Abstract
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. The 29th Annual Whitaker St.
Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) was held virtually from Nov. 5-22, 2020. The fest had a total estimated viewership of 26,100.
SLIFF screened 374 films in 149 virtual screenings: 64 narrative features, 49 documentary features, 153 narrative shorts, and 108 documentary shorts. There were an additional three film programs exclusive to Cinema for Students.
The fest also featured nine livestreamed special events, including six master classes and a New Filmmakers Forum roundtable. A total of 56 programs were offered for free.
This year's festival featured films from 64 countries in 46 languages. The festival kicked off with a free opening-night special event featuring the documentary short "8:46" - which records a powerful performance by comedian Dave Chappelle in response to the killing of George Floyd - and a livestreamed conversation with Chappelle and the film's Oscar-winning directors, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert.
Markéta Magidová's film Releasing Spell had its North-America premiere at this festival. It was included in the International Short Film Competition, in the narrative shorts experimental program.