Photo from the Flickr stream of Tela Chhe.

Film lovers, prepare to wet your pants with excitement.  The Buffalo International Film Festival is going to announce it’s schedule for the event (which begins on Friday, Oct. 7 and runs through Monday, Oct. 24). 

When, you ask?  According to a BIFF press release…soon.

“The full schedule for the 5th Annual Buffalo International Film Festival (October 7-23, 2011) will be announced in September,” film festival organizers wrote.  “Including nearly 60 films from around the world, the festival will occur at numerous venues in the Western New York region. Numerous award-winning and celebrity filmmakers are scheduled to appear with their films.”

So yeah, it’s coming.  What info is already out there?  Well, there will be a special preview presentation on Thursday, Sept. 15 at The Screening Room (4524 Bailey Ave., Amherst) featuring the film WIlliam Burroughs—A Man Within. 

According to BIFF, this documentary by Director Yony Leyser “...features never before seen footage of William S. Burroughs, as well as exclusive interviews with his closest friends and colleagues including John Waters, Genesis P-Orridge, Laurie Anderson, Peter Weller, David Cronenberg, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Gus Van Sant, Sonic Youth, Anne Waldman, Hal Willner, James Grauerholz, Amiri Baraka, Jello Biafra, V. Vale, Diane DiPrima, with narration by actor Peter Weller and soundtrack by Patti Smith and Sonic Youth.”  Basically, if you went to college between 1988 and 2000, you should be foaming at the mouth to see this picture.

There’s a lot more going on—regularly scheduled happy hours, parties and receptions throughout the festival, the world premiere of Jimmy and Johnny (Stewart and Carson): The Making of an Emmy Award-Winning Television Show, local films, great guest speakers and a lot more.  Buffalo.com’s own Ben K. and SJ will be prowling the grounds at many of these events, too, which is in itself a fine reason to attend.

For more info, check out the BIFF web site.