Second Annual Buffer Festival Celebrates YouTube Filmmakers in Toronto

YouTube stars and the fans that love them come to Toronto for digital video festival, October 17-19, 2014

TORONTO, Sept. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Buffer Festival, the only one of its kind, comes to Toronto from October 17-19 to honour the greatest in YouTube videos. Created by Canadian talent Corey Vidal and ApprenticeA Productions, last year's inaugural festival opened to thousands of fans lining up for the first glance at some of their favourite filmmaker's latest creations. This year is sure to be just as action-packed – tickets are only $15 and are available at www.bufferfestival.com.

Fans will be able to see the greatest in YouTube videos before they hit the digital screens, at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, and the Scotiabank Theatre. Post-screening meet-ups will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, so that fans will have a chance to get up close and personal with the filmmakers and YouTube stars.

"We had such a wonderful and enthusiastic reception to our festival last year, I was really excited to do it again, knowing this will become a key annual event in Toronto," said Corey Vidal, Executive Producer, Buffer Festival Founder, and President of ApprenticeA Productions. "There's so much talent out there, it's great to give these filmmakers the true acknowledgement that they deserve."

Festival highlights – what's new this year
The festival will showcase 40 feature-length screenings and is sure to be even bigger and better than last year. Half of the screenings will comprise themed nights highlighting YouTube content across broad genres. The remainder will focus on the works of some well-known YouTubers, including Shay Carl, Charles Trippy, Toby Turner (Tobuscus), Rhett and Link, EpicMealTime (among many others), who will be premiering brand new, exclusive content. This year, attendees will be able to purchase their tickets online and will even be able to select their seats so that excessive lineups will not be an issue.

The gala and red carpet
This year, the black-tie Buffer Festival Gala will be the biggest highlight of the festival for the hundreds of YouTubers and fans. More than 1,200 seats will be filled at the John W. H. Bassett Theatre on Saturday, October 18, 2014. The very best of the video premieres will be showcased for fans, stars, sponsors, hosts, partners, media and more. A select number of tickets are available for purchase for only $50. A free Gala Red Carpet will precede the screening outside the theatre.

The festival is presented by ApprenticeA Productions and with partners: YouTube, HTC, the Doritos brand, Blue Ant Media, Canon, Just Eat, Tim Hortons, Cineplex, and VidCon. Tickets are available now for only $15, with package deals available. To see the schedule and purchase tickets, please visit www.bufferfestival.com.

"UpList" Short Film Selections
Buffer Festival also announced today that they will be accepting submissions to the first annual UpList Short Film Selections. The top ten selected videos from around the world will be showcased on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto. Hosted by industry professionals Corey Vidal, Bertie Gilbert and Olan Rogers, this is a big opportunity for emerging YouTube filmmakers to have their work screened and celebrated.

Submission criteria:

• Videos must be under 10 minutes in length
• They must have been uploaded to YouTube on or after November 1, 2013 
• The videos must tell a story, be cinematic in nature
• All genres of short film will be accepted, but they must be appropriate for public viewing (family friendly)
• Submissions must be received by October 2, 2014

The event is being held in partnership with the Doritos brand, which recently kicked-off the ninth installment of its Crash the Super Bowl consumer advertising contest.

For more information and to submit your video to the UpList Short Film Selections, visit: http://www.bufferfestival.com/submit

About Buffer Festival
Buffer Festival is a publicly attended theatrical showcase that presents digital video content from the most prominent creators on YouTube. Held from Friday, October 17th - Sunday, October 19th, the festival will showcase an array of YouTube's highest quality content during 90-minute theatrical screenings, and host meetups, interviews, fan events, and a special gala red carpet and gala premiere. For more information, visit www.bufferfestival.com.

About ApprenticeA Productions
ApprenticeA Productions is a digital video production company owned by director Corey Vidal that harnesses the viral nature of YouTube, social media, and online sharing. ApprenticeA has created YouTube content for over a dozen Fortune 500 companies, has produced over 1500 YouTube videos, and has amassed over 100 million video views online.

About Doritos Crash the Super Bowl
PepsiCo's Doritos brand is asking fans in Canada and around the world to create a Doritos television advertisement for the chance to see their ads air for an audience of millions during the Super Bowl broadcast. Two winning ads will air for a global television audience with the creator of the ad that receives the most consumer votes winning a $1 million (USD) grand prize and a life-changing opportunity to work for a full year onsite as a contractor at Universal Pictures. For more than 100 years, Universal has created global hits from Jaws to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, as well as the blockbuster films of the Jurassic Park, Fast & Furious, Bourne, Ted and Despicable Me series. More eligibility details and official rules are available at Doritos.com.

SOURCE: The Mint Agency

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