The Buffalo International Film Festival was founded in 2003, and takes place in October of each year in Buffalo, New York. It is also known as the Buffalo Film Festival.
The film festival became a 501c3 not-for-profit charity in January 2005.
In 2007 it was responsible for the discovery of the Vitascope Theater, part of Edisonia Hall, the first purpose-built movie theater in the world which opened in 1896. The festival now sponsors a yearly event celebrating the creation of the Movie Theater in Buffalo.
It also made Buffalo the first city in the world to declare UNESCO World Day for Audio-Visual Heritage.
In 2013 the BIFF hosted a meet and greet book signing with children's author Keith White Jr. for the screenings of Magic Camp and Dear Mr. Watterson. White was again present at the 2014 BIFF.
The board of Advisors includes: Tom Fontana, Lauren Belfer, Lawrence Block, A.R. Gurney, Nancy Kress, Herbert Hauptman, Jim Steranko, Howard Bloom, Edward Summer, Lloyd Kaufman, David Shire, Mort Walker, Bill Prady and others.
Its other activities include: The Buffalo Film Society (founded 2008) along with the Niagara Falls Film Society, Buffalo-Niagara Film Society; the New York State Movie Theater Corridor (founded 2006); The Buffalo Walk of Fame (founded 2006); The Buffalo Movie Hall of Fame (founded 2006); The Buffalo; and the Buffalo Cinematheque.
The inaugural festival was June 13, 2007 and included "Student Films Across America."
In 2008, it screened more than 25 films including regional and national premieres. These screenings included a Harold Lloyd Film Retrospective (with personal appearance by Suzanne Lloyd and "Hollywood 39" a retrospective of great Hollywood movies from 1939.
It holds a Spring Gala and Fall Festival. In 2009, the Spring Gala was a celebration of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse arranged through The Walt Disney Company.
The third annual festival, Buffalo Film Festival 2009, ran from October 9–27, 2009 and included 18 films from all over the world and 16 guests who presented them including Abigail Disney, Rick Schmidlin, Charles Band, Dwayne Buckle, David Heeley, Ray Bradbury, J.B. Kaufman, Mary Pat Kelly It included the First Annual Al Boasberg Comedy Award given in honor of famed comedy writer Al Boasberg who was born in Buffalo.
World Premiere: Kate and Fred: Hepburn and Astaire directed by David Heeley and Joan KramerWestern New York Premiere: The Minority directed by Dwayne BuckleWestern New York Premiere: Pray the Devil Back to Hell co-directed by Abigail DisneyAl Boasberg Comedy Award—Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Writing - Larry GelbartAl Boasberg Comedy Award—Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Writing - Joseph SteinAl Boasberg Comedy Award—Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Writing - Everett GreenbaumAl Boasberg Comedy Award—Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Performance - Kathleen HowardAl Boasberg Comedy Award—Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Art and Writing - Harvey KurtzmanThe fourth Annual Buffalo International Film Festival ran from October 1–10, 2010. 60 films were screened.
World Premiere: God's Land directed by Preston MillerNew York State Premiere: Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture directed by Mark Richard SmithNew York State Premiere: Hard Four directed by Charles DennisNew York State Premiere: Superstonic Sound directed by Raphael ErichsenWestern New York Premiere: La Soga directed by Josh CrookWestern New York Premiere: Metropolis directed by Fritz Lang (World Day for AudioVisual Heritage Screening)Western New York Premiere: Waking Sleeping Beauty directed by Don HahnSpecial Screening: Temple Grandin directed by Mick Jackson (exclusive theatrical, benefit screening)Al Boasberg Comedy Award—Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Performance Sid CaesarApproximately 80 films were screened. Audience Awards were given for the first time.
World Premiere: Kumpanía: Flamenco Los Angeles directed by Katina DunnAudience AwardWinner: Kumpanía: Flamenco Los AngelesIn 2012, 70 films were screened at three locations including The Screening Room, Amherst, NY; Historic Lockport Palace Theatre, Lockport, NY; Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, Buffalo, NY.
Audience Awards given.
Best of FestivalTIE – Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (UK, France) Gilles Penso, Ray and Diana Harryhausen FoundationTIE – Starry, Starry Night (Taiwan) Tom Lin, ChinaLionBest DramaFirst Place: Starry, Starry Night (Taiwan) Tom Lin, ChinaLionSecond Place: Extraterrestrial (Extraterrestre) (Spain) NachoVigalondo, Arsenico Producciones/TuggThird Place: A Case of Deceit (Canada)Best DocumentaryFirst Place: Ray Harryhausen: Special FX Titan (UK, France) Gilles Penso, Ray and Diana Harryhausen FoundationSecond Place: Somewhere Between (USA) Linda Goldstein Knowlton, Longshot FactoryThird Place: Alive Inside (work-in-progress) (USA) Michael Rossato-Bennett, Ximotion MediaAnimationFirst Place: My Neighbor Totoro (Japan) Hayao Miyazaki, Studio GhibliForeign Language FilmFirst Place: Starry, Starry Night (Taiwan) Tom Lin, ChinaLionSecond Place: Extraterrestrial (Extraterrestre) (Spain) Nacho, Vigalondo, Arsenico Producciones/TuggBest Science FictionFirst Place: Extraterrestrial (Extraterrestre) (Spain) Nacho Vigalondo, Arsenico Producciones/TuggBest Short Film – InternationalFirst Place: Behind the Concrete (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada)(all films in this category are made by filmmakers from Buffalo and Western New York)
Feature FilmFirst Place: ZeusShort FilmFirst Place: Take It Off – Anna Van ValinSecond Place: Viral VideoHonorable Mention: Feeble Attraction; Exit 7ABest Narrative FeatureGold Bison: Oblivion Season (Iran) directed by Abbas RafeiSpecial Jury Prize: Abby Singer/Songwriter (USA) directed by Onur TukelBest WNY FeatureGold Bison: Emelie (USA) directed by Michael ThelinSpecial Jury Prize: Prescient (Singapore, USA) directed by Hann-Shi LemBest Feature DocumentaryGold Bison: A Courtship (USA) directed by Amy KohnSpecial Jury Prize: Aspie Seeks LoveAudience AwardGold Bison: ...In The Dark (USA) directed by David SpaltroBest Short FilmGold Bison: I Scream Your NameSpecial Jury Prize: Royal Women’s AssociationBest WNY ShortGold Bison: Long JohnSpecial Jury Prize: Aleatories From an EchoBest WNY Student FilmGold Bison: Mer DepreSpecial Jury Prize: LocomotionSupersnipe AwardGold Bison: Detectives of Noir Town