This evening marks the beginning of the 11th annual St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). Screening films at the Hi-Pointe and Tivoli theaters and Webster University, the festival shows at least two films each weeknight on each of the four main screens (three at the Tivoli, one at the Hi-Pointe), with increased screenings on the weekends.
According to SLIFF’s curator, Chris Clark, the festival is regarded as one of the top 10 U.S. international festivals and has been named by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an official short subject screening festival, making winners at SLIFF Oscar-eligible.
This year’s program, which will run from Nov. 14 to 24, also boasts an added number of documentaries, short subject films and international feature films, as well as appearances from stars like Marsha Mason and Kevin Kline.
“Industry people from all over have commented to me that we have a truly inspired and impressive schedule,” Clark said. “(Executive Director) Cliff Froehlich told me the other day that while last year’s event was top-notch in his book, this year is several notches above that mark.”
Films are submitted to the festival in different ways, said Clark, who heads the selection process. He said he does a lot of research himself in the world of new films, including attending several major festivals each winter and reading cinematic publications from around the world. He also has a number of committees helping him.
One of the highlights of this year’s program is the foreign cinema, Clark said. “There are a great number of really great foreign films that may never get the chance to screen at your local multi-plex.” He cited Hi, Dharma! (Korea), Killer Tattoo (Thailand) and Waterboys (Japan) as such films. Clark said Nowhere in Africa “may be one of the most powerful and beautiful films of the entire year.”
The festival will also represent St. Louis well. Native directors George Hickenlooper and Peter Mattei will present their respective films The Man from Elysian Fields and Love in the Time of Money and 22 other short subjects by local filmmakers will premiere. Clark also said there is a large number of high-profile films whose directors and stars are from St. Louis.
Clark noted, though, that even after 11 years, “There are an amazing number of people in town who are not even aware that we have a festival, much less that we are one of the top festivals in the country.”
