B.U.F.F. BUSTS LOOSE

By Ryan Stewart

For the past five years, the Boston Underground Film Festival, or BUFF, has operated in the almost complete anonymity of an underground series. David Kleiler, the festival's director, now has the festival poised to come closer to the surface while still staying true to the alternative vision.

“After six years, we are probably going to be 'above ground' more than before,” Kleiler says of this year's installment, taking place from May 5-10. “Because we think the program is so strong this year, we'll be in three theatrical venues for the first time.”

Typically, BUFF showcases the work of independent filmmakers who have something of a subversive voice. But this year, while the festival remains about 40% local, there are a few surprise big names involved. For instance, Animator Bill Plympton's latest short, GUARD DOG, will be premiering at the festival this year.

But what really has Boston film buffs excited for this year's installment is the involvement of George A. Romero, legendary director of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, DAWN OF THE DEAD (the original, not the one that came out this March), and DAY OF THE DEAD.

“He's worked independently, and God knows he's got a subversive vision, and that's what we're doing here,” says Kleiler, noting that at least one of his films, KNIGHTRIDERS, will be screened, as well as a zombie film. “He's going to be doing two or three things [for the festival.]”

The screening of KNIGHTRIDERS, a movie about a motorcycle gang who re-enact the Arthurian days of Camelot, will be presented by one of the film's stars, Brother Blue, whom Kleiler describes as “a great, old storyteller from Cambridge.” The movie also stars a young Ed Harris.

Another thing setting BUFF apart from the other Boston festivals is the inclusion of musical acts from the area in various capacities. This year the festival will hold a benefit show featuring live sets from local musicians and performance groups.

More importantly, though, legendary Bostonian post-punk band Mission of Burma will be participating in this year's festival, though it remains to be seen in what capacity. Kleiler became connected to them when his son (also named David) directed a feature-length documentary on the band entitled INEXPLICABLE. The film's trailer will debut at BUFF, and there will likely be some sort of promotional tie-in to the band's upcoming album and tour.

Also expected to perform as part of the festival are local cult favorites The Bentmen. “They'll be doing stuff around the zombie motif.” The band will perform a special show at Arlington’s Regent Theater as part of the festivities.

While Kleiler admits that Romero's presence will result in a “zombie theme” to many of the planned events, he maintains that gore and goofs will never be the festival's main focus.

“Our underground festival is different from other underground festivals in that we don't have as much schlock,” says Kleiler. “We're part experimental and part political. We definitely don't shy away from controversy.”

For experimental work, he points to DIARY OF AN ORDINARY MAN, directed by David Hudacek, and a showcase assembled by Bravo!FACT, a cable company out of Canada who spent 9 million dollars in the past five years on the financing of shorts.

For controversy, he highlights the work of former WBCN personality Danny Schechter (THE NEWS DISSECTOR), who will have two films at this year's festival: COUNTING ON DEMOCRACY, a look at the 2000 Florida election, and WMD, a look at the media's complicity in the perpetuation of the Bush administrations weapons of mass destruction claims. Kleiler describes Schechter's voice as similar to that of Noam Chomsky's.

Not that there won't be enough schlock to go around, even without Romero. The festival will show MARK OF THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES, a title that seems to speak for itself, and BLOOD FEAST 2, which marks the triumphant return of Herschel Gordon Lewis to the realm of splatter comedy.

Other highlights, according to Kleiler, include DELIVERANCE: THE MUSICAL, which features a song called “Squeal Like a Pig,” and an animated short called SON OF SATAN, based on the short story by Charles Bukowski.

Additionally, the festival will include a package of short films selected by director Jim Jarmusch, highlights from the recent Filthy Fest, and various entries into the “Move On” contest. For features, there's the local OVERSERVED, Joe Gatto’s comedy that was shot at the Sam Adams brewery's bar.

Overall, Kleiler is very excited about this year's program. “It's good stuff.”

The Boston Underground Film Festival runs from May 5-10 at the Brattle Theatre, Somerville Theater and the Regent Theater in Arlington, and non-theatrical venues to be announced.

Ryan Stewart is a Boston based freelance writer.

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