St. Louis is about to become a movie lover’s playground. The 35th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival — SLIFF35 — runs November 5–15, bringing 226 films to nine venues across the metro area, presented by the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis.
This year’s theme, “The Declaration of Independents,” says it all: eleven days of bold independent features, international cinema, documentaries, shorts and family-friendly favorites. The festival opens November 5 with the Studio Spotlight screening of Wild Horse Nine and an opening-night reception, and the lineup ranges from environmental stories and tales of human connection to free programs that make it easy for everyone to join in.
St. Louis pride gets its own spotlight, too. A special section celebrates films with local roots, including Half Order, a new documentary about St. Louis Chinese food, Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story, about the remarkable local entrepreneur, and Joseph Puleo’s Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam.
Screenings unfold at beloved spots including the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, Chase Park Plaza Cinema, the Saint Louis Art Museum, Washington University and Webster University. Founded in 1992, SLIFF is one of only about 85 U.S. festivals sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — and its short-film winners can become eligible for an Oscar nomination. Individual tickets start at $12, with passes available. Grab the full schedule, pick your favorites and enjoy the show.
Photo: Cinema St. Louis
