AFF Awards will be held on Sunday, 9/13 at 5 pm. Awardees are as follows:
- Actor, comedian and producer Jon Cesar (The Romans) will receive the Bill Brown Award for acting, named in memory of the beloved local film and theatre actor who passed away in 2022.
- Robin Lazarra will be recognized with the Local Service Award for her work on behalf of the Buffalo film community through Film Neighbor Network, the nonprofit organization she leads.
- Record producer and film score composer John Armand Petri will receive the Local Hero Award. Petri, known for his work with the Goo Goo Dolls and 10,000 Maniacs, contributed to the scores of two films screening at AFF: Mindflip and Cosmos (Mon, 9/14, 6:00 pm).
- Director Taylor Martin will receive the Lois Weber Award, named after the silent film era pioneer who directed over 130 films. This award is sponsored by the Valkyrie International Film Festival, run by Lamberson’s wife Tamar and their daughter Kaelin.
- The William R. Thompson Film Champion Award, named in memory of Lamberson’s late uncle, a highly respected film distribution executive, will be presented to distinguished professors Diane Christian and Bruce Jackson for their work programming and hosting the Buffalo Film Seminars.
Full Festival Fantasy Passes are available for purchase only at the Amherst Theatre box office for $80 ($60 for students and seniors). Day Passes will be available at the box office when the festival begins, for $30 (Fri, Sat or Sun) or $20 (Mon, Tues, Wed or Thurs). Regular admission for individual blocks is $15 ($10 for matinees before 5 pm and will be available online at Dipsontheaters.com beginning Sept. 1st.
For the schedule and film descriptions, visit www.amazingfantasyfest.com