Do you watch and/or collect 16 mm films? For those of us who do, there is a film festival scheduled for July 29-31. It is the 5th annual Western New York Movie Expo. The event, hosted by long-time film collector Alex Bartosh, is being held for the first time at Delavan Hotel and Spa located on Transit Road (near the Buffalo Airport.
The event features dozens of rare, golden-age, features and shorts, some dating back to the silent era and accompanied by some astonishing live music from keyboard wizard Jeff Rapsis on the digital synthesizer. Films from Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy and the Three Stooges will be projected, along with much rarer titles including a 1910 silent version of Frankenstein. There are horror trailers, a sci-fi cartoon fest and wartime propaganda shorts.
There will also be a dealers room loaded with 16mm movies for sale, along with movie posters, rare books, lobby cards, film projectors and other collectable goodies.
Admission is $25 for the weekend pass or $10 per day. You can get scheduling details and hotel information here.
Now — is it safe to attend and can you cross the border? Bartosh says full safety protocols are in place and, based on past WNYME experiences, the screening areas and dealer rooms won’t be over crowded. As for the border, there are indications that border crossings from Canada to the United States and back again will finally be permitted by July 21. Fingers crossed!
