The Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, an annual presentation of the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis, serves as the area’s primary venue for films made by local artists. The Showcase screens works that were written, directed, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or films/filmmakers with strong local ties.

The programs range from full-length fiction features and documentaries to multi-film compilations of fiction and documentary shorts. Programs with feature-length films include post-screening Q&As with filmmakers.

The 2024 Showcase will take place over two weekends from Friday, July 19 to July 28. The event will be held in-person at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

Deadlines remain important, but we want to be as flexible as possible to be respectful of filmmakers’ abilities to submit fully completed projects. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to CSL Festival Curator Emmett Williams directly.

Selected films will also receive invitations to the St. Louis International Film Festival.

Conditions for Eligibility:

This is a competitive, curated event, and submission does not guarantee an invitation.

All films ideally should fulfill the following requirements:

1) Be written, directed, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or those with strong local ties.
2) Be a St. Louis festival or theatrical premiere.
3) Be submitted with English subtitles if in a language other than English.
4) Be submitted with full synopsis, all contact info, including mailing address, phone number, email, and appropriate entry-fee payment.
5) No works in progress please, Completed films only.

In some instances, we are willing to accept and screen works-in-progress, provided that the versions submitted will work for the audience and jury.

It is preferred that films not be widely available on video/DVD, cable, YouTube, Vimeo, iTunes, Facebook, Amazon Prime, or VOD in the St. Louis region before the festival dates. A film's availability on one of these platforms does not disqualify an entry, but first priority will be given to works that are true premieres.

Public cast/crew screenings, especially features, before the event are also strongly discouraged.

Music rights and all copyright clearances are the sole responsibility of the filmmaker.

Cinema St. Louis (CSL) will not be held responsible for any legal disputes regarding the exhibition of this film.

Entry Procedure:

Provide complete information on FilmFreeway. Films should be submitted as secure online screeners on the platform (do not send DVDs or Blu-rays to our office). All preview materials must be received by May 31, 2024.

If your film is selected, it is mandatory that the projection master file be delivered via Dropbox or to the CSL office on a flash or hard drive NO LATER THAN June 26, 2024. All invited films should be submitted as a DCP. Specs will be provided with an acceptance email.

Publicity images, if available, must also be sent promptly (300 dpi or higher electronic images are preferred in .jpg or .png format).

All entrants will be notified of the status of their submission by email no later than June 15, 2024.

Notification of acceptance or rejection will not include criticism or feedback specific to your entry.

Please contact Emmett Williams at Cinema St. Louis for any/all questions and clarifications.

NOTE: At no extra charge, Showcase submissions are also eligible for consideration for the 31st Annual St. Louis International Film Festival, held Nov. 7-17, 2024. You will not need to resubmit your film.

Overall Rating
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Networking
  • Paul Vo Le

    I just want to say thank you for giving my film, Flesh and Blood, an opportunity to be screened at St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. This is such an amazing event where you can meet local filmmakers, and look at their creations. I thoroughly appreciate all the hard work from the filmmakers, and especially the members at Cinema St. Louis for hosting this fantastic showcase with great professionalism. Highly recommend!

    August 2024
  • James T Dierker

    An excellent event for the veteran filmmaker to the student apprentice. Well-organized and managed, featuring a wide-range of film genres with emphasis on local work. An enjoyable experience for the filmmaker as well as the cinema enthusiast/audience.

    August 2024
  • Well worth the submission. If you can attend in person try to do it.

    August 2023
  • This year’s St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase really elevated an already strong festival. Being centrally located at the Hi-Pointe theater really allowed for a great opportunity to meet other filmmakers and see the films in the best possible way. Chris, Brian, and the team have done such a great job with this festival and you should absolutely consider submitting your film.

    August 2023
  • I absolutely love that Cinema Saint Louis showcases the talent around the city! It is a great festival that brings together all walks of life and every genre. Unbelievable people and one hell of a program! As a horror festival runner, I look to these guys for inspiration and education on how to run a successful film fest!

    May 2023