ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Amazing Fantasy Fest showcases the best independent Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action, Animation, and Experimental films on the planet. AFF runs for seven days in mid-September. Programming includes new films, filmmaker Q&As, classic films, plus special programming exclusively for our VIP and Full Fantasy Pass Holders.
Amazing Fantasy Fest showcases the best independent Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action, Animation, and Experimental films on the planet. AFF runs for seven days in mid-September. Programming includes new films, filmmaker Q&As, classic films, plus special programming exclusively for our VIP and Full Fantasy Pass Holders.
Amazing Fantasy Fest is the mutant spawn brainchild of cult filmmaker Gregory Lamberson (Slime City, Killer Rack), co-founder of Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival, which ran for three years, and Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which just completed an acclaimed ten-year run. AFF is the culmination of Greg's efforts to showcase genre films and filmmakers from around the world, and to spotlight the work of Western New York artists.
Amazing Fantasy Fest is the mutant spawn brainchild of cult filmmaker Gregory Lamberson (Slime City, Killer Rack), co-founder of Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival, which ran for three years, and Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, which just completed an acclaimed ten-year run. AFF is the culmination of Greg's efforts to showcase genre films and filmmakers from around the world, and to spotlight the work of Western New York artists.
“I’ve watched 'fantastic cinema 'since I was four years old, and I’ve screened imaginative films and celebrated their creators for the last thirteen years. Visitors to Buffalo and local artists alike have rated the events I co-produced among the best and most welcoming they’ve attended; for all ten years that Buffalo Dreams ran it made FilmFreeway’s list of Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals. I’ll bring to Amazing Fantasy Fest everything I brought to my previous events and more. I’ve assembled a passionate team of film lovers as devoted to the cause as I am.”
What We Crave
What We Crave
Amazing Fantasy Fest will screen the best “fantastic” films available for our razor sharp audience. We want scary, exciting, thought-provoking, fun, bold films. Blow us away with your originality and fearlessness. We don’t require your World Premiere – we just want the best films. We do require the Buffalo/WNY Premiere for any features we select.
Amazing Fantasy Fest will screen the best “fantastic” films available for our razor sharp audience. We want scary, exciting, thought-provoking, fun, bold films. Blow us away with your originality and fearlessness. We don’t require your World Premiere – we just want the best films. We do require the Buffalo/WNY Premiere for any features we select.
Local Films
Local Films
Greg is an advocate for film production in Western New York and has made a mission of supporting local artists. He's lived in New York State his entire life and is one of the founding members of the Buffalo film community. We will consider films of any kind produced by our local creators – comedies, dramas, documentaries, student films - look for "Normies' Night"!
Greg is an advocate for film production in Western New York and has made a mission of supporting local artists. He's lived in New York State his entire life and is one of the founding members of the Buffalo film community. We will consider films of any kind produced by our local creators – comedies, dramas, documentaries, student films - look for "Normies' Night"!
Theatrical Experience
Theatrical Experience
We believe in providing independent filmmakers with a true theatrical experience, on a large screen with dynamic sound. We do not screen films online; Greg spent years managing movie theaters, and online screenings are antithetical to our festival philosophy. We believe it's best for filmmakers and patrons alike for us to limit our screenings to one venue for convenience. We also strive to present films on one screen only, with no counterprogramming, so movie lovers don’t have to choose between films.
We believe in providing independent filmmakers with a true theatrical experience, on a large screen with dynamic sound. We do not screen films online; Greg spent years managing movie theaters, and online screenings are antithetical to our festival philosophy. We believe it's best for filmmakers and patrons alike for us to limit our screenings to one venue for convenience. We also strive to present films on one screen only, with no counterprogramming, so movie lovers don’t have to choose between films.
Filmmaker Q&As
Filmmaker Q&As
Every attending Selected filmmaker will receive a Q&A. Greg has a reputtion for conducting insightful interviews with fellow filmmakers.
Every attending Selected filmmaker will receive a Q&A. Greg has a reputtion for conducting insightful interviews with fellow filmmakers.
Venue
Venue
Our venue is the Dipson Amherst Theatre, located in Buffalo, New York. This is our home. The main auditorium has 132 reclining seats, a large screen, and awesome sound. Dipson is also known for having the best popcorn in Buffalo, with real butter. The theatre is located in a plaza with several places to eat, five minutes from hotels, 10 minutes from Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, and 15 minutes from two different Amtrak stations.
Our venue is the Dipson Amherst Theatre, located in Buffalo, New York. This is our home. The main auditorium has 132 reclining seats, a large screen, and awesome sound. Dipson is also known for having the best popcorn in Buffalo, with real butter. The theatre is located in a plaza with several places to eat, five minutes from hotels, 10 minutes from Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, and 15 minutes from two different Amtrak stations.
Completion Window
Completion Window
Because Amazing Fantasy Fest is technically a new festival, we’re not requiring films submitted for consideration for our inaugural event to have been completed during the previous year; we’ll accept films completed as far back as 2020 as long as 1) they haven’t screened in Buffalo previously; and 2) they’re not available online.
Because Amazing Fantasy Fest is technically a new festival, we’re not requiring films submitted for consideration for our inaugural event to have been completed during the previous year; we’ll accept films completed as far back as 2020 as long as 1) they haven’t screened in Buffalo previously; and 2) they’re not available online.
Genres
Genres
We want edgy, cool films, whether thoughtful or outrageous:
Horror is the lifeblood of any Greg Lamberson film festival. Show us some blood, show us some guts, show us some terror!
Horror is the lifeblood of any Greg Lamberson film festival. Show us some blood, show us some guts, show us some terror!
Science Fiction - Make it smart, visual, and engaging.
Science Fiction - Make it smart, visual, and engaging.
Fantasy includes a wide variety of film types, including musicals.
Fantasy includes a wide variety of film types, including musicals.
Action - For our purposes, “action” includes traditional action cinema as well as crime dramas, westerns, and war films.
Action - For our purposes, “action” includes traditional action cinema as well as crime dramas, westerns, and war films.
Animation - We have created separate categories for Animation: 2D/3D and Stop Motion Animation.
Animation - We have created separate categories for Animation: 2D/3D and Stop Motion Animation.
Experimental – Some of the most disturbing and mind-blowing films are impossible to categorize, and we love them.
Experimental – Some of the most disturbing and mind-blowing films are impossible to categorize, and we love them.
WNY Student Films – Our only student category is for films created by students in Western New York: those villages, towns and cities located in the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming. All other students should submit work in one of the regular categories. All other tudents should submit their work in one of the other categories.
WNY Student Films – Our only student category is for films created by students in Western New York: those villages, towns and cities located in the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming. All other students should submit work in one of the regular categories. All other tudents should submit their work in one of the other categories.