Emmy Award Winner
Epic story of how a canal in colonial America emboldened the nation to move westward in the 1800's. Today the Erie Canal, the City of Lockport, and its Flight of Five locks, are all exploring their own revitalization efforts.
This documentary film explores many themes, including the effects of progress on America. It explores this in many ways, including the irony of how progress was inflicted on indigenous peoples, and then inflicted again on 20th century America through urban renewal. It suggests that progress exists for its own sake, agnostic of the people pushing it, and agnostic of the peoples and communities it affects.
National Broadcast Premiere was PBS: March 1, 2026.
Produced by Toward Castle Films.
Presented by Buffalo Toronto Public Media.
Distributed by American Public Television.
Showcased on PBS.
Eric Andersen is a beat poet, an original Greenwich Village folk musician, and is a force of nature amongst singer-songwriters. Dive deep into his conflicts of career, ego, relationships, and the unrelenting pursuit of purpose while exploring what it takes to keep moving forward.
See The Songpoet on PBS Passport.
Watch here: https://www.pbs.org/show/songpoet/
Produced by Scott Sackett
Directed by Paul Lamont
Cinematography by Jack Cummings
Edited by Chris Bové
"I loved your film, The Songpoet. I thought it was gorgeously shot and put together. Deeply soulful. Clear-eyed and beautiful. It was that rare film that was so personal, I felt it was speaking only to me... It has lingered with me in all the best ways."
- Cameron Crowe, Director, Producer
Reimagining a Buffalo Landmark is an original production by Buffalo Toronto Public Media. It shares the 150-year history and massive rehabilitation effort of a national landmark in Buffalo, NY designed by architect H.H. Richardson, with landscape by Frederick Law Olmsted. Originally built as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, the buildings and grounds are undergoing rehabilitation efforts to transform the campus into a community asset for the future.
Produced by Lynne Bader
Edited by Chris Bové
Gerda Weissmann Klein suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of Nazi Germany. Her story is both tragic and joyful - a stark illustration of prejudice and dehumanization but ultimately a story about the triumph of the human spirit. She uses that life-altering experience to promote an extraordinary message of hope, courage, and respect to young people throughout the nation.
Produced by Paul Lamont
Edited by Chris Bové
Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1965, Kinzua Dam was originally proposed to help mitigate flooding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But the 27-mile reservoir that formed behind it inundated vast tracts of the Seneca Indians’ ancestral lands, forcing their removal in breach of the United States’ oldest treaty then in effect. Purchase Lake of Betrayal from Vision Maker Media (here).
Produced by Scott Sackett
Directed by Paul Lamont
Cinematography: Stephen McCarthy
Edited by Chris Bové
Trace the causes behind the unprecedented growth in the use of prescription opioids and the devastating impact these drugs are having in virtually every part of America. The program captures the story of the opioid crisis through personal stories and interviews with experts. See Understanding the Opioid Epidemic on PBS.
Watch here: https://www.pbs.org/show/understanding-opioid-epidemic/
Produced by John Grant
Edited by Chris Bové
The story of Wright's long friendship with Buffalo businessman Darwin Martin. Woven into the story is the signature architecture that was created as a result - the Larkin Administration Building, the Darwin Martin Estate, and the Martin summer home, Graycliff - all in Buffalo, New York. See Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo on PBS.
Watch here: https://www.pbs.org/show/frank-lloyd-wrights-buffalo/
Produced and Directed by Paul Lamont
Cinematography by James P. Gribbins
Edited by Chris Bové
Exploring the role of Frederick Law Olmsted in the Buffalo parks system and his work with the Free Niagara Movement. The Buffalo park system is the oldest integrated system in America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. To Olmsted, a park was both a work of art and a necessity for urban life. See Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing Western New York on PBS (here).
Produced and Directed by Miles Saunders
Cinematography by James P. Gribbins
Edited by Chris Bové
The city of Toronto is a world-class theatre destination and much of its success over the last 50 years is owed to the Mirvish family. Toronto's First Family of Theatre examines how Ed, Anne and David Mirvish created a theatre empire that changed the cultural landscape of Toronto. See Toronto's First Family of Theatre on PBS (here).
Produced by John Grant
Edited by Chris Bové
This is a story of love, art, passion and controversy set against the backdrop of the Arts and Crafts Movement at the turn of the 20th century. To this "back-to-basics" artistic and cultural movement, Hubbard contributed his bold, ingenious talent and creative force. As the flamboyant founder of the Roycroft artisan community, Hubbard was an influential figure who died as dramatically as he lived. See Elbert Hubbard: An American Original on PBS (here).
Produced and Directed by Paul Lamont
Cinematography by James P. Gribbins
Edited by Chris Bové
Remembering New York is a celebration of historical treasures, including architectural gems, beloved community establishments and homes for local sports teams, told through the memories of those who remember and love the unique treasures of the region. Stories in the program include: Memorial Auditorium, Sattler's Department Store, War Memorial Stadium and the Colored Musicians Club. See Remembering Western New York on PBS (here).
Produced by Lynn Bader
Edited by Chris Bové
For anyone growing up in Western New York and Southern Ontario, Crystal Beach was a staple of summer life. Remembering Crystal Beach Park takes you back through its 101 year history with archive photos and film from private collections. Relive memories of the Canadiana, the Grand Ballroom, the Cyclone, the Comet, the Laff in the Dark, the Magic Carpet, Hall's Suckers, Sugar Puff Waffles and more. See Remembering Crystal Beach Park on PBS (here).
Produced by Lynn Bader
Edited by Chris Bové
DRIVEN TO PLAY is a behind-the-scenes look at the five finalists in the 2003 North American Rock Guitar Competition: Ned Evett, Dave King, Mark Krurnowski, Boobie Brown, and Andrew Roudney.
Written, Produced, and Directed by Paul Lamont
Edited by Chris Bové
Celebrate the history, rich traditions and amazing culture of Polonia. Witness the struggle to build Polish neighborhoods and institutions that would preserve language and culture. Examine the connection between the Polish identity and religion. Experience the beautiful Polish Christmas and Easter traditions. Find the heart of Polonia in Polish-Americans who preserve and celebrate their heritage. See Polonia on PBS (here).
Produced by Lynn Bader
Edited by Chris Bové
Buffalo's First Ward tells the story of the neighborhood through the voices of those who live there. The First Ward, and its residents, have a fierce pride. That pride and endurance are responsible for the rebirth happening in the Ward today. Buffalo's First Ward captures this feeling of camaraderie and through it teaches us about where Buffalo has been and also where it might be going. See Buffalo's First Ward on PBS (here).
Produced by John Grant
Edited by Chris Bové
The story of Fort Niagara is the story of a struggle for a continent. Experience for yourself this exciting story of one of America's most unique historic places. Rare archival footage, expert commentaries, and spectacular videography of the fort itself come together to create a program that is a must for anyone interested in the story of North America. See Fort Niagara on PBS (here).
Produced by Lynn Bader
Cinematography: Jack Cummings
Edited by Chris Bové
In this second episode of the "Meet the Editors" series for Avid, we see the editorial team of "The Orville". Tom Costantino and Hillary Wills are so terrific at what they do, and can speak about their craft. So, I wanted to have their two interviews overlapping each other. The intention was to force the viewer to become a multitasker, keeping up with more than one conversation at once... Hopefully the feel would be much like the 1970 film M*A*S*H which famously had multiple dialogues stepping on each other. I think it worked, not only to convey ideas faster, but to show how any great editorial team is able to finish each other's sentences.
Produced by Matt Feury
Edited by Chris Bové
I was thrilled to be able to edit a series called "Meet the Editors" for the great Matt Feury, one of my favorite peeps at Avid Technology. In this one, we see Tom Cross editing the film "First Man". I wanted his Media Composer software to become a character, so I created a series of edits that made it seem as if Tom was hitting the spacebar to pause and start the video he was discussing in the interview. For the overall series, I also wanted the pacing to be dictated by the actual speaking pace of each editor. For example, Tom Cross has an almost quietly-calm and deliberate manner of speaking, whereas in this next example, Tom Costantino & Hillary Wills are both speaking very quickly, matching their cool, fast-paced television ecosystem. The pacing in each piece was edited to match.
Produced by Matt Feury
Edited by Chris Bové
A project led by the partnership of WNED-TV and the Family Justice Center, working together to raise awareness about unhealthy relationships in order to reach teenagers and young adults in need.
Website: https://www.reachoutwny.org/
Produced by Lynne Bader
Edited by Chris Bové
WNED is celebrating 50 years of broadcast excellence.
Produced by Christy Anne May
Edited by Chris Bové
As part of Buffalo Toronto Public Media's Making Buffalo Home, community filmmaker Lisa Khoury from West Seneca, NY, shares the story of her grandparent’s emigration from Lebanon to the United States and to Buffalo in the 1970s, and how their family began a tradition of sharing homemade pita bread with the neighbors, forming lasting friendships in the community. Two generations later, the tradition continues with two successful businesses in Buffalo, a bakery and a pita sandwich shop.
Produced by Lisa Khoury
Edited by Chris Bové
In this community filmmaker video from Making Buffalo Home, Akram Shibly shares the story of his family who came from Syria in search of opportunity for his well-educated parents. Now Akram is a full-time filmmaker in Buffalo, NY, and through his passion for storytelling in this video, he reflects on his childhood and the fate of his birthplace.
Produced by Akram Shibly
Edited by Chris Bové
Western New York Makes is a new digital series being developed by WNED PBS. It will take viewers behind the scenes to see how these products are made, learn about the companies that make them, and about their impact on the Western New York Region. Enjoy our pilot episode featuring MOOG, Inc.
Produced by John Grant
Edited by Chris Bové
In this episode of Flavors From Home, a Polish-American family honors the tradition of smoking Polish sausage (Kiełbasa) as part of their Easter celebration. From preparing the meat to chopping the wood, tending the fire, and constantly checking the sausage, these meaning-filled traditions are handed down to the next generation.
Produced by Lynne Bader
Edited by Chris Bové
In this community filmmaker video, Jamshid Vafai, an immigrant himself, chose not to tell his own story, but rather, the story of his friend and fellow Iranian American, Nadia Shahram. Nadia is a mediation attorney, author, activist, and advocate for women’s rights in Buffalo, New York who dedicates her time and talent to the advancement of Muslim women.
Produced by Jam Vafai
Edited by Chris Bové