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St. Louis Fest Announces Competition Films

The St. Louis International Film Festival and The St. Louis Film Office announce competition films, jury members and seminars scheduled for the New Filmmakers Forum, November 10-12, 2000

Five films and directors compete for the Emerging Filmmaker Prize of $2500.

Jurors for the Fifth Annual New Filmmakers Forum of the St. Louis International Film Festival are Rama Dunayevich, Director of Acquisitions, Palm Pictures (San Francisco); Udy Epstein, Principal, Seventh Art Releasing (Los Angeles); Joe Revitte, Creative Executive, Fine Line Features, (New York); Rich Cline, Journalist/Critic BBC Radio and E-zine magazines Shadows on the Wall and CineZine (London); and Mark Vega, Senior Information Technology Associate with Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP, an international law firm at the forefront of new media, technology and Internet law (Los Angeles). Dunayevich has been named president of the jury which will award a $2500 cash prize and Kodak film stock to the director of the winning film.

The five debut films selected for the New Filmmakers Forum 2000 and the guest directors are: Dead Dogs, Clay Eide, Director. A gritty film noir, Dead Dogs won the American Independent Award, 1999 Seattle International Film Festival and Best Feature, 1999 Chicago Alt. Film Festival, and has screened at fourteen other film festivals around the world. Clay Eide currently resides in Los Angeles.

The Divine Ryans, Stephen Reynolds, Director. A dark comedy/drama about sex, religion and hockey, The Divine Ryans, adapted from the international best seller of the same name, stars Pete Postlethwaite (In The Name of The Father, The Usual Suspects) as quirky Uncle Reg. The film received Canadian Genie Nominations for Best Sound, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography for 1999. It has screened at eight international film festivals and markets. Stephen Reynolds resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Housebound, Mari Kornhauser, Writer/Director. Housebound is a psychodrama/love story/thriller that explores trust and betrayal, reality and perception through the eyes of a rape victim who suffers the sequela of agoraphobia. Peter Sarsgaard (Boys Don't Cry) stars as Tom, the mysterious boarder. Formerly titled Kitchen Privileges, the film had its world premiere in competition at the 2000 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, won the jury award for Best Feature at Stony Brook Film Festival, and will be at Montreal, Hamburg, Oldenburgh and New Orleans Film Festivals in the fall. Mari Kornhauser divides her time between Los Angeles and New Orleans.

Maryam, Ramin Serry, Writer/Director. The coming-of-age story of an American-Iranian teenager at the time of the Iran hostage crisis, Maryam screened in competition at the 2000 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. Ramin Serry, whose previous two short films won acclaim in numerous European film festivals, resides in New York City.

Rollercoaster, Scott Smith, Writer/Director. A heartbreaking drama of teenage alienation, Rollercoaster takes you on a ride you'll not soon forget. Winner of Best Narrative Feature 2000 SXSW Film Festival, Most Popular Canadian Film 1999 Vancouver International Film Festival, Best Feature, Canyonlands Film Festival, Best Drama, Crossroads Film Festival, Best First Feature and Best Canadian Feature, Victoria Film Festival, and Best Supporting Actor, Method Fest 2000. Rollercoaster had its world premiere at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival and has since screened in over twenty-five film festivals around the world. Scott Smith lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Four seminar sessions are scheduled for Friday, November 10. To Be or Not To Be in L.A.–That is the Question? Screenwriters Brian Hohlfeld of St. Louis (He Said, She Said with Kevin Bacon), Mari Kornhauser of New Orleans (Zandalee with Nicolas Cage and The Last Ride with Mickey Rourke) and Todd Robinson of Los Angeles (White Squall with Jeff Bridges) debate the ongoing question. The Ins (and Outs) of Internet Creative Rights. Mark Vega presents what a filmmaker needs to know about distribution on DotComs. Docs are Indie Films, Too! A panel of guest documentary filmmakers moderated by Udy Epstein of Seventh Art Releasing will discuss how documentary films get to theatrical screens. Can a "Regional" Film Compete is Today's Reel World? Distribution representatives Rama Dunayevich of Palm Pictures, Udy Epstein of Seventh Art Releasing and Joe Revitte of Fine Line Features discuss what a distributor wants to buy and why.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings November 11 and 12 there will be Coffee Hour with the Filmmakers held at Blueberry Hill. Rich Cline will emcee as the competing filmmakers tell their stories and interact with festival participants. A hospitality suite will be sponsored by Joe Edwards and Blueberry Hill Saturday and Sunday afternoons from noon until 6 p.m.

Admission for the Seminars and Coffee Hours are $10 at the door and $50 for an inclusive pass that also covers entrance to the Hospitality Suite. Call 314-992-0609 to buy seminar tickets. Call 314-454-0042 for ticket information and film schedules. See website www.sliff.org for complete festival details.

Updated: 08/27/2000

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