1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
Saturday, January 25, 2025
11:00AM-1:00PM
THE ST. LOUIS YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL is a multicultural and environmentally-conscious organization. We also celebrate and elevate work by women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other young persons from traditionally marginalized communities.
Announcing the Launch of the 2025
St. Louis Youth Film Festival
The St. Louis Youth Film Festival (STLYFF) was established in 2024 to highlight the work of local filmmakers aged 13 to 25 from the greater St. Louis region. Created by retired educator, filmmaker, and activist Thomasina Clarke, six entrants will be recognized as a 2025 OFFICIAL SELECTION. Their films will be screened on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library, followed by a Q&A regarding their work. Honorable Mentions will be shown on monitors in a designated area at the venue, with opportunities for our guests to greet these creatives. The festival is free to the public. >>READ MORE
Submit to STLYFF 2025 with a Click
ST. LOUIS YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL (STLYFF) announces an open submission call for our STL SHORTY SHORTS festival on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library. Short films and videos should be between 3 to 10 minutes long and can be submitted in three categories: narrative, documentary, and animation. There is no fee to submit. Check out our submission guidelines and submit with one click at FILMFREEWAY. The deadline is January 15, 2025. >>READ MORE
This is Just The Beginning
A Word from Founder and Festival Director,
Thomasina Clarke
I am a retired Drama Instructor. One of my yearly projects involved having students write original short stories, which we would then adapt into scripts and produce as plays. As technology progressed, we transitioned into making films. Pursuing innovative storytelling has always been a primary objective, and now the goal of highlighting original narratives is the driving force behind this festival. I have lived in St. Louis for most of my life and have decided to host the event for and with local residents. Creating a space for artists and audience members to engage with one another is an essential part of the celebration, and honoring creativity is crucial. This is just the beginning for STLYFF. >>READ MORE
Our Symbolism of Green Instead of Gold
Since ancient Greek and Roman times, olive and laurel wreaths have symbolized peace and victory. Originally crafted from plants and later from precious metals, these wreaths were given during ceremonies to honor outstanding achievements. Over time, they were awarded to Olympians, Nobel Prize winners, and poets, and by the mid-20th century, laurel crowns were presented to winners at film festivals. The unique laurel design associated with each festival helped to promote both the award and the festival’s reputation. While the golden beauty of the wreath has been a prominent feature in global cinema for nearly a century, in light of climate change, STLYFF has chosen to revert to the green laurel wreath to express our commitment to a sustainable future.◙
Paying Tribute
The STLYFF was established and is based in what is now known as St. Louis, Missouri, situated on part of the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories in the Mississippi River Valley of the Illini Confederacy. This also includes the Osage tribes, and portions of the Miami Confederacy, as well as the routes of numerous other tribes who were forcibly relocated to this area during the nineteenth century. We recognize their existence and strive to educate ourselves by commemorating their history to help break their cultural silence.◙