The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RACSTL), in partnership with Continuity, is excited to invite filmmakers, creators, motion visual, and media artists to apply for a grant of up to $100,000 in its latest initiative, the St. Louis Film Project.
The St. Louis Film Project is part of the ARPA for the Arts Tourism Recovery grants and is modeled after the successful St. Louis Mural Project. It aims to foster a vibrant local film and media arts scene by investing a total of $500,000 in local creators and bringing together film/TV and content enthusiasts, industry professionals, and the public for screenings, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
The grant application opens on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Submissions are due on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, and grants will be awarded by Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Filmmakers/creators can review the grant guidelines carefully on the RACSTL or Continuity website.
“We’re excited to provide a platform where our local filmmakers can shine,” said Vanessa Cooksey, President and CEO of RACSTL, and Kyle Montgomery, TITLE of Continuity, in a joint statement. “The St. Louis Film Project is more than just a grant program and screening event—it’s a celebration of the rich storytelling and creative expression right here in St. Louis. We believe this program will inspire other film
investors to support our efforts to elevate the narrative about St. Louis through the power of cinema.”
With the help of a panel of experts, RACSTL and Continuity will select up to seven (7) creators to receive unrestricted grants of up to $100,000 for their projects. The St. Louis Film Project will highlight a diverse selection of films/content and TV episodes, all produced by creators in St. Louis.
In addition to grants and film screenings, The St. Louis Film Project will host a variety of events intended to promote awardees, create industry access, and elevate St. Louis as a hub for creatives, including:
- Curated Events: Engage with filmmakers, creators, media artists, industry experts, and critics in insightful conversations about the art and craft of filmmaking and overall content creation.
- Q&A Sessions: Interact with the finance and legal experts to identify other funding sources, such as Missouri Film Tax Credits.
- Networking Opportunities: Meet fellow filmmakers, creators, motion visual, media artists, and industry professionals.
Learn more at https://www.continuitystl.org/stlfp.
Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.
She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women’s and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle.
She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.