The Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase is a celebration of local filmmakers, featuring 64 films and opportunities for networking and professional development.
24th Annual Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase
Dates: Screenings held July 19 – 21 and 26-28, 2024
Tickets: Individual tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for Cinema St. Louis members and students with valid and current photo IDs
Locations: All film screenings and closing night awards party will take place at the Hi-Pointe Theatre, located at 1005 McCausland Ave., at the intersection of McCausland Ave. and Clayton Rd. All of the filmmaking Masterclasses will also be held at the theater as will the closing-night party
Passes: 5-film passes are available for $65, $50 for CSL members; VIP passes are available for $140, $105 for CSL members
Ticket and Pass Purchase: cinemastlouis.org/st-louis-filmmakers-showcase
The Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase is an annual celebration of the area’s current and future filmmaking community. Presented by Cinema St. Louis, this year’s festival features 64 films spread out over 10 programs. All of the works were written, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or have strong local ties.
Beyond screening films, Showcase serves as a vital platform for nurturing and supporting local filmmaking talent. Through the 4 master classes, post-screening Q&As and networking opportunities, local filmmakers can connect with industry professionals, gain valuable insights, and forge connections to propel their careers forward.
Cinema St. Louis is dedicated to building the local community and providing a space for both experienced filmmakers and emerging talent. Within the 64 films chosen for the festival, 27 are from St. Louis area college students, 12 are first time filmmakers, and 22 are under thirty years old.
On Sunday, July 28, our Closing Night Awards Ceremony will take place at the Hi-Pointe Theatre from 6:30 – 8:30. In addition to several Jury Awards and the Essy Award – a $1000 prize given to the overall Best Showcase film – for the first time we are partnering with the Mayor’s Office to give out the Mayor’s Award to the Best Student Film. Cinema St. Louis staff will also announce the films that will move on to the 32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival in November.
“St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase is dedicated to capturing the unique spirit, culture and experiences of the region and its residents,” said Cinema St. Louis Festival Curator Emmett Williams. “In choosing these films, our programming team was committed not only to curating the best films, but also to celebrating the power of storytelling to illuminate the city’s rich tapestry.
The 64 films, 4 free master classes and live podcast recording include the following:
SHORTS PROGRAMS: Historically our post popular category are short films and this year we’ll be screening 3 Narrative Shorts programs, 2 Documentary Shorts programs and one dedicated to Animated and Experimental films.
PAINT IT BLACK: Narrated by John Goodman, this documentary film dives into the rugged subculture of rugby union football in St. Louis with focus on a perennial powerhouse, the Bombers Rugby Football Club, the current USA Rugby National Champion.
LIONS OF MESOPOTAMIA: Debuting at this years SXSW and with a post production team from St. Louis based Burton Stroube Outpost, this documentary tells the story of the Iraqi national soccer team’s journey to claim victory in the Asia Cup in 2007 during the bloodiest days of their country’s civil war. Journalist Aisha Sultan will lead a post-film Q&A.
GATEWAY TO A NEW LIFE: This documentary introduces viewers to the people behind the Afghan Support Program and the resilient Afghans who are building new lives in St. Louis. In partnership with International Institue a post-film Q&A will follow.
CATCHING BULLETS: After decades of selling drugs in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Louis, Darren buys a condemned church building in his old neighborhood and channels his energy into establishing a youth mentoring center,
MASTER CLASSES: The four Masterclasses include the first ever Film School vs No Film School debate, an animation workshop from Fu Yang who is working with Apple, a deep dive into the world of local TV commercial work and a Missouri Stories screenwriting event sponsored by the Missouri Film office with a focus on St. Louis projects.
The Whitaker Foundation again serves as the Showcase’s title sponsor. The foundation’s twofold mission is to encourage the preservation and use of parks and to enrich lives through the arts. The Chellappa-Vedavalli Foundation is underwriting both the Showcase’s Master Classes and the Essy Award, a $1,000 prize for the Best Showcase Film.
The event’s other sponsors include Arts & Education Council, Capes Sokol, Cheshire, Explore St. Louis, Grizzell & Co., Lindell Bank, Missouri Arts Council, Missouri Division of Tourism, Missouri Film Office, Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, and St. Louis Public Radio.
Instagram: @stlfilmshowcase Twitter: @stlfilmshowcase Facebook: @STLFilmmakersShowcase
For more information, the public should visit cinemastlouis.org.
###
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.
#StLouisFilm, #FilmmakersCommunity, #CinemaStLouis, #LocalTalent, #MasterClasses, #NetworkingOpportunities, #IndustryInsights, #FilmScreening, #StLouisProud
