The St. Louis Youth Film Festival (STLYFF) was founded by Thomasina Clarke, an accomplished actor, director, musician, writer, and former St. Louis Public Schools District middle school drama instructor. She started her acting career in grade school and earned a BA in Theatre Arts from Xavier University. What follows is why she founded STLYFF:
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.
In her final years of teaching, Thomasina observed a shift in students’ ability to commit to traditional after-school programs. In response, she pivoted her curriculum toward videography, adapting her teaching methods to keep creativity both alive and accessible within the classroom.
By embracing Final Cut Pro and digital filmmaking tools, she discovered new ways to capture and tell stories—first through her students’ work, and later through her own. Since retiring, her skills in video editing have continued to grow, resulting in two of her films being selected and showcased at St. Louis film festivals, affirming the power of this evolving medium.
Having lived in St. Louis for most of her life, Thomasina intentionally chose to create a festival for and in partnership with local residents. STLYFF was designed as a space where young artists and audiences can engage with one another, celebrate creativity, and honor authentic storytelling.
“Pursuing innovative storytelling has always been a primary objective, and now the goal of highlighting original narratives by youth 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 in partnership with local residents. Creating a space for young artists and audience members to engage with one another is an essential part of the celebration, and honoring creativity is crucial. This was just the beginning for STLYFF.”
STLYFF launched in 2025 with STL SHORTY SHORTS, featuring 3 to 10-minute narratives, documentaries, and animations. Six entrants will be chosen and designated 2025 STLYFF OFFICIAL SELECTIONS. STLYFF was funded by The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) and cosponsored by the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library and was held on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 11AM-1:00PM. Its success can be seen at STLYFF SHOWCASE and STLYFF PHOTOS.
The 2026 STLYFF will once again take place at and be co-sponsored by the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This year’s theme is FREE TO BE . . . emphasizing the significance of staying authentic to yourself, your stories, and your art. To avoid weather-related challenges for filmmakers and attendees traveling to the Library, the festival has been rescheduled from January to April. This year, the minimum age for participants has been lowered after discovering that some eight-year-olds are exceptional storytellers. The festival now features three age groups: 8-13, 14-18, and 19-24. Additional festival activities will be announced soon, including special screenings and a guest speaker. Most importantly, the submission process has been simplified; it now requires an online application and a YouTube link to the video entry. As STLYFF develops we will keep introducing new features to STLYFF. ◙