The 31st Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival Returns to Area Theatres Nov. 3-13, 2

ST. LOUIS - Oct. 24, 2022 - PRLog -- Cinema St. Louis (CSL) is excited to present the 31st Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), running November 3-13. The festival will showcase a wide variety of films across multiple venues throughout the St. Louis area, in addition to two new locations in St. Charles and Edwardsville. A small selection of films will also be available online.

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

The festival is proud to offer 256 films, including more than 100 documentary and narrative features and 21 short film programs from the widest possible range of storytellers, representing 42 countries featuring more than 35 native languages. In addition to offering a variety of centrally located venues, SLIFF strives to maintain accessibility by offering 32 film programs for free and all virtual programming at a discounted rate of $5 per program.

Star-filled highlights include the opening night film, "Empire of Light," starring Olivia Colman and Colin Firth, and the closing night film, "Women Talking," starring Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, and Frances McDormand. The SLIFF Centerpiece Spotlight is the powerful journalism film, "She Said" starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan. St. Louis' favorite son Jon Hamm stars in "Corner Office" while writer/director Elegance Bratton's "The Inspection" features Jeremy Pope, Gabrielle Union, and Bokeem Woodbine.

SLIFF guests will explore documentary topics across a variety of thought-provoking films including the story of Lavar Burton and Reading Rainbow in "Butterfly in the Sky," gastronomic revolutionary chef, Charlie Trotter in "Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter," the journey of the veteran interplanetary Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity in "Good Night Oppy," and "All That Breathes," winner of the World Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
More than 150 films will be available for streaming through Eventive during the festival at a discounted price of $5. Films available online will be restricted to viewers in Missouri and Illinois only.

SLIFF will present three free master classes, thanks to an endowed gift from the Chellappa-Vedavalli Foundation.

• Sat., Nov. 5th at 10 am (Virtual Live Stream): Missouri Stories Production Lab
• Sun., Nov. 6th at 10 am (Virtual Live Stream): Behind The Scenes (with Casting Directors, Directors, and Actors)
• Thur., Nov. 10th at 5 pm (In-person event at Capes Sokol): Investing in Film

Cinema St. Louis is pleased to be honoring former executive director, Cliff Froehlich (https://cinemastlouis.org/sliff/tribute-cliff-froehlich) for his 19 years of leadership and countless contributions to the local and national film world. Please join CSL as we pay tribute to Froehlich, on Saturday, November 12th at 7 pm at Webster University. In addition to the tribute, a screening of one of Cliff's favorite films will take place - "His Girl Friday."

For more information, visit cinemastlouis.org.