Saint Louis has been highly influential in film history. Escape from NY, White Palace, and most recently, Up in the Air have all been shot in this great city. To honor the tradition of film and its place in our community, THE BENTON PARK FILM FESTIVAL is devoted to story telling over anything else.
Saint Louis is the perfect setting to celebrate the diversity of independent Cinema. The Benton Park Film Festival is set to offer great venues, featuring 3 viewing halls.
Our aim is to merge a cultural love for films. Whether you are an aspiring student filmmaker or a seasoned industry professional, this festival is for you. Residents of Missouri and Illinois can submit at a reduced cost! All finalist entries will be screened at our viewing location and are eligible for awards and prizes (Only Feature Films and Feature Documentary Film are eligible for the "THE ELSIE."
We want to make the Benton Park Film Festival an integral part of cinema in St. Louis and feature quality work from a diverse pool of creators. All films will be accepted so long as they adhere to the criteria listed below.
WE are NOT AFFILIATED WITH CINEMA SAINT LOUIS, SLIFF or ANY OTHER FILM GUILD OF SAINT LOUIS. We are an Independent Award winning Film Company and this festival is for true local, regional, national and international Filmmakers. May the best STORY win!
Each Judge is selected from Regional and National parts of the country to provide an unbiased, nonpolitical, diverse list of criteria to meet the specifications of what we consider "An award winning film." This is the hardest Film Festival competition in Missouri.
Our GOAL is to promote "DIVERSITY in FILMMAKING." Minority Filmmakers, Female Filmmakers are free to call this Festival the fairest of fair. We are not a boys club offering awards to our friends but instead we promote learning from others to gain insight into filmmaking from all walks of human life.
VENDORS: $150 for 6ft table, two chairs for both days of the festival. (Limited 25)
Best of Show "The Elsie"
(Feature Films and Feature Documentary Films are the only categories considered)
Best of Saint Louis
(Illinois / Missouri Residents Only, Films are allowed to have premiered in other states and countries, however, to be Eligible for the "Best Of Saint Louis," the film has to premier in the St. Louis area at the Benton Park Film Festival FIRST. The "Best of Saint Louis" winner will also be submitted to Sundance as a special gift of BPFF)
Best of Categories:
Feature Film
Short Film
Feature Documentary
Documentary Short
Micro Short Film
Experimental
Animation
Music Video
Individual Awards (All Categories are Eligible:
Directing
Cinematography
Editing
Screen Writing (Jason C. Klefisch Award)
Original Music Score
Original Song
SFX
VFX
Sound Design
Best Actor (Male & Female Actors compete for this award)
WE ARE OFFERING 20 WAIVERS: (Waivers must meet the criteria listed below, submissions of films must be sent via private link from Vimeo or YouTube, and have english subtitles if applicable. Please state your name, a paragraph of why you think your film should be waived, your phone number and your email. (All categories are Eligible), Please send link of film to info@bpfimfest.org
Racial Minority Waivers (Total 5)
LGBTQIA (Total 5)
Female Filmmakers (Total 5)
ADA Filmmakers (Total 5)