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St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase to return to Tivoli July 17
(by Ben Ritchie - July 07, 2010)
As summer gets into full swing and the days continue to get hotter, you may not need much of an excuse to duck into an air-conditioned theater and enjoy a movie for a bit of a break. Though the offerings this time of year lean heavily to crowd-pleasing blockbuster fare, after a couple months’ worth of titanic clashes and uninspired remakes and sequels, you may be ready for something more challenging and personal. That’s where Cinema St. Louis rides to the rescue.
Beginning July 17, Cinema St. Louis kicks of its 10th annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase with various film programs running at the Tivoli Theater in the Delmar Loop. The 65 films included in the 16 programs run the gamut from features both fictional and documentary to multi-film compilations of short subjects, all of which span every genre and style. Additionally, and to the Showcase’s credit, not all are polished to a high-gloss sheen like the bulk of the formulaic popcorn flicks playing at the multiplex. The Showcase features films by both experienced and amateur filmmakers on all manner of budgets concerning all manner of subjects.
As is the intent of the Showcase, each film in the program exclusively highlights the creative talents of a local filmmaker or, if not a native St. Louisan, a filmmaker with strong local connections, many of whom are available for Q&A sessions following the screenings.
Films offered in the series this year include: Rebecca Ormond’s Gateway Guardians, a documentary of the titular volunteer organization and its efforts to rescue and find homes for abandoned pets in East St. Louis; Ryan Eslinger’s Daniel and Abraham, a dark drama concerning a man attempting to spread his father’s ashes and the mysterious figure he encounters in his journey; Niyi Coker’s Pennies for the Boatman, a period drama of a seamstress and her prodigal sister based on a play by Mario Farwell; and Mark Smith’s Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture, a biographical documentary of the influential architect.
Aspiring filmmakers, or those with a keen interest in film production, are encouraged to participate in the opening day’s educational seminars, which are completely free to the public. Taking place at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd., the four seminars feature professional filmmakers sharing techniques, viewpoints and personal experiences on documentary filmmaking, micro-budget filmmaking (hosted by Eslinger), genre filmmaking, and working with union-contracted actors on a low budget.
The culmination of the week’s events is an awards party at 8 p.m. July 22 in Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room. Again, admission is free, though donations supporting Cinema St. Louis’ efforts are accepted. Music will be provided by KDHX-FM DJ Rob Levy, while awards for the best SLFS films will be announced by the St. Louis film critics. At the same time, Cinema St. Louis will announce which Showcase films will be included in the next St. Louis International Film Festival in November.
• For more information on the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, including ticket information and a complete schedule of events and showtimes, visit Cinema St. Louis’ website at www.cinemastlouis.org.
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