Saturday, July 21
Centene Center for Arts and Education (3547 Olive Street; 314-289-4150 or www.cinemastlouis.org)
11 a.m.-6 p.m.: Filmmaking Seminars
Free, but reservations are requested and donations accepted.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Directorial Case Study. Jay Kelley conducts a workshop that examines the director's role by showing several directors' takes on the same scene and exploring the differences in their approaches to acting, staging and shooting. Participating directors and actors include Kenny Kinds, Tom Robinson and Travis Hill.
12:45-2:15 p.m.: Shooting in St. Louis: Ghost Image. Producer Srikant Chellappa and director Jack Snyder explore the ins and outs of making independent features in St. Louis.
2:30-3:30 p.m. Q&A: Screenwriter/novelist Scott Phillips. The author of The Ice Harvest discusses his work as both a screenwriter and novelist.
3:45-4:45 p.m.: Q&A: Documentarian AJ Schnack. The director of Kurt Cobain About a Son and Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns" talks about his career in documentaries and music videos.
5-6 p.m.: Q&A: Director George Hickenlooper. The director of Factory Girl, The Man From Elysian Fields, Mayor of Sunset Strip and Hearts of Darkness chats about his work.
7 p.m.: "This Is Lo-Fi Saint Louis"
Regular film-program admission ($8 to $10).
This Is Lo-Fi Saint Louis. Bill Streeter, 59 min. In 2005, Bill Streeter started a first-of-its-kind Internet video project to showcase music and underground culture in St. Louis. His site, Lo-Fi Saint Louis, has since gained an international audience. This program is a selection of shorts curated by Netherlands-based video artist Erik Nelson. Streeter will also discuss video blogging and online distribution of video.
Shown with the following shorts:
"Greedy"
David Noble Dandridge, 5 min. A music video for the Helium Tapes.
"Love for Want of a Lesser Word"
David Wilson, 4 min. A music video for the Gena Rolands Band.
"Recap"
Wyatt Weed, 6 min. Jason has died and his girlfriend Linda is having trouble coping. While visiting his grave, she falls asleep and dreams about their time together. A music video for Mile 48.
"The Stalls Are Alive"
Johnny Cathcart, 18 min. A look at latrinalia: the art of graffiti in the restroom.
Sunday, July 22
Tivoli Theatre (6350 Delmar Boulevard, University City)
All programs $8 to $10
Noon: Shorts Program: Documentary 1
A selection of films by St. Margaret of Scotland grade-school students:
"American Independence: The First Great Compromise"
Victoria Cacchione, 9 min. The story of how the Founding Fathers compromised in the signing of the Declaration of Independence by eliminating the "slavery clause."
"Annie Sullivan: Personal Tragedy to World-Renowned Teacher"
Stephanie Barker, 9 min. Annie Sullivan faced harsh tragedies as a child but overcame them to become one of the greatest teachers in American history.
"Biko: Fighting for a Cause"
Khalfani Mar'Na, 10 min. An exploration of the life, struggle and death of Stephen Biko, the South African freedom fighter.
"Let Me Win: Eunice Shriver and the Special Olympics"
Emily Mulligan, 8 min. The story of Eunice Shriver Kennedy and how she started the Special Olympics.
"Oscar Romero: I Will Rise in the People"
Sonya McCanna, 9 min. A chronicle of the life and death of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the civil war in El Salvador of the 1980s.
"Roanoke"
Sami Hantak and Olivia Isom, 9 min. A history of Roanoke, Va.
"September 11, 2001: View From a Firefighter"
Jackie Bittick, Moira MacDougal, Kim Greiner and Erin Kelleher, 10 min. A look at the firefighters who helped in the rescue and recovery of 9/11's victims.
2 p.m.: Shorts Program: Work by Expatriates
A selection of films by former St. Louisans:
"Actors"
Joe Leonard, drama, 22 min. Three unconventional stories set in Los Angeles whose characters literally act out their lives by encountering the world in a direct and fearless way.
"Forgiven"
Pete Vander Pluym, drama, 19 min. Mrs. Bell is in the depths of depression after eight years without her son, who was killed in a drunk-driving accident by his best friend, now paroled and attempting to make amends.
"High Traffic"
David A. Normand and Tim Benedick, comedy, 20 min. Two strangers discover the pitfalls of obsessing about the perfect lawn.
"I Love You, I'm Sorry, and I'll Never Do It Again"
Keith Snyder, comedy, 15 min. In this lively crime musical, thugs have shown up to collect, but Eddie's wife won't tell him what she did with the money. With cinematography by St. Louisan Dave Berliner.
"1001 Auditions"
Arun Singh, drama, 15 min. After years of ups and downs, countless auditions and struggling to make it happen in New York, Meera realizes her true karma. Produced by and stars St. Louisan Pooja Kumar.
"Some Assembly Required"
Angela Snow, drama, 10 min. After the loss of their mother, a brother and sister struggle to reconnect with their absent inventor father.
4:30 p.m.: Factory Girl: Director's Cut
George Hickenlooper, 100 min. St. Louisan Hickenlooper offers a new director's cut of "Factory Girl," his biopic of legendary Andy Warhol "superstar" Edie Sedgwick, played by an extraordinarily charismatic Sienna Miller. A beautiful, wealthy party girl, Sedgwick dropped out of Radcliffe in 1965 and became a real-life Holly Golightly, burning white-hot with fame before her light was permanently snuffed by drugs. The film co-stars Guy Pearce as an eerily effective Warhol and Hayden Christensen as the Musician (aka Bob Dylan). This cut of the film serves as the official DVD release by the Weinstein Company. Hickenlooper will introduce the film and participate in a post-screening Q&A and DVD signing.
7 p.m.: Kurt Cobain About a Son
AJ Schnack, 96 min. Edwardsville, Ill., native Schnack offers an intimate, moving meditation on Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. Based on more than 25 hours of previously unheard interviews conducted by Michael Azerrad for his book "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana," the movie is essentially a first-person account of Cobain's life, with Schnack providing striking visual counterpoint with new footage shot in Aberdeen, Olympia and Seattle, Wash. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has played such prestigious fests as SXSW and Full Frame. Schnack will introduce the film and participate in a post-screening Q&A.
9:30 p.m.: Ruzzian Roulette
Ronnell "Falaq" Bennett and Steven "Rukahs" Brownridge, 84 min. Through a series of interconnected stories, this drama explores the costs of irresponsible sexual behavior in the African-American community and honors the victims and survivors of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Monday, July 23
Tivoli Theatre (6350 Delmar Boulevard, University City)
All programs $8 to $10
5 p.m.: Shorts Program: Documentary 2
"The Black Rep: 25 Years and the Best Is Yet to Come"
Clement Cann, 30 min. Featuring performance clips, interviews and photos, this tribute to the first 25 years of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company was filmed at a weekend-long celebration of its anniversary held at Washington University in 2002.
"Sanpachando (San Pancho Is for Revelers)"
Sean Ferry and Daniel Mosquera, 48 min. A documentary on an Afro-centric feast honoring St. Francis of Assisi in the region of Choco, on the Pacific coast of Columbia.
7 p.m.: Ghost Image
Jack Snyder, 100 min. This ambitious, St. Louis-shot psychological thriller features a cast that includes Elisabeth Rohm (Law & Order), Stacey Dash (Clueless) and Roma Maffia (Nip/Tuck, Profiler). When a young video editor (Rohm) loses her boyfriend in a car crash, she finds solace in watching video of him taken the night before he died. When he starts to communicate with her through that video, however, she must decide whether he's speaking from beyond or she's slipping into madness.
9:30 p.m.: Shorts Program: Drama
"Booth"
John Richter, 8 min. An imagining of the last night of John Wilkes Booth's life as told through the eyes of his accomplice David Herold.
"Breathe in Me"
Ben Zweig, 14 min. A man struggles to deal with the loss of his teenage son and the devastating effect that it has had on his distraught wife.
"Collection"
Wilson Wood, 4 min. A gentle old man proves a sadistic killer in this commentary on how society judges people based on their appearances.
"Crooked"
Joey Stevenski, David Pitt, John Wilbers and Joe Ryan, 4 min. A young man has just proposed to his girlfriend when an ill-fated incident with a mugger threatens to change everything.
"Jacob's Room"
Ken Calcaterra, 7 min. Two young boys appear to have normal lives until one fatal night, when the monster in their closet invades their home.
"The Loneliest Place on Earth"
Cody Stokes, 13 min. Two lonely men in a cold and dark city need a human connection.
"Mornings Gone"
Emily Bires, 7 min. A young girl is getting ready for school when her drug-addicted mother enters into a vicious argument with a strange man at the door.
"The Quiet Place"
Jason Christ, 15 min. Based on the Rebecca Kennebeck poem "Her Soul Flies Free," this film traces the emotional downward spiral of a girl trying to escape the torment of a recent personal tragedy.
"Recompense"
Alex Lotz, 8 min. An ethnobotanist living in space ponders the way humans have destroyed the uninhabitable Earth.
"The Shadow People"
Michael Trupiano, 20 min. When a young antiques dealer brings home a knife, something dark and ancient reawakens.
"Silence American"
Carson Minnow, 18 min. In this horror story for the electronic age, a young woman is monitored and stalked by a rogue FBI agent.
Tuesday, July 24
Tivoli Theatre (6350 Delmar Boulevard, University City)
All programs $8 to $10
5 p.m.: Shorts Program: Documentary 3
"buildbetterbarrel: nine events in new media"
Paul Guzzardo and Zlatko Cosic, 40 min. A series of short vignettes trace the rich and varied media heritage and folklore of St. Louis.
"The Capsule"
Zlatko Cosic, 2 min. A brief experimental work about an unusual medical treatment.
"The Journeys We Must Take"
Gerry Mandel, 30 min. The compelling story behind the Lewis and Clark sculpture on the St. Louis riverfront, featuring the internationally renowned sculptor Harry Weber and the people who made the project happen.
7 p.m.: Experimental Program
Blind Cat Black. Chris King, 62 min. A surrealist "silent movie" — with zombies — set to a musical performance of Turkish writer Ece Ayhan's poem by such local legends as Pops Farrar, Michael Cooney, Tom Hall, Fred Friction and Three Fried Men. The film stars rapper Toyy and Jason Wallace Triefenbach.
"Mudman"
Trevor Fields, 4 min. The journey of man from creation to enlightenment through the elements of nature.
"White Wat"
Roy Zurick, 13 min. An abstract exploration of the Wat Rakhong site, built as a tribute to the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Chiang Rai, Thailand, by the national artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. Music by Fong Naam.
"With Amplesome Nimblenets"
Jacob White, 6 min. A man struggles for forgiveness in a surreal tale that weaves dream and memory.
9:30 p.m. Shorts Program: Comedy
"The Agonist"
Doc Crotzer, 10 min. For one guy, money doesn't grow on trees — it falls from the sky.
"Bodega"
Brian Billow, 15 min. A robber of a convenience store decides to work as a cashier for the night to make more money to steal. Produced by St. Louisan Nathan Brown.
"Chalk Race"
Miranda Summers, 4 min. Participants compete in the most important chalk race of their lives.
"Click-Click"
Aaron Coffman, 3 min. When a struggling writer finds an idea for his next project, the universe conspires to keep him from getting it out of his head.
"Early Retirement"
Matt Murphy, 5 min. Nearing retirement, Ted Cartwright works hard to support his family, but one more mistake may cost him his job.
"Fleshy Loves Kittens"
Jeremy Corray, 4 min. A freakish man-monster changes his lifestyle in an attempt to impress his beautiful captured victim. Wrote, shot and edited in one week as part of an "On the Lot" film challenge.
"Franz Kafka: The Happiest Man in Happy Town"
Shannon Lee, 8 min. This year's local winner of the 48 Hour Film Project, "Franz Kafka" explores a key metamorphosis in the writer's life.
"God's Eye View"
Jacob White, 5 min.
Featuring religion, sex and pirates, the film explores just how far one man will go in the name of God.
"The Gospel of Luke Matthews"
Ryan Doris and Sharif Musaji, 11 min.
Luke Matthews, an average, mild-mannered office worker, suddenly mutates after being fired and is forced to deal with the bizarre consequences.
"Hot Lovin'"
Seth Treptow, 3 min. James Murphy appears to be an ordinary guy, but he's in the midst of a torrid love affair with his toaster.
"Misfire"
Daniel Allen, 6 min. After embarrassing his community by letting a bank robber wipe the town clean, a sheriff must find the courage to earn back the respect he's lost.
"Mutual of Okinawa's Mild Kingdom"
Steve Werner, 4 min. In this parody of the television classic "Wild Kingdom," Tuna Perkins works to protect endangered wildlife in an exotic location.
"One Sharp Bum"
Kevin Brennan, 15 min. A shrewd panhandler teaches us the ins and outs of the business of asking people for money.
"Raising the Bar"
Jay Kelley, 20 min. After losing his girlfriend, Sam finds himself lost until he meets a self-serving womanizer.
"Spaced Out!"
Scott Helfrich, 10 min. Locked in a vicious competition over their favorite parking space, Cliff and Chet do battle to determine who will walk away the winner.
Wednesday, July 25
Tivoli Theatre (6350 Delmar Boulevard, University City)
All programs $8 to $10
5 p.m.: Shorts Program: Documentary 4
"500 Billion Plastic Bags"
Dickson Beall, 3 min. A visual commentary on the 500 billion plastic bags consumed annually.
"Eagles Fly"
Omar O'Hara, 6 min. This YouTube sensation offers a playful musical tribute to the St. Louis area's wintering eagles.
"March to the Arch"
Rich True, 11 min. A look at the March to the Arch, a 21-mile 9/11 memorial walk that concludes at the base of the Gateway Arch.
"Sea of Red"
Lindsey Weber, 12 min. As the St. Louis Cardinals compete in the World Series, one dedicated fan faces her own near-strikeout in an attempt to be part of the history-making action.
"Tour de Donut: Gluttons for Punishment"
Steve Kelly and Jim Klenn, 35 min. The Tour de Donut is a spoof on the Tour de France bicycle race. The rules are simple: For each donut eaten during the 30-mile ride, five minutes are subtracted from that person's time.
7 p.m.: Rhineland
Chris Grega, 104 min. A gritty war drama set in March 1945, during the battle known as "the last killing ground in the West," Rhineland tells the story of a young replacement thrown into an under-strength mine platoon. A burned-out lieutenant and a bitter sergeant are his only guides as he struggles to come to terms with the brutality of war during the final bloody months of World War II. Grega (whose Amphetamine highlighted the 2003 SLFS) shot Rhineland entirely in St. Louis environs.
9:30 p.m.: Not Dead, Just Grateful
Mark Errante, 80 min. This documentary chronicles the celebrated Grateful Dead tribute band the Schwag and explores the unique extended "family" of fans whose lives dance to the beats of the band.
Thursday, July 26
Blueberry Hill's Elvis Room (6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City)
8 p.m.-midnight: Closing-Night Awards Party
Free, but donations are accepted.
KDHX DJ Rob Levy will spin music, and Cinema St. Louis will announce the SLFS films chosen for inclusion in the AT&T St. Louis International Film Festival in November. Awards for the best SLFS films will be given by the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association.
