New St. Louis Black Film Festival Comes to the Tivoli

It has been more than two decades since St. Louis has hosted its black film festival. Several attempts to revive a festival devoted to African-American film have failed over the years due to lack of organization, sponsorships and because of the simple fact that no one person has stepped forward to take on the daunting task of running the festival. Until now.

Local film critic James “The Movie Man” Thomas has dreamed of having this festival return for several years now. Thomas, with support from Alan McClain and Laura Resnick of the , is relaunching the St. Louis Black Film Festival Festival on Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19 at the Tivoli.

In addition to the support of the Tivoli Theatre, University City has embraced the festival—The Moonrise, and Ginger Bistro are sponsors of the St. Louis Black Film Festival.

According to a press release, the film festival is a vehicle for exposing black cinema. The event was green-lighted after recognition that though St. Louis is the largest city in Missouri, it did not have a viable black film festival. Using similar black and/or international film festivals across the country as a blueprint provided Thomas with the basic framework he needed to reboot the festival. After several years of careful thought and planning, calls were made and contacts were reached out to. Things began to take shape and the St. Louis Black Film Festival was on its way to becoming a reality.

Thomas also used his passion and knowledge for cinema to organize and plan the event as well as acquire films for screening. Films were selected based on availability, success at other festivals and awards. Films with relevant and contemporary subject matter were also selected.

The festival will feature a broad variety of programming including music videos, short films, documentaries and feature films including Up From The Bottoms, a documentary on the migration of African Americans from the south to Michigan looking for work and prosperity and Rejoice and Shout a documentary on the history of Gospel music from its beginning roots to today. Age of Dragons stars Danny Glover and re-imagines Moby Dick with Captain Ahab and his crew searching for a Great White Dragon.

Ticket prices start at $6.50 and up for each movie and can be purchased at the Tivoli Theater’s box office (6350 Delmar Blvd.
314-995-6270).

MONDAY 

• 3:30PM-$6.50 Katrina’s Son-18 mins
• 4:00PM-$7.50 Sole Of A Hustla-60 mins
• 5:00PM-$7.50 Cornerstore-83 mins
• 7:15PM-$8.50 Age of Dragons-91 mins 

TUESDAY

• 3:30PM-$6.50 For Flow-18 mins 
• 4:00PM-$7.50 Up From the Bottoms-58 mins
• 5:20PM-$7.50 Sony Pictures Classic-Soul Power-93 mins
• 7:15PM-$7.50 Rejoice and Shout-115 mins-Magnolia Pictures

Thomas will begin planning for the 2012 St. Louis Black Film Festival in August.

For more information visit the St. Louis Black Film Festival Facebook page.