Reginald Hudlin, Alexander Payne to Receive Awards at St Louis International Film Festival Nov. 9-19

Reginald Hudlin, Alexander Payne to Receive Awards at St Louis International Film Festival Nov. 9-19

Cinema St. Louis is thrilled to unveil the 32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), set to captivate audiences from November 9th to 19th at the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, CSL’s new forever home, as well as at multiple venues across the city including the Alamo Drafthouse, Webster University, Washington University and more.

CSL’s centerpiece event, is a world-class international film festival that exhibits films from around the globe and attracts between 25,000 and 31,000 patrons annually. Offering its 32nd edition in 2023, the fest presents 278 films over 11 days in November. Featured work includes shorts, documentaries, foreign-language works, American independents, restorations/revivals, and studio art-film releases.
More than 100 filmmakers, documentary subjects, scholars, and critics attend the fest, participating in post-film discussions, master classes, and seminars. In 2019, SLIFF was included among USA Today’s 10 Best Film Festivals.

Highlights of this year’s fest include:

  • SLIFF’s Opening Night Party on 11/9 at the Hi-Pointe, where the fest will celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop in St. Louis, as explored through both film and music
  • Signe Baumane on hand to accept this year’s Women in Film Award at a showing of her newest film, “My Love Affair with Marriage” on 11/11
  • La Passion de Dodin Bouffant” (Taste of Things), Cannes award winner for director Trần Anh Hùng, starring Juliette Binoche, Pierre Gagnaire, Jan Hammenecker, and Benoît Magimel, serves as France’s official submission for Best International Feature for the 96th Academy Awards in 2024 and will screen on 11/12 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre
  • Director Alexander Payne to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, while showcasing not only his newest film on 11/14, “The Holdovers,” but also his modern classic, “The Descendants,” on 11/15
  • A screening of The TIFF 2023 People’s Choice Award winner, “American Fiction,” on 11/17, directed and written by Cord Jefferson, co-starring St. Louis’s favorite son, Sterling K. Brown.
  • Highlighting the lives of the LGBTQ+ community, SLIFF’s QFest Spotlight Film, “All of Us Strangers,” from Searchlight Pictures, the critically acclaimed romantic drama written and directed by Andrew Haigh, starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Claire Foy, will close the festival on 11/19
  • The festival will culminate on Sunday, November 19th, with the much-anticipated Awards Party, featuring an insightful conversation with Reginald Hudlin, during which he will be bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Reginald Hudlin

The festival kicks off on Thursday, November 9th, celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop with a tribute to the Hi-Pointe Cafe’s pivotal role in shaping hip-hop’s history, showcasing the city’s significant influence in its evolution. Attendees will be treated to a cocktail reception, engaging conversations, and a special screening of the 1990 film, “House Party,” directed by East St. Louis’ own, Reginald Hudlin.

CSL’s Executive Director, Bree Maniscalco, shared, “As we celebrate our first festival at the Hi-Pointe Theatre, we wanted to pay tribute to the H-Pointe neighborhood and honor those who made Hip-Hop what it is today. Mondays at the Hi-Pointe Cafe holds a special place in many people’s hearts, and we’re looking to bring it back to kick things off in style for this year’s Fest.”

This year’s festival promises a variety of exclusive events, screenings, enlightening post-film Q&A sessions, and illuminating masterclasses dedicated to addressing industry-relevant topics. SLIFF received an impressive 2,419 submissions, marking the festival’s 32nd anniversary with record-breaking enthusiasm. SLIFF’s dedicated team of programmers, hailing from diverse backgrounds, meticulously curated a selection of 278 remarkable films that underscore the transformative power of cinema.

The lineup includes 54 captivating narrative features, 52 thought-provoking documentary features, and an astounding 172 short films, all part of its prestigious Oscar-qualifying annual Shorts Competition. These films delve deep into a spectrum of compelling themes, ranging from art, the environment, human rights, and racial equity, to name just a few. What’s more, they authentically represent perspectives from 32 countries, encompassing an astounding 39 native languages, ensuring that SLIFF remains a truly international celebration of storytelling through film.

The Holdovers

FILM SPOTLIGHTS

SLIFF serves as a cinematic beacon, illuminating the big screen with a diverse array of films that might otherwise remain hidden gems, waiting to be discovered by local audiences. As the festival unfolds, St. Louis becomes a vibrant hub for filmmakers from far and wide, with many making their inaugural visit to the city. In this dynamic atmosphere, the city buzzes with the infectious energy and passion that only the power of film can generate.

  • ●  Documentary Spotlight: Sponsored by Mary and Leon Strauss, this spotlight will screen 130 films, including “Sorry/Not Sorry,” an examination of Louis C.K.’s, comeback and the unseen effects of this on the women who spoke publicly about the sexual harassment accusations in 2017; “Chasing Chasing Amy,” the complex legacy of Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy (1997, also screening at SLIFF) on LGBTQ+ people and its life-saving impact on director Sav Rodgers; “We Dare to Dream,” follows athletes on their journey to become part of the refugee Olympic team; “Nathan-ism,” a tender portrayal of an artist’s distinctive viewpoint on his war assignment, coupled with his impassioned yearning for self-expression.; and “Omoiyari,” follows Kishi Bashi when a media interview links the Muslim ban and the immigration crisis at the USA-Mexico border with the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during WWII.
  • ●  French Language Spotlight: Sponsored by the Jane M. and Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation, this spotlight will feature 16 feature and short films celebrating St. Louis’ Gallic heritage and France’s cinematic legacy. Leading the spotlight is “La Passion de Dodin Bouffant” (Taste of Things), Cannes award winner for director Trần Anh Hùng, starring Juliette Binoche, Pierre Gagnaire, Jan Hammenecker, and Benoît Magimel, serves as France’s official submission for Best International Feature for the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.
  • ●  New Filmmakers Forum: SLIFF’s longest-running juried award, highlighting first-time narrative feature filmmakers whose works truly stand out.
  • ●  Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition: SLIFF is one of 63 Oscar-accredited short film competitions worldwide, making filmmakers who win a “Best of” at SLIFF, eligible for an Academy Award nomination.
    • ○  Across 11 documentary shorts programs, audiences will witness the global impact of art, the nuances of the Black experience, the damage done by society’s broken systems, the power of indigenous lands, the thrill of high-stakes sports, the state of the average workday, the importance of sustainability, the plight of immigrants worldwide, the spectrum of sexuality, the reality of living with disabilities, and the untold stories of remarkable St. Louisans.
    • ○  This year’s selection of narrative short films strives to highlight the vast array of global voices in contemporary cinema. Twenty languages are represented, and over half come from female filmmakers. Three highlights of the fifteen total programs are “Beyond Pedro,” a slate of shorts from emergent Spanish filmmakers, “Pan-Asia Stories,” and “Joy in Latinx Representation.” Elsewhere, adventurous genre fans will find new kinds of horror with “A New Kind of Blood” and eye-popping, mind-bending animation from around the world with “Transmission.” Of course, area films and filmmakers are well represented in the narrative shorts selections, with two programs featuring the best of the 2023 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, held by Cinema St. Louis this past summer.

Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott in “All of Us Strangers”
  • ●  QFest Spotlight: A collection of films that spotlight the lives of LGBTQ people while celebrating queer culture. Films include “All of Us Strangers,” from Searchlight Pictures, the critically acclaimed romantic drama written and directed by Andrew Haigh, loosely based on the 1987 novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada. The film stars Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Claire Foy; “Glitter & Doom,” a fantastical summer romance musical told with the iconic tunes of legendary American Folk music duo the Indigo Girls; and “Housekeeping for Beginners,” the Official submission of North Macedonia for the Best International Feature Film category of the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.
  • ●  Race in America Spotlight: For the last 10 years, SLIFF’s Race In America programming has reflected the frustrations of African Americans in response to the events in Ferguson. While this mission continues, the Spotlight will also draw attention to building community, fostering dialogue, and creating a platform for real societal change. To maximize these objectives, all of the 14 programs are offered for free thanks to support from the Trio Foundation of St. Louis. Films include “The Space Race,” which explores the experiences of the first Black astronauts through decades of archive film and interviews in a reflective illumination on the burden of breaking barriers; “Razing Liberty Square,” chronicling residents who fight to save their community from climate gentrification; “Ellis,” the first feature-length documentary about Ellis Marsalis Jr. and the Marsalis Music Family. This screening will pay tribute to the late St. Louis Post-Dispatch Theater Critic (former film critic), Calvin Wilson, with a portion of ticket proceeds donated to his alma mater, Northwest High School’s Performing Arts department; “Black Barbie,” the story behind the first Black Barbie; and “Kenyatta Do Not Wait Your Turn,” from Al Roker, an inspiring film that follows a self-described “poor, gay, Black man from North Philly” on his historic run for the U.S. Senate.

● Studio Spotlight: Star-filled highlights include “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” an American drama film, written and directed by Raven Jackson, starring Charleen McClure, Moses Ingram, Reginald Helms Jr., Zainab Jah, Sheila Atim, and Chris Chalk; “American Fiction,” an American satirical comedy-drama film directed and written by Cord Jefferson based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, starring Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Sterling K. Brown, Myra Lucretia Taylor, John Ortiz, Issa Rae, and Adam Brody; “The Holdovers,” an American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne, starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa; “Maxine’s Baby,” a documentary about Tyler Perry; and “Taste of Things,” (La Passion de Dodin Bouffant), directed by Trần Anh Hùng, starring Juliette Binoche, Pierre Gagnaire, Jan Hammenecker, and Benoît Magimel, is sure to leave audiences hungry for more and serves as France’s official submission for Best International Feature for the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.

Alexander Payne: © Aristidis Vafeiadakis via ZUMA Wire)

AWARDS

SLIFF is pleased to honor the following for their incredible contributions to film:
● Reginald Hudlin, a distinguished American film screenwriter, director, producer, and accomplished comic-book writer, hails from the vibrant cultural tapestry of East St. Louis. His cinematic repertoire boasts an impressive array of works, including notable titles such as “Marshall,” “The Black Godfather,” and “Sidney,” each contributing to his renowned status in the industry. On the closing night of the SLIFF, which falls on Sunday, November 19th, Hudlin will engage in an enlightening interview, offering audiences a captivating insight into his illustrious career, and he will be bestowed with a highly deserved Lifetime Achievement Award, an accolade reflecting his enduring influence.

● Alexander Payne, a luminary in American cinema, is a prominent film director, screenwriter, and producer celebrated for his illustrious career, including directorial gems such as “Sideways,” “Election,” and “Nebraska,” each a testament to his mastery of the craft. On Tuesday, November 14th, at the Hi-Pointe Theatre, audiences will have the rare opportunity to delve into the creative genius of Payne with his latest cinematic creation, “The Holdovers.” This screening is an occasion to honor Payne with a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. On Wednesday, November 15th, at the Hi-Pointe Theatre following a screening of his 2011 cinematic masterpiece, “The Descendants,” Payne will engage in an enlightening conversation, led by former CSL Executive Director Cliff Froehlich. In a poignant gesture of solidarity, a portion of the ticket sales from this screening will be donated to the Hawaii People’s Fund, an organization dedicated to offering direct aid in the aftermath of Maui’s wildfire devastation.

● Signe Baumane, an extraordinary talent from Latvia now rooted in the creative hub of Brooklyn, Baumane emerges as a multifaceted powerhouse in independent filmmaking, artistry, writing, and animation. With an illustrious career, she has crafted 16 acclaimed animated shorts that have earned her numerous awards and accolades, solidifying her place as a luminary in the field. Her groundbreaking animated feature debut, “Rocks in My Pockets,”

impressed SLIFF audiences in the past, and audiences this year will be entertained by her latest cinematic offering, “My Love Affair with Marriage.” Her film will screen at the Hi-Pointe Theatre on Saturday, November 11th, where she will be honored with the prestigious Women In Film Award, a testament to her unwavering dedication and the inspiring stories she brings to life through her craft.

American Fiction

TICKETS & PASSES

Tickets are now on sale:

  • ●  All Access Pass (admits two): $500 / CSL Members $400
  • ●  VIP Pass (admits one): $350 / CSL Members $300
  • ●  20-Film Pass: $250 / CSL Members $200
  • ●  10-Film Pass: $130 / CSL Members $100
  • ●  6-Film Pass: $80 / CSL Members $60

Not a CSL Annual Member? In addition to discounts at SLIFF, members receive year-round benefits, sure to please every type of movie lover. Learn more and become a member here: https://cinemastlouis.org/membership.

VENUES

The festival will showcase films and special events across multiple centrally-located venues throughout the St. Louis area:

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, located at 3700 Forest Park Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63108 Arkadin Cinema & Bar, located at 5228 Gravois Ave, St. Louis, MO 63116 Contemporary Art Museum, located at 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 The Foundry Art Center, located at 520 N Main Center, St Charles, MO 63301 Hi-Pointe Theatre, located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117

Hi-Pointe Backlot Theatre, located at 1002 Hi-Pointe Pl., St. Louis, MO 63117 St. Louis Public Central Library, located at 1301 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Washington University, Brown Hall Auditorium, located at Centennial Greenway, St. Louis, MO 63105

Webster University, Moore Auditorium, located at 470 East Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119

SPONSORS

Title Sponsor: Whitaker Foundation

Sustaining Sponsors: Albrecht Family Foundation, Chellappa-Vedavalli Foundation, Coolfire Studios, Jane M. & Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation, Ward & Carol Klein, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg, Missouri Arts Council, Missouri Division of Tourism, Missouri Film Office, National Endowment for the Arts, Regional Arts Commission, Mary Strauss, Trio Foundation of St. Louis, William A. Kerr Foundation

Presenting Partners: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Arkadin Cinema & Bar, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Eventive, Film & Media Archive at Washington University Libraries, Film & Media Studies Program at Washington University, Foundry Art Centre, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis Public Radio, Webster University Film Series

More information about SLIFF can be found at https://cinemastlouis.org/sliff/festival-home.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Hi-Pointe Theatre and Hi-Pointe Drive-In Team Up for Special Offer Sept. 18

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Hi-Pointe Theatre and Hi-Pointe Drive-In Team Up for Special Offer Sept. 18

Cinema St. Louis is excited to partner with the Hi-Pointe Drive-In to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day on Monday, Sept. 18, at the Hi-Pointe Theatre with a special screening of the 1997 cult classic, GOOD BURGER. 

Join the Hi-Pointe Drive-In, everyone’s favorite local burger joint, for incredible food specials throughout the day (see below for the themed-menu) and get your picture taken with the original Good Burger car at their McCausland location.

Then, walk up to the iconic Hi-Pointe Movie Theatre for a 7 p.m. screening of the 1997 film “Good Burger,” a story about two hapless youths who lead their burger joint in a fight against the giant fast-food chain across the street. This film will surely entertain and stars Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, and Sinbad, dishing up some of the best laughs around.

The Hi-Pointe Theater will give $2 off a ticket with proof of food purchase or your best Good Burger car photo at the Hi-Pointe Drive-In. 

Good Burger car on site Sept 18

“We will be slangin’ burger and shake specials of course as well as selling exclusive merch and opening up the OG Goodburger car and letting y’all get in and take pics! Come by for a burg and then hop over to the theatre for a show,” Hi-Pointe Drive-In said on their Facebook page.

About the Menu

McCausland Location only: Mondo Burger combo with a Strawberry Jacuzzi Shake  $20 Double Burger with Gouda Cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, onion straws, lettuce, and pickles on a Brioche bun  Strawberry marshmallow shake topped with a fresh strawberry. All Locations: Big Mic  $30 Huge, eight-patty cheeseburger, Big Mac-style Ed’s Special Sauce   $5 Ando Sauce Bottle 

Go to https://bit.ly/Hi-Pointe_GoodBurger for more information and online ticket sales. 

Cinema St. Louis / Hi-Pointe Theatre

For more than 30 years, Cinema St. Louis (CSL) has served as the region’s go-to arts nonprofit for educating and inspiring audiences of all ages through film. Annually, the organization hosts the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) —  included among USA Today’s 10 Best “Film Festivals Worth Traveling To” — as well as the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, QFest St. Louis, Classic French Film Festival, and Golden Anniversaries. In January 2023, CSL found its new home in the iconic Hi-Pointe Theatre, a beautiful art-deco palace for film with the best popcorn in town. 

Hi-Pointe Drive-In

The Hi-Pointe has been an iconic St. Louis destination ever since this spot was a little drive-in in the 1980’s. Located in the historic Hi-Pointe neighborhood, just off Highway 40, this spot is a great place to pop into before or after events around town, or even as the main event. Their chef-inspired menu uses locally sourced ingredients and has something for folks from many walks of life, from their creative burgers, sandwiches, and shakes to healthy salads and a menu for the little ones. Following the tradition of killin’ it, Hi-Pointe Drive-In is brought to you by your friends from Sugarfire Smokehouse, among a few of your other favorite eateries.

Sightlines: Reflecting on This Year’s St. Louis Filmmakers’ Showcase

Sightlines: Reflecting on This Year’s St. Louis Filmmakers’ Showcase

By Lynn Venhaus
Congratulations to the local filmmakers who put their time, energy, money and creativity into making a local movie — 91 films were accepted this year! And a record number of women — 22 females directed movies! All these reasons to cheer.

Sunday night (July 30) was the 23rd Annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase Awards closing party, and this year, it was at Cinema St. Louis’ forever home, the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

Artistic Director Chris Clark, now in his 23rd year, announced the 14 films that move on to the 32nd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival Nov. 9-19, which is quite an honor: They are:

Gorilla Tactics
  1. The Box, directed by Doveed Linder
  2. The Candy Crucible, directed by Micah Deeken
  3. Captcha, directed by Andy Compton
  4. clusterluck, directed by Cami Thomas
  5. Eliza, directed by Delisa Richardson and Dan Steadman
  6. Fortune Cookie, directed by Fu Yang
  7. Gorilla Tactics, directed by Michael Long
  8. The Highland Incident, directed by Zia Nizami
  9. Honorable, directed by Zachary Scott Clark and Mariah Richardson
  10. Nova, directed by Gabe Sheets
  11. Pretty Boy, directed by Kevin Coleman-Cohen
  12. The Queue, directed by Michael Rich
  13. These Flowers Were for You, directed by Taylor Yocom
  14. Up for Air, directed by Chase Norman

The SLIFF schedule will be released in early fall. The festival will showcase various films across multiple venues throughout the St. Louis area, including the Alamo Drafthouse and CSL’s new home, the Hi-Pointe Theatre. The festival will offer more than 250 films, including documentary and narrative features and short film programs from the widest possible range of storytellers, representing multiple countries featuring more than 25 native languages.  

For this year’s St. Louis Filmmakers’ Showcase, 20 juried awards were given out in narrative, and also 10 in documentary and experimental. (See article recap in News: https://poplifestl.com/captcha-and-somewhere-in-old-missouri-win-three-awards-each-at-st-louis-filmmakers-showcase/).

Want to give a shout-out to all, and those in attendance after being part of 17 programs over two weekends, truly inspiring.

Michael Rich

To see people thrilled about their achievements being recognized, to peg certain folks as artists to keep your eyes on, and to meet some of the filmmakers is always fun. (How such a nice person as Michael Rich can make such terrifying, dark films — his “The Queue” won horror this year, and he’s won in the past. (Side note, his film will be part of Franki Cambeletta’s Haunted Garage Horror Film Festival Oct. 5-7 at the Hi-Pointe, so will “The Candy Crucible.”).

And to follow success of people I met when I was an adjunct journalism/media instructor at STLCC-Forest Park in ’09 and see them produce passion projects — Kevin Coleman-Cohen and Mariah Richardson, is exciting.

CSL established the categories — a solid list, and last year, I lobbied for ensemble to be added (recognized more in recent years in film awards, and St. Louis Film Critics Association added it in ’22). This year, other jurors and I felt that with the increase in horror/thriller films, we needed that genre category.

Since 2009, I have served on the narrative jury a number of times,  not every year, and certainly not the four times my late son Tim Venhaus’ comedies made the cut, but a considerable amount. I am always eager to see what local folks are up to, and I can attest the quality has grown by leaps and bounds.

This year, the quality of original music was quite exceptional – a longer list of worthy nominees.

(In my opinion, the four biggest things, negatively, are: sound and lighting, quality of acting and the follow-through —  how to end a story. I, too, have seen Francois Truffaut’s “The 400 Blows” and freeze-framing the final shot isn’t always the way to go. My latest pet peeve is how fake the fake blood looks, some far better than others, but I digress.)

We are here to celebrate film and the joy involved in community.

Through the whole festival, you see a sense of community — of collaboration, of coming together to produce an original work, emphasis on original. Everybody’s got a story to tell, and how they choose to tell it is a journey unto itself.

Winners Delisa Richardson, Mia Bible, Zachary Scott Clark, Kazia Steele. Photo Provided.

Movie-making is very hard work, and if you’ve spent long hours on a movie shoot, you know it’s something to admire – stamina, resourcefulness, ability to be flexible, and the long hours trying to capture the right angle or light.

Plus it takes courage. And tapping the right people for the job.

In recent years, some actors I know through covering regional theater are in front of a camera, and that’s a fun component – seeing a new side to them. Don McClendon, you must be the champ of most films in a year. David Wassilak, living in your mom’s basement in “The Box”? Eric Dean White, I can’t unsee your image as a creep in “Finch”! Paul Cereghino, you didn’t really kill that baby chick, did you? And is that Alan Knoll as a prison warden in “Penitentia”?

This year I was introduced to Zachary Scott Clark as Boy Willie in Encore’s “The Piano Lesson,” and to see him become Muhammed Ali in “Honorable” was impressive (how intimidating to play a historical figure!), and likewise, improv comedic actor Ryan Myers in “Captcha” — is he or is he not a robot?

And to discover new talent — Kazia Steele in “Eliza,” Ramone Boyd in “Pretty Boy” and the musicians in “Somewhere in Old Missouri,” among others. And see how hard Tanner Richard Craft works making movies that say something.

Or seeing people you know as actors, Delisa Richardson, move behind the scenes as a writer and director, in “Eliza.”

Tanner Richard Craft in “Processing”

Through promoting the local arts scene, and Cinema St. Louis’ programs, I enjoy meeting these people who are letting their voices be heard, collaborating with others on a labor of love, and have a distinct point of view.

Sadly, some very good films become also-rans. Not everyone can get a trophy, and we always have a healthy discussion on why certain films receive recognition, and others don’t. We don’t name the runners-up. But we do admire many efforts that don’t make that cut — “Cheated!” was a clever original musical told in a few minutes! Attorney Ed Herman spoke the truth in the comically entertaining animated short “Ed V Bathrooms.”

Spencer Davis Milford

And some actors are quite good in films that are in the conversation but just don’t get the top vote. (Brock Russell and Spencer Davis Milford, we enjoyed you guys in the offbeat black comedy “Food Poisoning” — who knew funny and cannibalism could be in the same sentence? Likewise, two outstanding females in “Broken Vessels” — Alicia Blasingame and Cathy Vu, the dynamic duo of Chrissie Watkins and Joe Hanrahan in “Patient #47,” Rusty Schwimmer in “Penetentia,” and the list is long.

I particularly enjoy seeing different shot selection — local parks, neighborhoods, cool historic homes, use of rivers, high schools, colleges. After all, this is “St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase.” Filmmakers from here who’ve moved can shoot where they are, like L.A., but it’s really fun to see different parts of the ‘Lou, or Illinois, with fresh eyes. Hmmm, that diner is in St. Charles? Is that bar in south city? In “Pretty Boy,” Kevin Coleman-Cohen used ‘underground’ downtown areas that were fascinating.

A film can be 3 minutes, like “Up for Air,” and make its point effectively, or it can be a half-hour, like “Honorable,” and deliver a sense of time and place eloquently. We know they didn’t fly to Ghana, but you understood the setting.

A nondescript apartment became a prison for someone in a mental health crisis in “Where Monsters Lurk.” And Gabe Sheets used a vintage Chevy Nova to tell a transgender teen’s story in “Nova.”

And for Fu Yang’s brilliant stop-motion animation “Fortune Cookie,” the amount of thought and effort is remarkable (won animation/experimental and best narrative under 20 minutes). The backstory told by many directors in their notes is key to understanding all that is involved.

So, the best of the best moves on, while excellent efforts may not get the SLIFF spotlight, but I hope can be seen in other ways. A film has to be seen, and felt. And sometimes, that filmmaker will come back stronger the next year.

Andy Compton, Ryan Myers, Larry Claudin and composer Austin McCutcheon. Photo provided.

I look forward to see what Andy Compton is up to next, and hope to see some shorts turned into features for ambitious filmmakers. (Scott Wisdom’s “No Rest for the Wicked” perhaps).

The narrative jury watched 59 films this year. Chris gave us a good lead time, and our panel would text each other about certain ones, sometimes we’d go back and watch one a second time to evaluate. The due diligence that I witnessed in fellow jurors Alex McPherson and Cate Marquis is a commitment we willingly take on, because it’s important.

I know the doc committee feels the same way — Carl “The Intern” Middleman, my podcast colleague, watched his slate before he left for a fishing trip to Canada. So did Aisha Sultan, whose family went on an overseas trip, back to discuss the winners. Gayle Gallagher was on hand Sunday night to talk about their decisions.

Now I need to watch the docs I missed, particularly Zia Nizami’s “The Highland Incident.” Zia is a former Belleville News-Democrat photographer that I have known for years, and I was covering metro-east news when the UFO incident was reported in 2001. It will be part of SLIFF.

Hope to see you film fans and dreamers at SLIFF in November.

And kudos to all the folks at Cinema St. Louis who work so very hard to make this annual event happen. Thanks, Bree Maniscalco, Brian Spath and of course, fearless AD Chris Clark.

The Candy Crucible. Not a Superhero or Disney Princess in sight.

Cover photo of winners Mia Bible and Zachary Scott Clark at the Hi-Pointe, July 30. Photo used with permission.

Free Tickets to Original ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ Showing Aug. 22

Free Tickets to Original ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ Showing Aug. 22

Focus Features and Cinema St. Louis are celebrating the upcoming release of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 with a big fat free screening of the original comedy, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING!

When: Tuesday, August 22 at 7:00pm
Where: Hi Pointe Theatre (1005 McCausland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63117) 

Trivia prior to the screening will offer the audience a chance to win gift cards from local Greek restaurants and more.

Tickets for this special screening are free and open to the public, while supplies last.

Click here for link to free tickets:
https://hi-pointe.eventive.org/schedule/64d10fb4e9c86b00476902c1?mkt_tok=MTY4LVRIRy05NDkAAAGNuIyL7uF47Ubn8xuG-pzC58n3ZaZ6T5cUkktwdsK8HBLjLXCLNUB1gprJMt3LXyCOdNReVhYxMidQnfwDfM2F3mtUVIMxXI-3deC_Gl5_

The 2002 romantic comedy

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Joel Zwick and written by Nia Vardalos, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The film starred Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, and Joey Fatone. The story was about a young Greek-American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

The sleeper hit was a box office success, grossing $368.7 million worldwide and cost $5 million to make. It spawned a franchise, inspired a sitcom “My Big Fat Greek Life” in 2003, a movie sequel in 2016 and a third film is scheduled to be released on Sept. 8. It’s a joint production of Playtone, Gold Circle Films, HBO Films, and Focus Features. It is dedicated to Michael Constantine, who died on Aug. 31, 2021 at the age of 94. The plot is about the Portokalos family on a trip to Greece for a family reunion — and another wedding will be featured.

Michael Constantine as the Greek dad in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”



‘Captcha’ and ‘Somewhere In Old Missouri’ Win Three Awards Each at St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase

‘Captcha’ and ‘Somewhere In Old Missouri’ Win Three Awards Each at St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase

The Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, an annual presentation of the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis (CSL), serves as the area’s primary venue for films made by local artists. The Showcase screened works that were shot in the St. Louis region or were written, directed, or produced by St. Louis-area residents or by filmmakers with strong local ties who are now working elsewhere. The Showcase’s 14 film programs ranged from narrative and documentary features to multi-film compilations of fiction, experimental, and documentary shorts.

The closing-night awards presentation took place in the Hi-Pointe Theatre on Sunday, July 30. Announced were nearly two dozen Showcase jury awards — including two $500 prizes to the overall Best Documentary and Narrative Showcase film. Cinema St. Louis staff also announced the films that will move on to the 32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival in November. Below are the winners.

Narrative jury awards:

  1. Best Costumes – The Candy Crucible
  2. Best Makeup/Hairstyling – Eliza
  3. Best Use of Music – Somewhere in Old Missouri – Mother Meat, Bas Drogo, & Kevin Koehler
  4. Best Sound – Kyle Pham, Up for Air
  5. Best Production Design/Art Direction – Somewhere is Old Missouri
  6. Best Special/Visual Effects – Austin Zwibelman, Processing…
  7. Best Editing – Chase Norman & Hattie Smith, Up for Air
  8. Best Cinematography – Chris Lawing, Penitentia
  9. Best Screenplay – Andy Compton, Captcha
  10. Best Actor – Zachary Scott Clark, “Honorable”
  11. Best Actress – Kazia Steele, “Eliza”
  12. Best Ensemble – Honorable
  13. Best Direction – Kevin Coleman-Cohen, “Pretty Boy”
  14. Best Animated Film – Gorilla Tactics, Michael Long
  15. Best Comedy – Captcha, Andy Compton
  16. Best Drama – Pretty Boy, Kevin Coleman-Cohen
  17. Best Horror/Thriller – The Queue, Michael Rich
  18. Best Narrative Film under 20 minutes – Fortune Cookie, Fu Yang
  19. Best Narrative Feature over 20 minutes – Somewhere is Old Missouri, Tom Boyer
Bring Dat Mono Back

Documentary & Experimental jury awards:

  1. Best Animated Documentary or Experimental Film – Fortune Cookie, Fu Yang
  2. Best Use of Music – Bring Dat Mono Back, Edward Thornton
  3. Best Sound – Loup Garou, Erin Greenwell
  4. Best Editing – Todd Soliday, Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool
  5. Best Cinematography – Papa Blankson, Shark Brained
  6. Best Direction – Raising Spirits | The Big Muddy Dance Company, Chadwell & Ria Ruthsatz
  7. Best Documentary under 20 minutes – The Highland Incident, Zia Nizami
  8. Best Documentary Feature over 20 minutes – clusterluck, Cami Thomas
  9. Best Experimental Film – These Flowers Were for You, Taylor Yocom
Raising Spirits. The Big Muddy Dance Company.

Films invited to SLIFF:

  1. The Box, directed by Doveed Linder
  2. The Candy Crucible, directed by Micah Deeken
  3. Captcha, directed by Andy Compton
  4. clusterluck, directed by Cami Thomas
  5. Eliza, directed by Delisa Richardson and Dan Steadman
  6. Fortune Cookie, directed by Fu Yang
  7. Gorilla Tactics, directed by Michael Long
  8. The Highland Incident, directed by Zia Nizami
  9. Honorable, directed by Zachary Scott Clark and Mariah Richardson
  10. Nova, directed by Gabe Sheets
  11. Pretty Boy, directed by Kevin Coleman-Cohen
  12. The Queue, directed by Michael Rich
  13. These Flowers Were for You, directed by Taylor Yocom
  14. Up for Air, directed by Chase Norman
The Box

Chellapa-Vedavalli Foundation Best of Fest Essy Awards $500 cash prize: 

Documentary: Bring Dat Mono Back, Edward Thornton

Narrative: Captcha, directed by Andy Compton

Somewhere In Old Missouri

Instagram: @stlfilmshowcase Twitter: @stlfilmshowcase Facebook: @STLFilmmakersShowcase

For more information, the public should visit cinemastlouis.org.

Pretty Boy

Cinema St. Louis

For more than 30 years, Cinema St. Louis (CSL) has served as the region’s go-to arts nonprofit for educating and inspiring audiences of all ages through film. Annually, the organization hosts the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) —  included among USA Today’s 10 Best “Film Festivals Worth Traveling To” — as well as the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, QFest St. Louis, Classic French Film Festival, and Golden Anniversaries. In addition, Cinema St. Louis seeks to engage younger audiences, exposing them to the possibilities of becoming filmmakers, through free hands-on filmmaking camps and screenings through Cinema for Students.

Take Ten with Filmmaker Fu Yang

Take Ten with Filmmaker Fu Yang

By Lynn Venhaus

Feeling burnt out, Fu Yang took a real-life event, wrapped it inside a metaphorical tale about being consumed by an authority’s endless needs, being unappreciated and manipulated, and made an animated short, “Fortune Cookie.”

She is one of 22 female directors whose work was accepted into this year’s St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. The nearly 4-minute stop-motion short is part of the Animation and Experimental Shorts line-up that will be shown at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 30.

“The film speaks about where I was and how I saw a new path from the dead end,” she said..

Through personal projects, she shares pieces of herself and the culture she grew up in, she said. “I see every work as a journal to connect with people and share a message on subjects that matter in my heart.”

The short was created through a Voices With Impact production grant and premiered at Art With Impact ‘s Voices With Impact mental health film festival in June. 

Yang, originally from Taiwan, came to San Francisco to study traditional animation in 2016. In 2022, she re-established an animation studio with her husband, Ben Ellerbracht, in St. Louis.

In her biography, she said being an alien in the US has made her more sensitive to other storytellers trying to express their roots through filmmaking as a way to bridge communication and understanding among different cultures. Having the experience as a foreign art student also brings her attention to how other immigrants follow their dreams and break through the barrier of language and limited resources they often have, she said.

Tools of the trade for her stop-motion project.

The Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, an annual presentation of the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis, serves as the area’s primary venue for films made by local artists. The Showcase screens works that were written, directed, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or films with strong local ties. Artistic Director Chris Clark said they chose to include 91 films.

The 17 film programs that screen at the Hi-Pointe Theatre from July 21-23 and 28-30 serve as the Showcase’s centerpiece. The Closing-Night Awards Party is at 7:30 p.m. at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

The film programs range from full-length fiction and documentary features to multi-film compilations of fiction, documentary, and experimental shorts. The programs with feature films include post- screening Q&As with the filmmakers and/or subjects.

For a complete schedule and more information, visit: https://www.cinemastlouis.org/23rd-annual-st-louis-filmmakers-showcase

Fu Yang

Take Ten Q&A with Fu Yang:

1. Why did you choose your profession/pursue the arts?

It feels more natural to me to open up and connect with people through crafts and animation. I believe films have the power of empathy and can broaden the viewers’ knowledge and strengthen their minds.

2. How would your friends describe you?

Composed and resilient workaholic. 

3. How do you like to spend your spare time?

Snuggle with my hubby and puppy.

4. What is your current obsession?

Ramen.

5. What would people be surprised to find out about you?

I am a cheerful person who tends to create dark stories.

6. Can you share one of your most defining moments in life?

Every moment when I am physically animating a stop-motion scene.

7. Who do you admire most?

My Mom is a saint.

8. What is at the top of your bucket list?

Create reality competition shows about stop-motion animation to highlight the creators, storytelling and craftsmanship.

9. How were you affected by the pandemic years, and anything you would like to share about what got you through and any lesson learned during the isolation periods? Any reflections on how the arts were affected? And what it means to move forward?

When Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate movements happened along with the pandemic, I transited more of my creative energy on my identity and seeking understanding among different cultures through my art and work content.

10. What is your favorite thing to do in St. Louis? (Or your hometown)

Typing preplans of film projects on my studio deck.

11. What’s next?

Write a truthful animated short about sibling rivalry reflecting Taiwanese 90s to present memories.

More on Fu Yang

Name: Fu Yang 楊馥
Birthplace: Taiwan
Current location: St. Louis
Education: Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA  2016 – 2019
MFA Traditional and Stop Motion Animation
Day job: Freelance Content Creator
First job: Album Cover Design
https://tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com/album/anti

First movie you were involved in or made: TellTale (2019)
https://fuyang.wixsite.com/fuyang/telltale-thesis-film

Favorite jobs/roles/plays or work in your medium? Teaching and producing animation interview program, Nice Shorts.
https://www.instagram.com/niceshorts.interview/

Dream job/opportunity: Hold stop-motion workshop & animation festival in St. Louis

Awards/Honors/Achievements: Voices with Impact Production Grantee for Fortune Cookie Short Film

Favorite quote/words to live by: Love & Kind

A song that makes you happy: Religious Man ( I am I am )

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKsI_A-DDIf/

Here is her director’s statement on this content, on why she focused on burnout:

“The original concept came out as a reflection of my working experience right after graduating from art school. I volunteered at non-profits believing in their missions. I trusted their false promises that they would consider hiring me in the future, and I dedicated all my time and efforts to proving my worth to the team

However, what I did seemed never good enough and never fit their qualifications of being “a true professional.” Those authorities told me it is normal for aspiring artists to compromise on their well-beings and payments as an exchange for their exposures and opportunities– this is how “everyone” starts in the beginning. I felt my face became their advertisement of embracing diversity, but my voice was undervalued. My projects related to servicing justice and supporting artists, but I was not the case to be noticed and considered.

I need an exit to put my mixed feeling of hopelessness, exhaustion and anxiety aside. Therefore, I want to transform the negativity into art to remind myself, other aspiring artists and young professionals the importance of knowing our limits and taking care of our well-beings while pursuing our dreams. People who are older than us, staying in the industry longer than us and having more resources than us do not mean they have the right to surpass and manipulate others. Be brave to say no and walk away. Believe in ourselves and find the right community to heal and to grow.” — Fu Yang

Take Ten with St. Louis Filmmaker Andy Compton

Take Ten with St. Louis Filmmaker Andy Compton

By Lynn Venhaus
At home behind a movie camera, Andy Compton has strived to be a resourceful filmmaker, working through pitfalls to take a film from page to screen. Post-pandemic, he has been busy, crafting shorts that have been accepted for the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, and last year’s comedy, “Ethan and Edna,” played at the St. Louis International Film Festival.

He’s currently working on four more shorts this summer through fall.

“Basically, just having a blast making stuff with my friends and trying to keep getting better as a filmmaker,” he said. 

His latest “Captcha,” a sci-fi horror thriller comedy short, will be screened as part of the Narrative Shorts #4 Program on Saturday, July 22, at 9 p.m. at the Hi-Pointe Theatre. At the July 30 Closing Night Awards Party, Cinema St. Louis’ artistic director Chris Clark will announce which of the 91 films screened this year will move on to SLIFF in November (3-13).

The Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, an annual presentation of the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis, serves as the area’s primary venue for films made by local artists.The Showcase screens works that were written, directed, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or films with strong local ties.

The 17 film programs that screen at the Hi-Pointe Theatre from July 21-23 and 28-30 serve as the Showcase’s centerpiece. In addition, the event features a quartet of live-streamed master classes — the legal-issues class is also available as an in-person event — and the Closing-Night Awards Party at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

The film programs range from full-length fiction and documentary features to multi-film compilations of fiction, documentary, and experimental shorts. The programs with feature films include post- screening Q&As with the filmmakers and/or subjects.

For a complete schedule and more information, visit: https://www.cinemastlouis.org/23rd-annual-st-louis-filmmakers-showcase

You can find Andy’s films on his YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@andycompton and follow him on social media — @andycompton_ on twitter and Instagram

He also produces “The Social Screenwriters Podcast,” where he interview screenwriters he has met on the internet about who they are, their projects, their writing process, and more. Available on podcast platforms.

“It’s a fun listen for writers chasing this crazy dream,” he said..

Here’s more about Andy.

Q&A QUESTIONS FOR “TAKE TEN”:

1. What is special about your latest project?

I think the most special thing about our latest short film, CAPTCHA, is that we shot it with a 4-person crew of friends for only about $250 when all was said and done. I’m incredibly proud of what we were able to make with very few resources.

2. Why did you choose your profession/pursue the arts?

A turbulent childhood coupled with a need for attention. That’s the recipe.

3. How would your friends describe you?

I would hope for charismatic and outgoing but more likely weird guy who goes to see movies alone.

4. How do you like to spend your spare time?

I grew up skateboarding and I’m still holding onto that at 35. Playing guitar. Watching movies. Pretty much the same stuff I was doing when I was 14. 

5. What is your current obsession?

Watching YouTubers watch movies I love for the first time and seeing how much they love it or if they cry when I cried or get scared when I got scared. I was just watching people react to Avatar 2 (another James Cameron banger).

6. What would people be surprised to find out about you?

Probably that I’m a former high school dropout. I quit school at 16, then just worked random jobs for most of my 20s until I got my GED at 26, enrolled in community college at 27, and graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor’s degree in Scriptwriting at 31. I took the long road, lol.

7. Can you share one of your most defining moments in life?

When I got sober in 2017. Drugs and alcohol were a big part of my life from my early teens on through my 20s. Eventually, I started noticing that those things were only holding me back in life. Then in 2017, I got a DUI. Obviously not proud of it, but it was undoubtedly the best thing that could have happened to me at that time and I was able to turn my life around starting the next day and I haven’t looked back since. Life has gotten so much better. Coming up on 6 years in September. 

8. Who do you admire most?

My mom. 

9. What is at the top of your bucket list?

I want to kickflip over the Arch.

10. How were you affected by the pandemic years, and anything you would like to share about what got you through and any lesson learned during the isolation periods? Any reflections on how the arts were affected? And what it means to move forward?

My hair got a lot more gray during the pandemic and I’m not sure if it was caused by the stress or simply coincidence. But, obviously it was a tragic and scary time for everyone. I will say, as a natural introvert, I was not mad about being forced to stay inside everyday. I got a ton of writing done. I was actually supposed to graduate from Webster in May 2020, but it was postponed. Also, we had a short film I had directed at Webster called TIN BOX entering into the film festival circuit at the time so all of that went online as well. It was a bummer for sure, but when people are losing family members out there, it was kind of hard to be upset about my dumb short film or not walking at graduation right away. It’s an interesting time for filmmakers as just when pandemic restrictions were lifted, the Writer’s Guild and Actor’s Guild have gone on strike (rightfully so), so it’s another pause on progress for those of us trying to break into the industry. That’s life, though. 

11. What is your favorite thing to do in St. Louis?

I’m a big St. Louis Blues fan so I love going to games. Also, Grammy Sammies at The Gramophone. Also, seeing shows at The Improv Shop. I did their training program when I first got sober and played on some teams until I just got too busy chasing the film dream. It’s a great theater and great community, though. Go see a show!

12. What’s next?

A lot! The same team behind CAPTCHA have another short film in post-production right now, then we’re shooting three more in August, September, and October. Four shorts from June to October seemed like a great idea earlier this year but now that we’re doing it, it’s a lot! But, I’m too stubborn to admit defeat so we’re pressing on. Basically, just having a blast making stuff with my friends and trying to keep getting better as a filmmaker. 

More on Andy:

Name: Andy Compton
Age: 35.
Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan
Current location: St. Louis Missouri
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Scriptwriting/Minor in Film & Television Production from Webster University
Day job: Wedding/Event Videography
First job: Line cook at Sonic Drive-in
First movie you were involved in or made: PET TURTLES, written & directed by Vern Tooley. Some improv friends and I were extras in one scene. My best friend and actor in all my movies, Larry Claudin, stars.
Favorite jobs/roles/plays or work in your medium: Due to a lack of budget, I’m usually wearing a lot of hats on the shorts I make. I write, direct, produce, edit, do production design, wardrobe, casting, etc. Of all those, I love the writing process, but my absolute favorite part is directing. Writing is a lonely profession. Being on-set with a whole creative team throwing out ideas, and actors who bring their own flavor to the words you put on the page is the best part. I also love doing improv on-set so I just love pitching jokes on the fly to actors and seeing if we can make the crew laugh. If the crew laughs, I know it’s funny.
Dream job/opportunity: I would love to develop a movie with Adam Sandler. He’s one of my heroes and it would be an honor to direct him in something. I think I would have to fist fight the Safdie Brothers to get to him, though.
Awards/Honors/Achievements: I had two feature scripts, SUPLEX, and BELLYACHE, make the Semifinals of the Nicholl Fellowship, the screenwriting competition run by The Academy in 2020. That kind of kicked off a lot of things for me and helped me land a manager in LA. 
Favorite quote/words to live by: Be kind.
A song that makes you happy: “Check the Rhime” by A Tribe Called Quest

Cinema St Louis Announces Lineup For This Year’s Golden Anniversaries

Cinema St Louis Announces Lineup For This Year’s Golden Anniversaries

Films of 1973 spotlighted in online discussions and in-person screenings

The Golden Anniversaries film series — an annual presentation of Cinema St. Louis (CSL) — features classic films celebrating their 50th anniversaries. The sixth edition of the event highlights films from 1973.

This year, Cinema St. Louis will hold both virtual conversations and in-person screenings as part of Golden Anniversaries. Virtual conversations are presented free of charge.

The online conversations, with people watching the films on their own but gathering virtually to discuss them, will continue through December. The virtual programs will be available as livestreams through Eventive. Each online event has a link to register on the CSL website: cinemastlouis.org/golden-anniversaries.

This year’s series kicked off in April and will continue through December, with films playing on Sunday afternoons at the Hi-Pointe Theatre, 1005 McCausland Ave, 63117.

Tickets are required for the in-person screenings at the Hi-Pointe. Free parking is available at the Hi-Pointe Backlot or Lindell Bank across the street from the theater.

Ryan and Tatum O’Neal in “Paper Moon”

In addition, during the 32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival, which takes place from Nov. 9-19, CSL will offer a trio of free Golden Anniversaries screenings — Jack Hill’s “Coffy” (with Novotny Lawrence), Robert Clouse’s “Enter the Dragon” (with Daniel Yezbick), and Peter Bogdanovich’s “Paper Moon” (with Tom O’Keefe) — on the second Saturday and Sunday of the fest at the St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St., 63103.

Whether the event is held online or in person, film critics, film academics, filmmakers, and writers will offer introductory remarks and participate in discussions about the films. In addition to St. Louis-based experts, Golden Anniversaries will again feature contributors from elsewhere, including returning presenter Novotny Lawrence (“Coffy” and “Cleopatra Jones”) and new participants such as freelance writer and film historian, Marya E. Gates (“Love & Anarchy”).

For full descriptions of the films, visit the Cinema St. Louis website.

In-Person Screenings

Sunday, April 1, at 1:00 PM

The Sting

George Roy Hill, U.S., 129 min.

With Chris Clark, artistic director of Cinema St. Louis.

Sunday, May 21, at 1:00 PM

Robin Hood

David Hand & Wolfgang Reitherman, U.S., 83 min.

With Jim Tudor, co-founder of ZekeFilm and adjunct professor of film studies at Webster University.

Sunday, June 18, at 1:00 PM

Live and Let Die

Guy Hamilton, U.K. & U.S., 121 min.

With Jim Tudor, co-founder of ZekeFilm and adjunct professor of film studies at Webster University.

Sunday, July 16, at 1:00 PM

The Three Musketeers

Richard Lester, Spain & U.S., 106 min.

With Robert Hunt, former film critic for The Riverfront Times.

Sunday, Aug. 20, at 1:00 PM

Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen in “Badlands”

Badlands

Terence Malick, U.K., 94 min.

With T.J. Keeley, Ph.D. student in contemporary American literature at Saint Louis University and teacher of English and film at college prep schools in the St. Louis area.

Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:00 PM

The Long Goodbye

Robert Altman, U.S., 112 min.

With Calvin Wilson, theater, film, dance and jazz critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/stltoday.com.

Sunday, Oct. 15, at 1:00 PM

F for Fake

Orson Welles, Gary Graver & Oja Kodar, France, Iran & West Germany, 89 min.

With Joshua Ray, film critic for KMOV and Co-Founder and Contributing Editor of The Take-Up.

Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand, The Way We Were

Sunday, Dec. 17, at 1:00 PM

The Way We Were

Sydney Pollack, U.S., 118 min.

With Lynn Venhaus, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic who reviews for the Webster-Kirkwood Times, KTRS Radio (Jennifer Blome and Wendy Wiese Show), and PopLifeSTL.com website, www.poplifestl.com

Virtual Discussions

Monday, June 12, at 7:30 PM

Love & Anarchy

Lina Wertmüller, Italy, 120 min., Italian

With Marya E. Gates, freelance film writer and historian who specializes in the work of female directors.

Monday, July 10, at 7:30 PM

The Spirit of the Beehive

Victor Erice, Spain, 98 min.

With Cait Lore, who holds a Master’s Degree in Film Theory from the University of Kent, teaches film studies at Websger University, and serves as a co-programmer of QFest St. Louis.

Monday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 PM

Day for Night

François Truffaut, France, 116 min., French

With Robert Hunt, former film critic for The Riverfront Times.

Randy Quaid and Jack Nicholson in “The Last Detail”

Monday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 PM

The Last Detail

Hal Ashby, U.S., 104 min., English

With Robert Garrick, attorney and former contributor to the davekehr.com film blog.

Monday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 PM

Amarcord

Federico Fellini, Italy, 122 min., Italian

With Cate Marquis, a Rotten Tomatoes certified film critic and film historian who writes for We Are Movie Geeks, the St. Louis Jewish Light, and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and a member of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and the St. Louis Film Critics Association.

Monday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 PM

Cleopatra Jones

Jack Starrett, U.S.,  89 min.

With Novotny Lawrence, associate professor at Iowa State University.

Bruce Lee in “Enter the Dragon”

Cinema St. Louis celebrates Wes Anderson with Wes-Fest, screens six

Cinema St. Louis celebrates Wes Anderson with Wes-Fest, screens six

Venue: Hi-Pointe Theatre, 1005 McCausland Ave. 63117

Tickets: Tickets are $12 for general admission; $10 for students and Cinema St. Louis members. Advance tickets can be purchased through the Cinema St. Louis website.

More Info: 314-200-5684, cinemastlouis.org

Cinema St. Louis celebrates American film auteur Wes Anderson with a six film retrospective in advance of the release of Anderson’s newest film, Asteroid City on June 16th. Before the director’s 11th feature is released, Cinema St. Louis will screen Anderson’s first six live action films over the first two weekends in June. The series will kick off with Anderson’s 1996 debut, Bottle Rocket, and culminate with 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom. The full lineup can be found on the Cinema St. Louis website.

“Wes Anderson has a unique voice and vision among American directors and it’s exciting to share these six films that have truly become iconic,” says Brian Spath, operations supervisor for Cinema St. Louis, “you know to expect certain hallmarks from an Anderson film, but his visual style, production design, and sly wit make each film different from the last.”

Anderson has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, including three times for Best Original Screenplay.

Films on Fridays and Saturdays will screen at 7:00 PM, while films on Sundays will screen at 5:00 PM.

Jason Schwartzman, “Rushmore”

FILM SCHEDULE

For film synopses, see the CSL website

Friday, June 2, 7:00 PM

Bottle Rocket

Wes Anderson, 1996, 92 min., color, DCP

Saturday, June 3, 7:00 PM

Rushmore

Wes Anderson, 1998, 92 min., color, DCP

The Royal Tenenbaums cast

Sunday, June 4, 5:00 PM

The Royal Tenenbaums

Wes Anderson, 2001, 92 min., color, DCP

Friday, June 9, 7:00 PM

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Wes Anderson, 2004, 92 min., color, DCP

Moonrise Kingdom

Saturday, June 10, 7:00 PM

The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson, 2007, 92 min., color, DCP

Sunday, June 11, 5:00 PM

Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson, 2012, 92 min., color, DCP

Go to https://www.cinemastlouis.org/hi-pointe for more information, showtimes, and online ticket sales.

“Asteroid City” will open on June 16.

Cinema St. Louis

For more than 30 years, Cinema St. Louis (CSL) has served as the region’s go-to arts nonprofit for educating and inspiring audiences of all ages through film. Annually, the organization hosts the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) —  included among USA Today’s 10 Best “Film Festivals Worth Traveling To” — as well as the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, QFest St. Louis, Classic French Film Festival, and Golden Anniversaries. In addition, Cinema St. Louis seeks to engage younger audiences, exposing them to the possibilities of becoming filmmakers, through free hands-on filmmaking camps and screenings through Cinema for Students.

16th Annual QFest St Louis Set for May 4-10 at The Hi-Pointe Theatre

16th Annual QFest St Louis Set for May 4-10 at The Hi-Pointe Theatre

Get ready to get your Q on!

The 16th Annual QFest St. Louis — presented by Cinema St. Louis (CSL) — will take place from May 4-10 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre, which was recently purchased by Cinema St. Louis.

The St. Louis-based LGBTQ film festival, QFest will present an eclectic array of 26 films from 9 countries (16 shorts, eight narrative features, and two documentary features). The participating filmmakers represent a wide variety of voices in contemporary queer world cinema. The mission of the film festival is to use the art of contemporary gay cinema to spotlight the lives of LGBTQ people and to celebrate queer culture. Nearly half of the films are by women or non-binary directors.

The fest is especially pleased to host the St. Louis premieres of bold new works by prominent LGBTQ+ filmmakers from around the world including “L’Immenista” starring Penelope Cruz, “Monica” starring Patricia Clarkson and Trace Lysette, and the heartbreaking “The Blue Caftan” from Morocco. Another highlight is this year’s Q Classic, legendary queer director Gregg Araki’s 1995 “The Doom Generation,” will be presented in a new 4K restoration and stars Rose McGowan and James Duvall.

Jimmy in Saigon

Two provocative documentaries are part of the lineup. “Jimmy in Saigon” chronicles the mysterious life and death of the filmmaker’s older brother in Vietnam in the early 1990s. Champaign, IL native and director Peter McDowell will attend with the film. “Kokomo City” is a riveting look at four black trans sex workers in New York and Georgia as they confront the dichotomy between the black community and themselves. This film is the directorial debut of D. Smith, who is a two-time Grammy-nominated songwriter-producer and trans woman.

QFest St. Louis begins on Thursday, May 4, and runs through Wednesday, May 10. Tickets are on sale now.. Tickets are $15 general, $12 for Cinema St. Louis members and students with valid and current IDs. Passes are also available: Five-Film Passes are $65, and All-Access Passes are $200 ($50 and $150 for CSL members). Direct ticket links are available on the QFest website.

For the full schedule of screenings, including trailers and descriptions of the films, visit the festival website at www.cinemastlouis.org/qfest. Advance digital screeners of the features and some of the shorts are available for press review on request. Please inquire with QFest St. Louis artistic director Chris Clark.

FILM PROGRAMS

The Blue Caftan, Maryam Touzani, Morocco, 2022, 122 min., Arabic with English subtitles, narrative

Blue Jean, Georgia Oakley, U.K., 2022, 97 min., narrative

The Doom Generation, Gregg Araki, U.S., 1995, 83 min., narrative, 4K restoration

In from the Side, Matt Carter, U.K., 2022, 132 min., narrative

Jimmy in Saigon, Peter McDowell, U.S., 2022, 90 min., documentary

Kokomo City, D. Smith, U.S., 2023, 73 min., documentary

L’Immenista, Emanuele Crialese, Italy, 2022, 97 min., Italian with English subtitles, narrative

Monica, Andrea Pallaoro, U.S., 2022, 106 min., narrative

Please Baby Please, Amanda Kramer, U.S., 2022, 95 min., narrative

Queer Shorts Programs 1 & 2

Multiple countries, program runtimes range between 102 – 106 minutes

The Sixth Reel, Carl Andress & Charles Busch, U.S., 2021, 94 min., narrative

Social media: Facebook: @QFestSTL | Twitter: @QFestSTL | Instagram: @QFestSTL

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Cinema St. Louis

For more than 30 years, Cinema St. Louis (CSL) has served as the region’s go-to arts nonprofit for educating and inspiring audiences of all ages through film. Annually, the organization hosts the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) —  included among USA Today’s 10 Best “Film Festivals Worth Traveling To” — as well as the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, QFest St. Louis, Classic French Film Festival, and Golden Anniversaries. In addition, Cinema St. Louis seeks to engage younger audiences, exposing them to the possibilities of becoming filmmakers, through free hands-on filmmaking camps and screenings through Cinema for Students.