SLIFF is a regional, internationally themed film event dedicated to exploring cross-cultural understanding through the art of the cinema. The organization's mission is to showcase the best in international, documentary, and American independent cinema. Believing that we discover something about ourselves when we learn about others’ cultures and perspectives, SLIFF offers programs that provide glimpses of the human experience from around the world and thoughtfully address issues of race, ethnicity, and sexual identity. The festival is especially concerned with providing local filmgoers the opportunity to see works that would otherwise never screen in St. Louis.
USA Today named SLIFF one of the 2019 top "10 amazing film festivals worth traveling for."
The festival is produced by Cinema St. Louis, a not-for-profit organization.
PLEASE NOTE: After temporarily converting to a virtual fest in 2020 because of the pandemic, we plan to return to a traditional in-person presentation in 2021. However, if an in-person SLIFF cannot be presented safely, we'll again use the secure Eventive online platform and instead hold the fest virtually.
SLIFF presents approximately 20 juried and audience-choice awards. Juried awards include the Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Award ($5,000 cash prize), the New Filmmakers Forum's Emerging Director Award ($500 cash prize), the Essy Award ($500 cash prize) for St. Louis-related films and filmmakers, and the Interfaith Award for narrative and documentary features.
Additionally, SLIFF is an Academy-sanctioned qualifying festival for both narrative and documentary shorts. Winners of the juried award for Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best of Fest (Narrative Short) can submit to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar® consideration.
Full award information can be found on the Cinema St. Louis website.
