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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…February 9, 2007

Buffalo Niagara Film Festival Positions Upstate New York
Prominently in Independent Film Promotion Nationwide

The first annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival (BNFF), which is slated to run from March 26 - 31, 2007, is destined to position upstate New York as a leader in independent film promotion nationwide. A week-long international event open to filmmakers, screenwriters, entertainment industry professionals and the public, the BNFF offers a highly visible venue to showcase local, national and international independent film productions.

The BNFF is being sponsored by Captures Entertainment, Inc., an independent full-service motion picture production company, headquartered in Niagara County, New York, with offices in Los Angeles for business operations, development and distribution. The Company engages in the development, production, post-production, distribution and sale of motion picture film, and video products in all genres, including: feature films; shorts; documentaries; educational films; and commercial spots.

BNFF festival founder and director Bill Cowell, who is also the CEO of Captures Entertainment, explains “it will be a festival hosted by filmmakers and screenwriters...for filmmakers and screenwriters.” While many film entries in the Festival feature well-known names like Ed Begley, Jr., Karen Black, Paul Sorvino and Martin Sheen, many of the screenwriters, filmmakers, actors and other creative production members are not seasoned professionals.

“Many of these people develop their screenplays, teleplays, films and videos while working ‘real jobs.’ Others have been fortunate to have real jobs in the entertainment industry. Many are students, hoping to get that big break. There are many local filmmakers and screenwriters –established and aspiring – here in the Buffalo Niagara Region...and there are many more from around the country and the world!”

Upstate New York stands to gain serious media coverage for the event which is expected to attract celebrities, producers and industry acquisition and distribution executives seeking out new and promising talent.

During Festival Week, a series of Seminars and Panels will be held presenting topics of interest to screenwriters and filmmakers. A preliminary list of these topics includes: “Intellectual Property and the Filmmaker/Screenwriter;” “Entertainment Law – Contracts, Agreements, Releases – Why Are They Necessary;” “Insurance for the Film Project – Production Insurance, Errors & Omissions, Liability, etc.;” “Financing the Film Project;” “Distributing Your Film;” “Casting In's and Out's;” “Music for Film – Licensing, Synchronization Agreements, Original Scores, Public Domain;” “Screenwriting Techniques;” “Special Effects;” “Working with Unions;” and “Budgeting.”

BNFF co-founder and director Crissy Tonsi notes that the Festival staff is working with recognized industry leaders and professionals to bring a talented slate of guest speakers and panelists to the event. “We have been assisted by a range of prominent industry professionals who are very supportive of our initiative. These include directors, studio executives, indie filmmakers, animation artists, special effects coordinators, entertainment attorneys, film distributors, cinematographers, producers and line producers, composers and music supervisors, casting directors, productions supervisors and a number of investors, venture capital groups and financiers.”

The BNFF film competition is open to those films that have been completed no later than October 31, 2006, and are available for screening during the festival; the BNFF screenplay and teleplay competition is open to writers who do not earn a living writing for film or television. Grand Jury Prizes will be awarded for: Best Feature Film; Best Animation Film; Best Student Film; Best Screenplay; Best Documentary Film; Best Foreign Film (Subtitled); Most Promising Director; The Falls Award (for best Western New York Film); Best Short Film; Best Music Video; and Best Teleplay.

Distinguished actor/writer/director Robert Culp, will be participating in the BNFF event, having last year been a featured guest and panelist at The George Eastman House in Rochester (NY), when his classic ‘70’s film noir, “Hickey & Boggs” (with Bill Cosby) was premiered in restored format.
Information on the Festival program, including artistic submission guidelines and corporate sponsorship opportunities, can be found on the not-for-profit organization’s web site at www.BuffaloNiagaraFilmFestival.com.