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53-793: Participating festivals were the Boston Underground Film Festival , the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival , the North Bend Film Festival, the Overlook Film Festival and Popcorn Frights. The opening film of the 2020 edition was Aneesh Chaganty 's Run . Other films screened included 32 Malasaña Street , Honeydew , My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To , The Queen of Black Magic and Boys from County Hell . The program also included online parties,

106-863: A Bus rapid transit service, connects the South Boston Waterfront with South Station via a bus tunnel beneath Congress St. and Boston Logan International Airport in neighboring East Boston via the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Ted Williams Tunnel . Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston was opened in 2006 in the South Boston Seaport District. It functions as a modern art museum and exhibition center featuring permanent and temporary exhibition, educational programs, performances, and film screenings. Every year, hundreds of people join

159-537: A major increase in property values due to its close proximity to downtown Boston and gentrification . The "West Side" of South Boston, also known as the "lower end" by lifelong residents, though slower to begin the gentrification process also benefits from the proximity to not only downtown but also the popular South End. Additionally, the West Side is home to the first green residence (Gold LEED certified) in Boston —

212-607: A new Bacchus was designed in celebration of the festival's twentieth anniversary. Designed by Jason Rosen of Skinwalker Studios , the latest version of Bacchus is entirely ebony and emphasizes more demonic and occult-suggestive traits. Audience Choice Award: Best of Fest Short, Best of Fest Feature Best First Feature (as of 2018) Director's Choice (BUFF organizers): Best Short, Best Feature Retired: Most Effectively Offensive Award Occasionally awards for Lifetime Achievement and Best New England Film are selected as well. South Boston South Boston (colloquially Southie )

265-410: A part of South Boston since 1870. Situated between two housing projects. Fort Independence, a pentagonal five-bastioned, granite fort built between 1834 and 1851, is the dominating feature of Castle Island. This 22-acre urban park is connected to the mainland by both pedestrian and vehicular causeways. Pleasure Bay, the M Street Beach and Carson Beach form a three-mile segment of parkland and beach along

318-517: A population of about 33,311. The median age is about 32. The most recent census estimates South Boston's total population at 33,688. The Caucasian population is about 26,700 (79.2%). A total amount of 2,789 (8.3%) Hispanic people is counted. African American population is about 1,926 (5.7%). The Asian population makes up 4.8% (1,603). 466 people are of non-Hispanic mixed race (1.4%) and 190 people (0.6%) are identified as Others (i.e. American Indians and groups not otherwise categorized). Development in

371-413: A trophy in the shape of a demonic black bunny with red eyes; various iterations of the award also had a vibrating feature. The Bacchus Award was incorporated into BUFF in its second year and has since become the official mascot of the festival, a focal point in poster/logo design, and the rationale behind the festival's red/black/white color scheme. "And the bunny goes to..." is the much-anticipated phrase at

424-592: A virtual festival lounge, and a talk by American Psycho director Mary Harron . Organizers announced that Nightstream would be staged again in October 2021. Films screened in 2021 included Cosmic Dawn , To the Moon , Hellbender and All My Friends Hate Me . In 2023, the Nightstream platform was relaunched as a video on demand service for genre films. This article about an American film festival

477-561: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Boston Underground Film Festival Nicole McControversy (Director of Programming) The Boston Underground Film Festival ( BUFF ) is an annual event held in the Boston area that specializes in alternative film and video. BUFF is the largest underground film festival in New England, spotlighting short films and feature-length films that would not otherwise find an audience. It

530-491: Is a densely populated neighborhood of Boston , Massachusetts , United States, located south and east of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay . It has undergone several demographic transformations since being annexed to the city of Boston in 1804. The neighborhood, once primarily farmland, is popularly known by its twentieth century identity as a working class Irish Catholic community. Throughout

583-553: Is a rectangle of green lawn, gardens, trees, benches, and paved walkways. Artwork along the paths displays fish and sea motifs, paying tribute to the city's maritime background. The roofed seating area provides partial shade and tables and chairs, an ideal spot for lunch. This urban park features baseball and soccer fields, a traffic garden , a spray area and a jogging track at 600 William J. Day Blvd., South Boston. Right by local transportation families have easy access in traveling to enjoy their day. Site of Fort Independence (open in

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636-591: Is also home to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, a celebration of the Irish-American culture and the Evacuation Day observance. Geographically, Dorchester Neck was an isthmus , a narrow strip of land that connected the mainland of the colonial settlement of Dorchester with Dorchester Heights . Landfill has since greatly increased the amount of land on the eastern side of the historical neck, and widened

689-630: Is home to some of the oldest public housing in the United States. In the last 30 years, they have changed from having a mostly Irish-American population to a more ethnically mixed population. The housing facilities are under the control of the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and include West Broadway which was built in 1949 and occupies 20 acres (81,000 m ), West Ninth Street (these three facilities are next to each other and commonly called D street), Old Colony which

742-471: Is listed as the second-largest parade in the country, being viewed by nearly 600,000 to 1 million people every year, in addition to having the entire parade seen on live television. In the 1990s, South Boston became the focus for a U.S. Supreme Court case on the right of gay and lesbian groups to participate in the Saint Patrick's Day ( Evacuation Day ) parade. The case was decided in favor of

795-472: Is one of the longest continuously-running underground film festivals in the world, second only to Chicago Underground Film Festival . BUFF was listed as one of MovieMaker Magazine 's "World's 50 Best Genre Festivals" in 2021 as well as one of Dread Central 's "Best Horror Festivals in the World" in 2021. BUFF was named one of MovieMaker Magazine 's "Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World" in 2019. Following

848-597: The L Street Brownies for the New Year's Day Plunge in Dorchester Bay (Boston Harbor) . The event is accompanied by spectators and reporters. This winter gathering has been taking place annually since 1904. Participants of the Boston's only triathlon swim in the waters of Dorchester Bay, bike through the city streets of Boston, and run along the Southie shoreline. South Boston has been the birthplace and home to

901-476: The 1970s, South Boston received national attention for its opposition to court-mandated school ( de facto ) desegregation by busing students to different neighborhoods. In the early 21st century, property values, especially in the City Point neighborhood near Castle Island , rose to the level of some of the highest in the city. The City Point area of South Boston, labeled "East Side" by realtors, has seen

954-807: The 2006 festival. According to BUFF's website, the 2009 festival was held at the Kendall Square Cinema and the Brattle Theatre, both in Cambridge. The 2010 and 2011 festivals were held exclusively at the Kendall Square Cinema. Anna Feder stepped down as Director after the 2011 festival. As of the 2012 festival, Kevin Monahan and Nicole McControversy stepped up into dual festival director roles as Artistic Director and Director of Programming, respectively, and restructured

1007-658: The 2018 festival, BUFF was recognized on Boston Magazine 's Best of Boston 2018 list as Best Film Festival and received a special commendation at the Boston Society of Film Critics ' 2018 Special Awards. The festival received DigBoston 's DIGTHIS! Award in 2014 and 2015 for Best Film Festival. Started in 1998, by film professor/curator David Kleiler, BUFF was an extension of an all night film marathon produced by Kleiler and Dima Ballin . The First Annual Boston Underground Film Festival took place in February 1999 at

1060-414: The 22nd BUFF were featured in Nightstream. In 2021, four of the original Nightstream festivals, including BUFF, joined again for another edition of Nightstream in October of that year. In March 2022, BUFF returned to the Brattle Theatre for its first physical edition since 2019; as a result, the festival held its 22nd edition in 2022. Rather than giving cash or trade value prizes for awards, BUFF doles out

1113-571: The History of Castle Island, stresses the role of the fort in harbor defense." Also known as Dorchester Heights. Atop the hill sits a tall monument commemorating the Patriot battle that drove the British out of Boston. Between M and N streets and north of Broadway, the M Street Park was one of the most desirable addresses in Boston in the late 19th century, and the brownstone buildings overlooking

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1166-670: The Irish American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston, or GLIB, to march in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in 1992, the first of its kind in the history of the parade, was met with a rejection by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. In recent years, parade organizers have tried to make the event more kid-friendly, by incorporating "family zones" or sober places to watch the parade. The South Boston, St. Patrick's Parade

1219-598: The Kennedy Library. Fort Independence and Castle Island are on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and the fort is a National Historic Landmark. Fort Independence is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, hours vary. Fort tours are conducted by the Castle Island Association in the summer months and there is interpretive signage for self-guided tours. The principal program theme,

1272-626: The Macallen Building which was featured in the movie The Greening of Southie . The City of Boston is investing in the West Side through developments like the ~150,000-square-foot (14,000 m ) mixed use (residential and commercial) building being developed by the Boston Redevelopment Authority on West Broadway. The 1865 Harrison Loring House is a Second Empire brick mansion located in South Boston. It

1325-560: The Seaport has boomed during the early 21st century. It was considered "the hottest, fastest-growing real estate market in the country" in 2014. As of 2017 , it was the fastest growing part of Boston and has stimulated significant economic growth in the city. The restoration of the Seaport began with the completion of the Big Dig . This $ 14.6 billion project buried the formerly elevated Central Artery I-93 Interstate which previously cut off

1378-399: The South Boston shoreline of Dorchester Bay. Carson Beach offers some beautiful views and great public amenities: a rehabilitated Mothers' Rest, public restrooms, exhibit space, first aid and lifeguard functions, while the outdoor courtyards allow space for passive recreation. Carson Beach also features a walkway which allows one to walk, bike, or run along the water's edge from Castle Island to

1431-712: The Troubles by carrying a coffin draped with the Irish tricolored flag. The Boston chapter of the Irish Northern Aid Commission marched with black armbands and a sign reading "England Get out of Ireland". The year 1976 marked the 200th anniversary of Evacuation Day and the 75th anniversary of the parade. A reenactment of the 1776 evacuation was incorporated into the parade, with fireworks and period costumes. President George H. W. Bush declared March Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991. The application of

1484-514: The award ceremony that closes the festival. A new version of Bacchus, clad in white briefs and clutching a liquor bottle was unveiled for the 2008 festival and designed by Casey A. Riley. Riley designed an updated version of the award in 2009, featuring a slightly svelter Bacchus wearing a pink bunny suit, clutching a liquor bottle and exhibiting a raised middle-finger. This version of the Bacchus Award remained in use through 2017. As of 2018,

1537-481: The companies located in the Innovation District share space in co-working spaces and incubators. Over 1,100 housing units were constructed, including 300 innovation micro-units. The headquarters of Reebok is in South Boston. Public schools are operated by Boston Public Schools . Catholic Churches Albanian Orthodox Churches Episcopal Baptist Presbyterian Fourth Church has been

1590-595: The connection to the mainland to the point that South Boston is no longer considered separate from it. South Boston gained an identity separate from Dorchester, but the two were annexed by Boston in pieces, from 1804 to 1870. During the American Revolutionary War , George Washington placed a cannon on Dorchester Heights, thereby forcing the evacuation of British troops from Boston on March 17, 1776. The British evacuated Boston and Fort William and Mary for Halifax , Nova Scotia . Fort William and Mary

1643-431: The festival as an officially registered LLC. The festival's graphic designer, Bryan McKay, was promoted to Media Director in 2012. BUFF's core staff is currently: Artistic Director – Kevin Monahan, Director of Programming – Nicole McControversy, Media Director – Bryan McKay. BUFF is organized by an entirely unpaid, volunteer group of dedicated film fans. In 2012, BUFF moved back to the Brattle Theatre where it has remained

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1696-653: The festival in the City of Boston. Starting in 2016, the festival expanded operations to include a monthly screening series called Dispatches from the Underground at the Somerville Theatre Microcinema. The series screens "the ones that got away," highlighting films that weren't selected for the official festival, as well as occasional repertory titles and guest curated programs from other New England festivals, as well as traveling festivals. BUFF

1749-744: The festival's primary screening venue. The festival also used the Harvard Film Archive as a secondary venue from 2016 to present. BUFF's 22nd annual festival, originally scheduled for March 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic . BUFF was one of the five genre festivals (including Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, North Bend Film Festival, the Overlook Film Festival, and Popcorn Frights) that organized Nightstream , an online film festival, in October 2020. Four feature films and five short programs originally intended for

1802-771: The month of February from 1999 to 2002. In 2003, it was moved to October; then to May in 2004. During this period, numerous venues housed BUFF screenings, including the Milky Way Lounge in Jamaica Plain , The Allston Cinema Underground (now defunct), The Arlington Regent Theatre , and the Brattle Theatre . By 2005, BUFF was under new management, with Anna Feder and Kevin Monahan taking over as co-managing directors and bringing on Bryan McKay as graphic designer. David Kleiler retained Executive Director duties this year. One of Feder and Monahan's first actions

1855-559: The most environmentally-friendly public houses in the entire Commonwealth. In the future, the Boston Housing Authority and its partners are looking to redevelop the remaining 453 original housing units in South Boston. South Boston is served by two Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Red Line rapid transit stations: Broadway and Andrew . MBTA bus service links these stations to nearby residential areas via bus routes 7, 9, 10, 11. The MBTA Silver Line ,

1908-543: The neighborhood of South Boston that began construction back in 2009. The phase two completion included high-efficiency affordable housing in town-house style and four-story elevator buildings. Part of this project was funded by a HOPE VI grant which ensured $ 22-million for the project to build these new public houses for the citizens of South Boston, replacing 223 original apartments along Old Colony Avenue up to Dorchester Street and over to Reverend Burke Street which were demolished. These new, affordable housing units are some of

1961-712: The now defunct Revolving Museum in South Boston . Described by programmer Bernard Broginart as "a wonderful hoax of a film festival," the first BUFF was an extremely informal event. Patrons were encouraged to wander from room to room for a single ticket price in the art gallery converted to a cinema. This format was continued for the 2000 festival. In the years following, BUFF has adopted a more traditional festival format with set screening start times and using actual cinemas and screening rooms. Between 2001 and 2004, BUFF had expanded and contracted with no central location or venue and no set duration. The festival took place during

2014-735: The parade's sponsors when the Supreme Court supported the South Boston Allied War Veterans' right to determine who can participate in their annual St. Patrick's Day parade. In 1996 local Dorchester author Paul Walkowski and Attorney William Connolly detailed the case in their book "From Trial Court to the United States Supreme Court". Today, the St. Patrick's Day Parade marches from West Broadway to East Broadway, finishing at Farragut Road. Every year, from 10,000 to 20,000 participants join

2067-503: The parade. South Boston became known as an Irish working-class neighborhood when large numbers of Irish immigrants settled there in the mid-nineteenth century and continued to do so throughout the twentieth. Once a predominantly Irish Catholic community, in recent years South Boston has become increasingly desirable among young professionals and families who are attracted to the neighborhood's strong sense of community and quick access to downtown and public transportation. South Boston has

2120-550: The parade. The Kennedy family were well known as participating in this parade. Robert F. Kennedy marched in 1968, Ted and Joan Kennedy also marched in 1970. The N.A.A.C.P entered a float in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in 1964. In the mid-1960s Harvard's Irish Society joined the march. Irish nationalists unofficially marched in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1972, Irish Republican Aid Committee members protested violence in Northern Ireland during

2173-400: The park on the south side of the park remain some of the best examples of this style of architecture in New England. M Street Park is also home to the first standing Vietnam memorial in the nation. Included in this memorial are all the names of the South Boston residents who gave their lives fighting for the United States. Located at D Street and Northern Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, the park

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2226-542: The rest of the state) in 1938. The Saint Patrick's Day Parade is both a celebration of the Irish-American culture in Boston and the Evacuation Day victory. The City of Boston sponsored the event until 1947, when Mayor James Michael Curley gave authority to the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. Politicians and local celebrities have participated in these annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade for years. In 1958, Senator John F. Kennedy rode with Jacqueline Kennedy in

2279-480: The summer) with beach, picnic and jogging area. Located at 2010 William J Day Blvd. A lawn on 420 D Street on the east side of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center . Bay views, open lawn, athletic fields and a playground are features of this waterside park. Located on Farragut Road. This 191-acre waterfront area features businesses plus a brewery, a museum and a cruise terminal. South Boston

2332-471: The troops positioned the cannons on Dorchester Heights. They had cut down trees to cannon size, hollowed them out and blackened them over fire to look like cannons. Surprise was just around the corner. On March 17, 1776, orders were given that if you wished to pass through the continental lines, the password was "St. Patrick". The British had seen all the cannons on the Heights and left Boston. Evacuation Day

2385-491: The twenty-first century, the neighborhood has become increasingly popular with millennial professionals. South Boston contains Dorchester Heights , where George Washington forced British troops to evacuate during the American Revolutionary War . South Boston has undergone gentrification , and consequently, its real estate market has seen property values join the highest in the city. South Boston has also left its mark on history with Boston busing desegregation . South Boston

2438-597: The waterfront from the rest of the city. In May 2010, Mayor Menino announced plans for the city to develop 1,000 acres on the South Boston Waterfront as an Innovation District. Inspired by the success of the 22@ model, the mayor's vision was to redevelop the then-mostly abandoned Seaport District into a hub for Information Age jobs and a new frontier for cutting-edge industries such as clean tech, health care information technology and mobile media. Between Menino's announcement in 2010 and 2017, 5,000 new jobs were created and over 200 new companies have formed. Forty percent of

2491-662: Was built in 1941, and Mary Ellen McCormack , which is the BHA's oldest development, being constructed in 1936. It was originally called Old Harbor Village. Other developments are Harbor Point (in Dorchester), Foley and Monsignor Powers. As of the June 26, 2014, city officials and civilians officially celebrated the completion of the second phase of construction and redevelopment of the Old Colony housing project that took place in

2544-533: Was declared a holiday in the City of Boston in 1901. In celebration, the city hosted a parade based in South Boston. The Dorchester Heights Monument , a tribute to the historical event, was completed in Dorchester Heights in 1902. Major George F. H. Murray served as Chief Marshall for the parade in 1901. The state of Massachusetts recognized Evacuation Day as a holiday in Suffolk County (but not

2597-812: Was held mainly in Arlington, Massachusetts . In 2005, BUFF was held entirely in Somerville, Massachusetts . From 2006 on, BUFF has taken place entirely in Cambridge, Massachusetts . Although BUFF, as an organization, has hosted year round programming at various Boston venues (such as Space 242 in the South End , The Savant Project (now defunct) in Mission Hill and the Milky Way Lounge in Jamaica Plain ), there seem to be no current plans to hold

2650-493: Was replaced with a brick fortification known as Fort Independence . That fort was replaced by a granite fortification (bearing the same name) prior to the American Civil War , and still stands on Castle Island as a National Historic Landmark. Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at Castle Island for five months in 1827 and was inspired to write The Cask of Amontillado based on an early Castle Island legend. During

2703-433: Was the only film festival in the world to give an award for "Most Effectively Offensive" films, an accolade it awarded from its inception until 2017; on the festival's twentieth anniversary, the award was retired and replaced with "Best First Feature Film," marking a shifting focus towards celebrating new voices in filmmaking. Despite the festival's title, BUFF has not taken place in Boston proper since 2003. The 2004 festival

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2756-608: Was to feature the Bacchus bunny front and center by using McKay's striking designs. They also centralized operations during this year, with all screenings taking place at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square . In 2006 they made Harvard Square BUFF's new home, using the Brattle Theatre as the primary venue. The Brattle also hosted the festival in 2007 and 2008. Kleiler stepped down as Executive Director after

2809-621: Was used as a private residence until 1913. At that time it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church to use the space as a convent. The house located at 789 East Broadway was designated a Boston Landmark in 1981. It is associated with Harrison Loring, who owned and operated one of the first South Boston shipyards. The history behind the South Boston Saint Patrick's Day Parade is General Henry Knox brought 55 cannons captured at Fort Ticonderoga. In March,

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