The Buffalo International Film Festival has long prided itself on being a champion for movies from around the world – and Buffalo – that are diverse, entertaining and thought-provoking.
This year, the spotlight shines brighter than ever on Buffalo, with a documentary about the city’s crucial role with the unionization of Starbucks (“Baristas vs Billionaires”), two feature films made here in 2024 (“The Panic,” “Cutman”) and a Lifetime Achievement Award for honorary Buffalonian Stephen McKinley Henderson. In all, more than 200 feature films, shorts and episodic works from nearly 40 countries are part of the 19th annual festival that runs from Oct. 9-16 in the North Park Theatre, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo Toronto Public Media (WNED Studios) and Burchfield Penney Art Center.
The opening night gala is the world premiere of “Baristas vs Billionaires,” a documentary narrated by Susan Sarandon about the grassroots efforts of the Elmwood Avenue Starbucks that became the first in the country to successfully unionize. It will be shown at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 10 in the North Park Theatre. A post-film Q&A will feature director/writer/producer Mark Mori, producers Alec Baldwin and Bob Judson and documentary participant Gianna Reeve. Other members of the cast and crew will be in the audience.
“The Panic” has spent June filming throughout the Buffalo area to take advantage of the city’s historic architecture at such esteemed buildings as Butler Mansion, the Twentieth Century Club and at M&T’s “Gold Dome” bank.
The closing night gala is a special presentation of the Buffalo-made historical drama “The Panic” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the North Park. Based on the real-life 1907 financial crisis, it stars Cary Elwes as Charles Barney and Colm Meaney as J.P. Morgan. Malcolm McDowell, Cristiana Dell’Anna and Tim Daly co-star. In attendance will be director/writer Daniel Adams, stars Cristiana Dell’Anna and Anastasiya Mitrunen and producer Michael Mailer.
“Opening with ‘Baristas vs Billionaires’ and closing with ‘The Panic’ has a certain poetry to it that didn’t occur to us until we saw the films together, bookending the fest as our opening and closing night gala films,” festival Executive Director Anna Scime said.
After “The Panic,” Mailer will stay for the 9:15 p.m. showing of “Cutman,” which he directed. It is the Western New York premiere of the film starring Buffalo native William Fichtner, Chris Noth, Emily Hall, Caroline Concannon and Jon Abrahams. The story is about a retired boxer who meets a mother and her child who are out for revenge.
“Buffalo is perhaps playing the largest role it has with BIFF to date,” Scime said, “though we always do our best to spotlight as much of the amazing work produced here in Western New York and our larger multinational region (Canada, Haudenosaunee Nations, etc.).
“There has always been incredible content being created here and, overall, the work being made in our region just keeps getting better and better, year after year,” Scime added.
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One reason for Buffalo’s bigger profile in the festival is because filmmakers and actors who came here to make their movies want to return when they are finished. That includes the people behind “Baristas vs Billionaires” and “The Panic,” who “wanted to show the communities that made their films possible the first look,” Scime said.
“The timing was right, and these filmmakers all love Buffalo and were willing to forgo other opportunities to be here with us,” she added.
The event is also a chance for the film industry to network and for visiting filmmakers to see what Buffalo offers.
“We love introducing our filmmakers to each other and watching those connections take root. And we love introducing visitors to the incentives and benefits of producing content in the region,” Scime said. “They often fall in love with Buffalo and the incredible people and locations, as well as the easy access it provides.
BIFF also honors much-lauded actor and educator Stephen McKinley Henderson with its Lifetime Achievement Award during the Legacy Gala at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 in the North Park. The gala will include a screening of “Everyday People,” followed by an extended discussion with Henderson, who personally chose the 2004 movie to be shown at the event.
“I think that really speaks to his personality and the kind of performer and human being that he is,” Scime said about his choice of the film about how the closing of a popular Brooklyn neighborhood restaurant impacts its workers.
“He is a true talent and an absolute gem of a human being, and this celebration of his work is long overdue in our opinion,” Scime added. “He’s mimetic and magnetic on screen and the stage; and brilliant, generous, kind when he’s on the ground with the rest of us.”
“We’re convinced it’s going to be a success. It’s going to be a filmmaker’s paradise with a purpose-filled studio,” Great Point CEO Robert Halmi Jr. said to an audience that included Buffalo dignitaries and celebrities.
Henderson also will attend the Western New York premiere of his film “The Dutchman” at 4:45 p.m. Oct. 11, and will participate in a Q&A following the movie, which stars André Holland, Zazie Beetz and Kate Mara. It is directed by Andre Gaines.
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Henderson has been an honorary Buffalonian since joining UB’s Department of Theatre and Dance in 1987, of which he is now a professor emeritus. He’s a member of Buffalo’s Theater Hall of Fame, received a star in the Buffalo Plaza of Stars from the Theatre District Association in 2017 and received a Career Achievement from the Artie Awards.
Preview
Buffalo International Film Festival
Oct. 9-16 at the North Park Theatre, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo Toronto Public Media (WNED Studios) and Burchfield Penney Art Center. For the full schedule and ticket information, visit buffalofilm.org.
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