Courtesy of Cinema St. Louis
The Tivoli
Film festivals allow for filmmakers of all genres to share their work with new and dedicated audiences, and while they may be home to the most hyped-up events, you don't have to head all the way to California or New York to experience a vibrant festival atmosphere. Whether you prefer documentaries or fiction, classic films or fresh new directors, there is a nearby fest to satisfy the cinephile in you.
St. Louis Film Fests
African Film Festival: Washington University in St. Louis’ annual African Film Festival introduces audiences to the latest in the African film scene. The festival aims to highlight themes across many African nations by highlighting diverse genres, talent, and directions in African cinema.1 Brookings Dr.
Cinema at Citygarden: This co-presentation of Cinema St. Louis and Gateway Foundation invites St. Louis filmmakers to create short films inspired by nature. The biennial program awards winning filmmakers with cash prizes, and Citygarden screens the winning shorts as part of a looped program on their video wall. 3547 Olive St.
Israeli Film Festival: This shorter, one-day film festival presented by Congregation Temple Israel will showcase two Israeli films and provide Israeli-style refreshments and cuisine during intermission. Admission to the festival is free, and guests are encouraged to stay for both films to learn more about Israeli culture. 1 Rabbi Alvan D Rubin Dr.
QFest St. Louis: This year’s 15th annual QFest will once again use the art of contemporary gay cinema to highlight the lives of LGBTQ+ people and share information about queer culture. The celebratory event aims to excite, entertain, and enlighten audience members on the social, cultural, and political sides of life as an LGBTQ+ person. Online
Robert Classic French Film Festival: Presented by TV5MONDE and produced by Cinema St. Louis, the Robert Classic French Film Festival is a celebration of St. Louis’ Gallic heritage and France’s “cinematic legacy.” Previous festivals have featured films spanning decades throughout the 1900s and aim to offer an overview of classic and historic French films. Two locations, Forsyth Boulevard and 470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase: Cinema St. Louis’ annual St. Louis Filmmaker Showcase serves to share the works of local filmmakers based in the great St. Louis metropolitan area. Past showcases have shown narrative and documentary features, short programming blocks, and post-screening Q&As. Some films from the showcase also go on to be screened at SLIFF. Online
St. Louis International Film Festival: Cinema St. Louis has been bringing the annual St. Louis International Film Festival to film lovers since 1992. After setbacks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s 30th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival, scheduled Nov. 4-21, will host in-person screenings at the Tivoli Theatre, Washington University’s Brown Hall Auditorium, and Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium, as well as a number of virtual events. Filmgoers can expect “to view the finest in world cinema” with genres including international films, documentaries, American indies, and shorts. Various locations, including 6350 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis Jewish Film Festival: The J’s St. Louis Jewish Film Festival aims to make film lovers feel as though they are traveling around the world through showings of national and international films. The event explores universal issues through “traditional Jewish values, opposing viewpoints and new perspectives.” Online
Webster University Film Series: The Webster University Film Series offers year-round access to international cinema, visiting artists, and classic films. Having been around since 1979, the series is a nationally known and recognized annual film exhibition that showcases American and foreign features, documentaries, classics and experimental cinema. With national and international artists presenting their work, attendees can expect an immersive and alternative cinematic experience. 470 E. Lockwood Ave.
Within a Day’s Drive
Big Muddy Film Festival: Just under a two hour drive from St. Louis sits Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where the annual Big Muddy Film Festival is hosted. The festival is one of the longest-running student-organized film festivals in the world, and films highlight themes including community, accessibility, social justice, and the environment. 1263 Lincoln Dr., Carbondale, Illinois
Riverside Short Film Festival: The annual Riverside Short Film Festival in New Haven hopes to further the art and craft of filmmaking through the support, promotion, and recognition of short films and filmmakers. The festival focuses on fresh voices in the industry and puts an emphasis on differing global perspectives to increase conversation while enlightening audiences. 1101 Miller St., New Haven, Missouri
Stronger Than Fiction Film Festival: The Missouri School of Journalism’s Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism has hosted the Stronger Than Fiction Film Festival for nearly a decade. The festival provides opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students in the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism to share the documentaries they have produced while in school to fulfill their degree requirements. 100 Old 63 North, Columbia, Missouri
True/False Film Fest: One of the premiere documentary film events in the country, True/False Film Fest takes over Columbia, Missouri each year with the mission to captivate and engage communities in immersive art experience. Sponsored by the nonprofit Ragtag Film Society, the fest brings together creatives and transforms Columbia into a citywide art and film paradise. Be sure to check out the fest's secret screenings to get a peek at new docs before they hit the larger festival circuit. Various locations, including 203 S. Ninth St., Columbia, Missouri
