Buffalo Roots

The event

The 1st and 2nd editions of the Buffalo Roots Film Festival were hosted at the Città dell’Altra Economia in Rome.

The 2025 and 2026 editions took place in the historic and magnificent setting of the Campidoglio, in some of the most fascinating and history-rich halls of the City of Rome.

The 5th edition, the Light Edition on 5 March 2027, will be held at the Grottoni Romani della Magliana, in La Grotta della Musica.

About

We believe cinema is a powerful medium that can spark conversations, inspire change and bring people together. By providing a platform for emerging filmmakers, fostering connections between independent and industry professionals, showcasing local projects and highlighting difficult stories, we hope to create a space for meaningful dialogue and connection through film.

The Buffalo Roots Film Festival draws on the experience of seasoned film industry professionals and the support of wrep.eu. Their guidance and support have been key in developing the festival into a space that celebrates independent filmmakers, showcases diverse stories and fosters connections between professionals and emerging talent. Together, we work to build an inclusive and welcoming community that brings people together to share unique perspectives. Through cinema we spark conversations and inspire original ideas.

Buffalo Roots is a travelling festival. The next edition will take place in Rome, while later editions will take you to new and intriguing locations in the surrounding regions.

Participants can submit their work through FilmFreeway. An initial selection of films is presented to the jurors. The winners of each category are decided by a mixed jury committee after the selection of the works.

Goals

1. Provide a platform for screening and presenting emerging international film productions.
2. Promote connections and collaborations between independent filmmakers and industry professionals.
3. Highlight and share local film projects with an international audience, and vice versa. We believe in the power of cinema to cross borders and bring people together through shared experiences and perspectives.
4. Focus on selecting independent films across various genres, including narrative, animation, music videos and documentaries. We are especially interested in films whose screenplay, direction, production and editing are carried out independently, showcasing a diverse range of artistic visions and perspectives.
5. Shed light on difficult subjects that deserve to be addressed.
6. Move away from commercial filmmaking which, however impactful, is often inaccessible.
7. Encourage and take part in audiovisual art workshops and initiatives.
8. Explore the idea of self-discovery and self-fulfilment through relationships, using a time constraint to explore the concepts.