Cinema St. Louis announces move to virtual festivals in 2020

ST. LOUIS - EntSun -- Because of the ongoing world health crisis, Cinema St. Louis (CSL) will move all of the organization's 2020 film festivals and events online. This includes CSL's signature event in November, the 29th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival.

When the Covid-19 pandemic began, CSL originally moved its spring events to summer with the hope that the virus would have abated and in-person theatrical screenings could resume in some form. Even though the U.S. has begun to loosen restrictions on some activities, it has become clear to CSL that holding traditional film festivals would be impossible. To protect the health and safety of our patrons and volunteers, and to ensure that the organization can deliver the highest-quality festival experience possible, CSL has decided that a virtual approach to our events is the prudent and most responsible course of action.

CSL will be partnering with Eventive (watch.eventive.org) to present its festivals online. Films will be accessible on most computers and tablets, and on televisions via services such as Roku or Chromecast. Patrons will be able to purchase individual films but passes will also be available for the various festivals.

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To retain as much of the festival experience as possible, many of the films will feature accompanying conversations with filmmakers, documentary subjects, critics, academics, or experts on the subjects addressed in a film. Most conversations will be recorded, but live Q&As, master classes, and seminars will also occur. In addition, recordings of all such conversations and events will be available for free on the CSL (https://cinemastlouis.org/) website.

The following CSL festivals will be offered online:

• QFest St. Louis: June 19-28
• St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase: July 10-19
• Classic French Film Festival: July 17-23
• St. Louis International Film Festival: Originally scheduled to take place Nov. 5-15, SLIFF will likely increase the length of its run by several days.

Three CSL co-presentations are still in flux:

• St. Louis Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Film Festival

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• Filmmaking Camps

Finally, here are updates on two other CSL events in 2020:

• I Love Movies Trivia Night: This fundraiser, originally scheduled for June 5, will now be held online in a new format. Details will be announced soon.

• Golden Anniversaries: Films of 1970: The six-film fest is currently slated for Aug. 22-23, Aug. 29-30, and Sept. 5-6 at the St. Louis Public Library's Central Library. If the library is not able to hold public events during these dates, the screenings will be cancelled, but CSL will hold Zoom conversations on the scheduled films in a format similar to CSL's Movie Club, with people watching the films on their own but gathering virtually to discuss them.