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Introduction to the film festival

SLIFF is a global film festival that invites audiences to see the world through film. We believe that encountering other cultures on screen helps us understand our own. Our programs present exceptional international films and explore themes of identity, race, and lived experience — bringing works to St. Louis that might never be seen here otherwise.

USA Today named SLIFF one of the 2019 top "10 amazing film festivals worth traveling for."
Cinema St. Louis, a not-for-profit organization, produces the festival.

SLIFF is one of the Top 100 Best Reviewed film festivals in the world.

Cinema St. Louis, a not-for-profit organization, produces the festival.

Awards

SLIFF presents both juried and audience-choice awards. Juried awards include the Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Award ($5,000 cash prize) and the New Filmmakers Forum's Emerging Director Award ($500 cash prize).

Additionally, SLIFF is an Academy-sanctioned qualifying festival for Best of Fest Shorts, Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Live Action Short. Winners of these awards can submit to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar® consideration.

There are also juried awards for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Local Short, Best Comedy Short, Best Short Short (Under 5 minutes), Inspiration Documentary, and Audience Awards in Documentary, Narrative, and Best Of Festival.

Rules

Genre ：
Subject ：
Video Format ：MPEG4 DCP

All films must:
1. Be fully completed by the entry deadline (NO WORKS-IN-PROGRESS).
2. Be a ST. LOUIS THEATRICAL PREMIERE, meaning no previous public, ticketed screening in the St. Louis metro area (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and adjacent Illinois counties). Private cast/crew screenings and educational classroom use do not count as theatrical screenings.
3. Include ENGLISH SUBTITLES if not primarily in English.

Evaluation

Jury Profile
Jury Name Judge photos Jury Profile

Authorization type

    Proxy Submission

Duration (several sessions)

    35

Film Festival Features

  • Red Carpet
  • Celebrity Guest
  • Filmscreen
  • Cash prize
  • Trophy

Dates & Deadlines

  • 2025-12-05
    Submission start time

  • 2026-03-14
    Earlybird Deadline

  • 2026-05-10
    Regular Deadline

  • 2026-07-11
    Late Deadline

  • 2026-07-30
    Extended Deadline

  • 2026-07-30
    Submission end time

  • 2026-09-01
    Finalist notification start time

  • 2026-09-01
    Finalist notification end time

  • 2026-11-05
    Award ceremony start time

  • 2026-11-15
    Award ceremony end time

Categories and fees

  • Documentary Feature
    Video length ：40 - 300
    Films over 40 min. SLIFF documentary programs feature a selection of the best in contemporary global nonfiction filmmaking. We seek films that speak to human experience ranging from the most heart-felt of human rights concerns, to uplifting tales of courage, to that of unique tales of idiosyncratic singularity among us.

    2026/03/14
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 65 Dollar

    2026/05/10
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 80 Dollar

    2026/07/11
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 125 Dollar

    2026/07/30
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 155 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Narrative Feature
    Video length ：40 - 300
    Films over 40 min. American indies, studio releases, international and foreign language films accepted. The St. Louis International Film Festival has a solid and growing national and international reputation for its programming, particularly for its foreign language films. The New Filmmakers Forum (NFF) is a juried competition for first-time filmmakers who we perceive to be the hot directors of tomorrow to watch today. First-time filmmakers with awards for their film are strongly encouraged to apply but the competition is open to all.

    2026/03/14
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 65 Dollar

    2026/05/10
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 80 Dollar

    2026/07/11
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 125 Dollar

    2026/07/30
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 155 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Documentary Short
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Films under 40 min. SLIFF is now an official Academy-sanctioned documentary short subject competition, which allows the jury prize winner to be eligible for consideration for an Oscar® nomination without doing a theatrical release. We seek non-fiction films that speak to human experience ranging from the most heart-felt of human rights concerns, to uplifting tales of courage, to that of unique tales of idiosyncratic singularity among us.

    2026/03/14
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 40 Dollar

    2026/05/10
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 50 Dollar

    2026/07/11
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    2026/07/30
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 85 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Narrative Short
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Films under 40 min. SLIFF offers an official Academy-sanctioned short subject competition, which allows winners of the Best Live Action, Best Animation and Best of Fest Awards to be eligible for consideration for an Oscar® nomination without doing a theatrical release. All shorts filmmaker finalists are encouraged to attend the festival.

    2026/03/14
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 40 Dollar

    2026/05/10
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 50 Dollar

    2026/07/11
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    2026/07/30
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 85 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival

Related film festivalMore

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