The 2020 Niagara Falls International Film Festival's Call For Entries deadline in March 15

The Call for Entries regular deadline for the 2020 Niagara Falls International Film Festival (September 9-12, 2020) is one month away (March 15). The 3rd edition of NFIFF will once again work to deliver an entertaining and invigorating film experience for Western New York film fans – as well as continue to be a significant force in the community of Niagara Falls to revitalize it and celebrate the area’s rich history.

Niagara Falls International Film Festival’s Founder and President Bill Cowell said, “Just as we enjoyed growth this year in terms of the number of attending filmmakers, audiences, and screenings, we expect the same for the third year of the film festival. In fact, some special events and guests are already in the planning stages that will be exciting to present to the film fans in Niagara Falls.

Matt Shapira (Director of Best Narrative Film winner, BIG MUDDY) with NFIFF’s Stanley Isaacs

In two years, NFIFF has established a precedent of bringing Academy Award winners and guests representing the Hollywood classics to Niagara Falls to both celebrate their work and connect them with independent filmmakers making entertaining and provocative work today.

This year, NFIFF opened with a celebration of Academy Award-winner Louis Gossett Jr. and influential legend Samuel Fuller. The Gala celebration and Opening Night reception featured a display of the first Niagara Falls Walk of Fame stars set to be installed this year with the names of Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Mark Bridges. Isaacs was in attendance and presented the festival’s Legacy Award to Gossett Jr. Christa and Samantha Fuller were presented with NFIFF’s inaugural Icon of Industry Award for Samuel Fuller, and both Fuller and Gossett Jr. were presented with their own stars on the Walk of Fame, as well. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster presented a proclamation for the Bill Cowell and the Niagara Falls International Film Festival and Recent finalist form “The Voice”, Mikaela Astel, performed.

Following a festival-long salute to Samuel Fuller NFIFF capped it off with a screening of Fuller’s beloved THE BIG RED ONE with Christa and Samantha Fuller, and several of the film’s stars (Robert Carradine, Perry Lang, Kelly Ward, and Bobby Di Ciccio) in attendance. Moderated by filmmaker and film historian, Michael Schlesinger, the post-screening Q&A was an entertaining and frequently emotional one – with fond remembrances of Fuller and the film’s star, Lee Marvin. The moment was made all the greater thanks to a surprise voice message from another of the film’s stars, Mark Hamill, who was unable to attend.

Kyle Thompson (Director of the Best Short Film winner, THE BOY HERO), with NFIFF’s 2019 Ambassador of Film, Janel Tanna

NFIFF continued with another tradition established the prior year, by making a special presentation of the film festival’s Humanitarian Award to Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia to honor his military service during the Iraq War, as well as a Special Humanitarian Mention for Matt Shapira, due to his “Saving the Planet” murals he has painted at Hard Rock Café locations throughout the country. Presenters at the filmmaker awards ceremony included NFIFF’s Ambassador of Film, Janel Tanna, NFIFF Creative Advisor Stanley Isaacs, and last year’s Best Documentary recipient, Annalaura Di Luggo.