Buffalo is full of people helping to cultivate cinema and we want to celebrate those involved. The Cultivators is a new monthly feature in which we highlight individuals who are integral to the presentation, promotion and production of film here in the queen city.
THE CULTIVATORS #014
ALEX BARTOSH
Organizer – WNY Movie Expo
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What got you interested in movies?
My father was a home movie-maker. My first film for my collection was at age 6 when I received a Laurel & Hardy comedy short to run with our regular home movies. The fever never went away.
What is your favorite movie related memory?
Saturday matinees at our local theaters. Grew up on 1960’s movies as well comedy and cartoon festivals there.
How did you end up in Buffalo?
I moved here in 1991 for several reasons and when the Syracuse Cinephile Society retired their 35-year run of holding the festival, I purchased the equipment and moved it to the Buffalo-Niagara area.
What do you want to see more of in Buffalo?
Parking spaces and shorter red lights!
What are your essential film books?
Books written by William K. Everson, Autobiographies, Filmography reference books, books by film-makers such as Frank Capra, etc.
TOP TEN FILMS
It’s very difficult to narrow down a list of ten, but the below are among my favorites with many worthy choices for that ten spot.
- Casablanca [1942], directed by Michael Curtiz
- The General [1927], directed by Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton
- Patton [1970], directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
- King Kong [1933], directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack
- The Quiet Man [1952], directed by John Ford
- Way Out West [1937], directed by James W. Horne
- Rio Bravo [1959], directed by Howard Hawks
- Orfeu Negro [Black Orpheus] [1959], directed by Marcel Camus
- It’s a Wonderful Life [1946], directed by Frank Capra
Images from left to right, top to bottom are Laurel and Hardy, William K. Everton and Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Capra.