Three 20-something Pratt Institute grads
have decided that although there are a lot of film festivals
out there, there are a lot more young, talented filmmakers who
aren’t getting exposure.
So they’ve created a new film festival, the Brooklyn Underground
Film Festival (BUFF), to give their peers a shot.
In just six months, Josh Koury, 25, Cris Moris, 23, and Myles
Kane, 23, created BUFF and received more than 600 submissions,
both domestic and foreign, for their film festival, which will
take place Oct. 10-13 in DUMBO. Out of those submissions, the
festival founders have selected 80 films, 69 of which are premieres,
from 10 countries. The films run the gamut from film to video
to animation to computer-generated mixed-media work. Most are
video shorts.
They will be screened in a 4,200-square-foot space at 1 Main
St. at Water Street. The space will accommodate a 120-seat screening
room for the programs and a space for featured filmmakers, festivalgoers
and industry professionals to mix and mingle.
"We’re making everything look good and feel as good as possible,"
said Koury, the festival’s program director. "It’s not a
privileged festival. We want people to come and stay, not just
show up for their screening or their friend’s screening. It’s
more than a film festival, it’s a community that’s being built.
"We have a lot of heart, just not a big budget," said
Koury. "When you come, you’ll feel the founders are there
and are running the show. There’s no hierarchy. It’s based on
vision and dedication, and that’s what’s going to make it happen
– into the future as well."
Koury has a lot of empathy for struggling filmmakers, because
he is one himself. He graduated from Pratt two years ago with
a degree in film and video arts. His 57-minute documentary, "Standing
by Yourself," about a "kid growing up in upstate New
York," did the festival circuit last year.
Koury likens BUFF to the New York Underground Film Festival and
Slamdance.
"In the beginning, we were told, ’There are too many film
festivals out there,’" said Koury. "But our point of
view is there are too many films not being seen. We’re trying
to showcase new works from new artists and not regurgitate the
same festival films."
Koury has also sought out advice from the 5-year-old Brooklyn
International Film Festival, run by Marco Ursino.
"We’ve contacted them and they’re so helpful to us. We are
two completely different festivals. There’s room for all of us.
They started the same [low budget] way we did, and now they’re
doing quite well," said Koury.
"We love New York Underground and Brooklyn International,
and we’re connected with them," said Koury. "And we
believe there’s a need for a fresh viewpoint, and that’s what
we’re trying to do."
Koury defines underground cinema as "making something out
of nothing," which also defines his non-profit festival
operating on volunteer labor and their miniscule submission fee.
Their free-spirited programming reflects that we’ve-got-nothing-to-lose
attitude.
The festival opens on Oct. 10 at 8 pm with a program of short
films titled, "You’re Going to Die!" The festival also
has the world premiere of Steven Strauss’ "A.B.E. (Anorexic
Boy/Ballerina Extraordinaire)" at 7 pm on Oct. 11.
On Oct. 12 at 2 pm, Rainer Frimmel’s "Notes from the Basement"
chronicles a middle-aged, Viennese bachelor’s tour of his apartment.
At 9 pm, on the same day, there will be a program of shorts titled
"Potty Talk." (The films have irresistible summaries
such as this one for "Jacob’s Breakup," part of the
"Potty Talk" program: "This film’s star pisses
in the face of convention. That is, if convention is wholly represented
by Katie Couric. If this doesn’t whet your appetite, come see
him bust his a- doing his own stunts. Quite a treasure.")
The scatological series is balanced by more intellectual fare
on Oct. 13, at 2:30 pm, called "Deconstructing cinema: The
work of Ichiro Sueoka."
The festival closes on Oct. 13, at 8 pm, with "The Daddy
of Rock ’n’ Roll," a Canadian documentary by filmmaker Daniel
Bitton about Wesley Willis, a schizophrenic rock star and accidental
genius. (For a complete schedule of the programs and parties,
visit www.brooklynunderground.org on the Web.)
Koury said the festival features 14 filmmakers from Brooklyn,
too.
"We chose Brooklyn," said Koury, "because we lived
here, went to school here and we’re proud to represent Brooklyn."
The Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
takes place Oct. 10-13 at 1 Main St. at Water Street in DUMBO.
Opening night’s program, "You are Going to Die!" begins
at 8 pm. Each program is $6 and festival passes are $45. For
a complete schedule of films and parties, visit www.brooklynunderground.org
on the Web or call (718) 857-7879.
