Cinema St. Louis Announces the 10th Annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase

The 10th Annual St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase begins July 18th at the historic Tivoli Theatre, so prepare yourself once again to witness the talent that lives and creates amongst us… read more about the event below.

June 17, 2010 – The 10th Annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase (SLFS), an annual presentation of the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis, serves as the area’s primary venue for films made by local artists. SLFS screens works that were written, directed, edited or produced by St. Louis natives or those with strong local ties.

The 16 film programs that screen at the Tivoli from July 18-22 serve as SLFS’s centerpiece. The programs range from full-length fiction features and documentaries to multi-film compilations of fiction and documentary shorts. Most programs include post-screening Q&As with filmmakers. There are 65 films in this year’s event.

In addition to the screenings, SLFS offers filmmaking seminars for anyone interested in the moviemaking process. The programs feature Q&As with working filmmakers and are held on Saturday, July 17, at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. Admission is free.

SLFS hosts a closing-night awards party on Thursday, July 22, at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd. KDHX DJ Rob Levy will spin music, and Cinema St. Louis will announce the films chosen for inclusion in the St. Louis International Film Festival. Awards for the best films will be given by the St. Louis Film Critics. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Highlights of this year’s SLFS include the following:

Rebecca Ormond’s “Gateway Guardians”: A volunteer organization called the Gateway Guardians feeds daily, rescues and adopts hundreds of animals each year off the streets of East St. Louis, Ill. This documentary captures heartbreaking footage of the abandoned pets, volunteers on the streets, vet visits and foster homes.

Ryan Eslinger’s “Daniel and Abraham”:When Daniel sets out on a five-day hike to spread his father’s ashes, he encounters a mysterious stranger, Abraham, who appears to live in the woods. The film turns increasingly dark, as Daniel continues on his way and Abraham persistently follows. With writer/director Eslinger (“Madness and Genius,” “When a Man Falls in the Forest”), a St. Louis-area native, who will also host a seminar on micro-budget filmmaking on Saturday, July 17, at the Regional Arts Commission.

Niyi Coker’s “Pennies for the Boatman”: In North St. Louis during the summer of 1958, a woman is struggling with a secret and a prodigal sister who unexpectedly appears like a force of nature. The storm stirred up leaves behind both a trail of calamities and some unforeseen hope. The film is adapted from the award-winning play by Mario Farwell.

Mark Smith’s “Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture”: This compelling documentary examines the life and work of the great American architect Louis H. Sullivan (1856-1924), one of the original practitioners of the Prairie School of design and a key influence on Frank Lloyd Wright. Sullivan’s legacy is especially visible in his adopted home of Chicago, but his work is found throughout the U.S. and includes St. Louis’ Wainwright Building – one of the world’s first skyscrapers – and Union Trust Building.

Tickets:
Tickets for film programs at the Tivoli are $10 each; $8 for students with valid and current photo ID and for Cinema St. Louis members with valid membership cards. Advance tickets are on sale beginning July 1 at the Tivoli Theatre box office (5-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday). Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets may also be purchased in advance at tickets.landmarktheatres.com. There is a $1 per-ticket service charge. You must pick up your tickets at the Tivoli box-office window. Bring the credit card that you used to purchase the tickets and the confirmation number. Online sales are limited to full-price tickets only. Cinema St. Louis member and student discounts can only be obtained in person at the box office because ID is required. No phone sales.

Saturday, July 17: Filmmaking Seminars 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. Topics include documentary filmmaking, micro-budget filmmaking (with writer/director Ryan Eslinger), genre filmmaking, and using SAG/AFTRA low-budget contracts. These seminars are free and open to the public.

Sunday-Thursday, July 18-22: Film Programs
At the Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd.
For times and film descriptions, see full schedule (document attached) or visit cinemastlouis.org.

Thursday, July 22: Closing-Night Awards Party
8 p.m.-midnight at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd. Free (donations accepted).