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#SLIFF34

FILM WITHOUT BORDERS

SLIFF: Nov. 6 – 16, 2025

At the heart of the 11-day festival featuring more than 250 films is the idea that cinema expands how we see, feel, and connect. Every story invites us to look further than the world we already know, breaking down barriers of geography, culture, and ideology.

In an age where division and restriction too often define our daily lives, these films remind us that imagination is boundless and that art has the power to travel freely, forging empathy and understanding across every line that seeks to separate us.

SLIFF Highlights

SLIFF 2025 spotlights prominent in-person guests and award-bound cinema.

Human Rights, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight On Inspiration, Women in Film

A MAN with SOLE: The Impact of Kenneth Cole

Film A MAN with SOLE: The Impact of Kenneth Cole Directed by Dori Berinstein With heart & ’sole’ and unflinching determination, global fashion icon and activist Kenneth Cole has put ‘cause' before…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight On Inspiration

Holding Liat

Film Holding Liat Directed by Brandon Kramer Liat Atzili was kidnapped from her kibbutz on October 7. What begins as a chronicle of her parents,...
International Spotlight, Oscar Submissions, Studio Spotlight

Sentimental Value

Film Sentimental Value Directed by Joachim Trier Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage...
Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, SLIFF Kids, Spotlight On Inspiration, Women in Film

25 Cats From Qatar

Film 25 Cats From Qatar Directed by Mye Hoang When the owner of Milwaukee’s Sip and Purr Cat Café, learns of the feral cat crisis in Qatar,…
Oscar Submissions

Young Mothers

Film Young Mothers Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne Housed in a shelter for young mothers, Jessica, Perla, Julie, Naïma, and Ariane, all of whom have grown...
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight On Inspiration, Women in Film

Steal This Story, Please!

Film Steal This Story, Please! Directed by Tia Lessin, Carl Deal Undeterred by armed soldiers, smooth-talking politicians, and riot police, journalist Amy Goodman has reported some of the most…
Race in America: The Black Experience, Women in Film

Undercard

Film Undercard Directed by Tamika Miller When Cheryl “No Mercy” Stewart (Wanda Sykes), a two-time former boxing champion and recovering alcoholic attempts to reconnect...
American Indie Spotlight

By Design

Film By Design Directed by Amanda Kramer A woman swaps bodies with a chair, and everyone likes her better as a chair.
International Spotlight, Oscar Submissions, Studio Spotlight

No Other Choice

Film No Other Choice Directed by Park Chan-wook Devoted family man and veteran paper mill manager You Man-su spirals after being laid off and discarded by...
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Uncommitted

Film Uncommitted Directed by Razi Jafri “Uncommitted” follows Arab and Muslim grassroots leaders and their elected allies as they spearhead the Uncommitted National Movement,...

Free & Discounted Programming

There are 32 free film programs, including four workshops and six short programs, at Central Library, CAM, and Washington University. The remaining short programs are available at a discounted price of $5 per ticket.

American Indie Spotlight, Race in America: The Black Experience, Shorts Competition

Keenelan

Film Keenelan Directed by Cami Thomas In the heart of a critical art showcase, painter Kaya is tormented by memories of a past lover,...
Environmental Focus, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

The Price of Milk

Film The Price of Milk Directed by Yoni Brook, Nicholas Bruckman The untold story behind the ‘90s ‘Got Milk?’ campaign leads a multi-part investigative romp from the dairy farm…
Shorts Programs

Documentary Shorts 2 -Bodies, Work, Becoming

Program Documentary Shorts 2 -Bodies, Work, Becoming Documentary Shorts 2 is a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the ways people reclaim power, through art, movement,...
Shorts Programs

Documentary Shorts 8 – Versus

Program Documentary Shorts 8 – Versus Documentary Shorts 8 spotlights people who refuse to back down in the face of massive environmental and industrial...

Iranian Shorts

Program Iranian Shorts Iranian Documentary Shorts offers an intimate look at resilience, creativity, and survival in the face of isolation and...

Team Ocean Quest – The Impossible Journey / Horse Of Nature

Program Team Ocean Quest – The Impossible Journey / Horse Of Nature
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race in America: The Immigrant Experience

Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America

Film Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America Directed by Jon Osaki, Josh Chuck Making Waves is a timely, thought-provoking about the vital role that ethnic studies have in shaping the narrative…

Really Me / Holy Curse / We’ll Go Down In History

Program Really Me / Holy Curse / We’ll Go Down In History Filmmakers will be present for a post-screening Q&A.
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

SEX RADICAL

Film SEX RADICAL Directed by Andy Kirshner At the turn of the 20th-century, the powerful federal censor, Anthony Comstock, believed he was on a "holy"…
American Indie Spotlight, Show-Me Cinema

Ride or Die

Film Ride or Die Directed by Josalynn Smith When Paula, a restless Midwesterner yearning for a fresh start in California, unexpectedly reunites with Sloane—her enigmatic high...
Animation, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race in America: The Black Experience

Enongo

Film Enongo Directed by Kevin Schreck "Enongo" is aFeature-length, animation- hybrid and the inspiring story of rapper/producer/Ph.D. candidate, Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo, a.k.a., Sammus. With her…
Show-Me Cinema, Women in Film

She Believed

Film She Believed She Believed is a powerful that explores the personal and collective journey behind Her Eminent Reign, where over…

Rosemead

Film Rosemead Directed by Eric Lin In a race against time, an ailing woman discovers her teenage son’s violent obsessions and must go to...
Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Matter Of Time

Film Matter Of Time Directed by Matt Finlin “Matter of Time” is a compelling documentary that chronicles Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder’s personal mission to combat...
Shorts Programs

Documentary Shorts 7 – Homes We Carry

Program Documentary Shorts 7 – Homes We Carry Documentary Shorts 7 captures the strange, beautiful, and unexpected corners of real life stories that start small but...
Human Rights, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race in America: The Black Experience, Spotlight On Inspiration, Women in Film

For Venida, For Kalief

Film For Venida, For Kalief Directed by Sisa Bueno FOR VENIDA, FOR KALIEF debuts the poetry of Venida Brodnax Browder, mother of Kalief Browder- an African-American teenager…

SLIFF x CAM 1: In-Between Tradition and Tomorrow

Program SLIFF x CAM 1: In-Between Tradition and Tomorrow CAM is pleased to partner with the annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival to present two programs...

SLIFF x CAM 2: Wild Kindness

Program SLIFF x CAM 2: Wild Kindness CAM is pleased to partner with the annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival to present two programs...
Shorts Programs

Kids Shorts

Program Kids Shorts Get ready for a mix of wonder, warmth, and imagination. This short film collection – for kids of...
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Show-Me Cinema, Women in Film

The Threads That Bind: St. Louis Women’s Quilting, Culture & Hope

Film The Threads That Bind: St. Louis Women’s Quilting, Culture & Hope Directed by Paulette Sankofa The Threads That Bind brings together eleven women of diverse cultural backgrounds from across St. Louis—African American, Cherokee,…

Black History Tour of St. Louis / Greenwood

Program Black History Tour of St. Louis / Greenwood Filmmakers will be present for a post-screening Q&A.
Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, SLIFF Kids

Rebel with a Clause

Film Rebel with a Clause Directed by Brandt Johnson A grammar guru takes her pop-up grammar advice stand on an epic road trip across all 50 states…
Race in America: The Black Experience, Race in America: The Immigrant Experience, Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus, Women in Film

Exodus

Film Exodus Directed by Bob Miller A college and a village elder evacuate thousands to their homeland during the height of Sudan's current civil…

Turtle Walker / Hosts For Half A Century

Program Turtle Walker / Hosts For Half A Century
International Spotlight, Shorts Programs

Climate Shorts – A World In The Balance

Program Climate Shorts – A World In The Balance This program explores how communities around the world are confronting the realities of climate change—whether through innovation, resistance,...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spanish-Language Focus

Spare My Bones, Coyote!

Film Spare My Bones, Coyote! Directed by Jonah Malak For the last twelve years, Marisela and Ely, along with the volunteer group The Águilas del Desierto have…
Shorts Competition, Women in Film

OUTCRY: Alchemists of Rage

Film OUTCRY: Alchemists of Rage Directed by Clare Major A short film that follows artist Whitney Bradshaw as she photographs women mid-scream in cathartic group sessions where...

Rawstock

Special Event Rawstock Washington University Libraries’ Film & Media Archive will project an assortment of decades-old educational films from its collection....
Workshops

WORKSHOP: Distribution and the Law – From Idea to Audience

Special Event WORKSHOP: Distribution and the Law – From Idea to Audience What happens after you come up with a great idea—or after your film is finally finished? Entertainment attorney...

WORKSHOP – Missouri Film Office Live Read

Special Event WORKSHOP – Missouri Film Office Live Read Come enjoy a live script reading of the St. Louis set Missouri Stories winning pilot, LINEAGE written by...
Workshops

WORKSHOP – Music for the Screen: Scoring, Sound, and the Business Behind It

Special Event WORKSHOP – Music for the Screen: Scoring, Sound, and the Business Behind It Join Josh Harris for an in-depth discussion on creating and using music for film and other visual mediums....
Workshops

WORKSHOP – Major Credits, Midwest Creatives

Special Event WORKSHOP – Major Credits, Midwest Creatives Meet award winning creatives, editors, vfx artists doing high quality work, finishing films with global collaborators without moving...
Environmental Focus, Women in Film

CLIMATE SUMMIT II – Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong

Film CLIMATE SUMMIT II – Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong Directed by Alex Wolf Lewis, Kaitlyn Schwalje As America’s aging wastewater systems begin to fail, one plant and its motley crew of unlikely heroes do…
Shorts Programs

St. Louis Immigration Project

Program St. Louis Immigration Project The St. Louis Immigration Project connects local filmmakers with members of the city’s immigrant and refugee communities to...

SLIFF AWARDS CEREMONY & PARTY!!

Special Event SLIFF AWARDS CEREMONY & PARTY!! Come party with us to find out which films will take home prizes in 11 categories AND discover...