The 32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival is just about a month away, and while the full lineup for SLIFF, which runs from November 9–19, isn’t out quite yet, Cinema St. Louis has announced some of this year’s award recipients, guests, and spotlight features.
First up, Alexander Payne, director of Sideways, Downsizing, Election, and Nebraska, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Payne will be screening his two most recent features at the fest. Catch The Holdovers, starring Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, on November 14 and The Descendants, which stars George Clooney and won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2012, on November 15.
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Additionally, director Reginald Hudlin, who is originally from East St. Louis, will be screening his classic 1990 film House Party as the opening night film of SLIFF in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop. Hudlin will also be honored with a Lifetime Achievement award as part of a conversation at the Closing Night Awards Party on November 19.
Latvian-born, Brooklyn-based animator and filmmaker Signe Baumane will also be on hand at this year’s fest. In addition to screening her latest animated feature, My Love Affair with Marriage, on November 11, Baumane will also accept this year’s Women in Film Award.
In addition to these films and filmmakers receiving awards, SLIFF will also be spotlighting a number of other exciting films including:
This critically acclaimed romantic drama from director Andrew Haigh stars Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Claire Foy. It will be screened as part of the QFest Spotlight.
Sorry/Not Sorry is a new documentary from directors Caroline Suh and Cara Mones exploring comedian Louis C.K’s comeback following his sexual harassment allegations in 2017 and the unseen impact it has had on the women who spoke out publicly about his behavior.
This satirical comedy-drama from director Cord Jefferson stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, and St. Louis’ own Sterling K. Brown. The film also won the Toronto International Film Festival’s 2023 People’s Choice Award.
Directed by Trần Anh Hùng and starring Juliette Binoche, The Taste of Things is France’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards.
For more information or to purchase passes and tickets, visit cinemastlouis.org
