The St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) hosted its second annual Film Festival on December 13, celebrating local filmmakers and creative voices from across the region. The event, held in the Auditorium at Central Library (1301 Olive Street), featured 16 selected films and drew an audience of approximately 120 attendees.
The SLPL Film Festival received 50 submissions from passionate filmmakers. After a careful review process, SLPL staff selected 16 standout films to be showcased during the event. Awards were presented in four categories to recognize excellence in storytelling and creativity.
2025 SLPL Film Festival Award Winners
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Best Documentary Film: Ten Years Later: Talking While Black — directed by Geovonday Jones
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Best Experimental Film: Dreamz of the Ville — directed by Odell J. Foxwell
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Best Narrative Film: Mondele — directed by Daniel Kayamba
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Audience Choice Award: The Fight — directed by Magan Rutledge
“I was honored to be one of this year’s Best Documentary Film award recipients, and what took my breath away was the attention to detail,” said Mia Bible, actor and producer of Ten Years Later: Talking While Black. “SLPL went the extra step by engraving the faces of our documentary’s subjects onto the clapper award itself. I’ve attended festivals and won awards across the country, but I’ve never experienced that level of thoughtfulness toward the art I make. I felt genuinely appreciated and celebrated by SLPL—right here in my hometown.”
The SLPL Film Festival was created by Sam Beehler, Creative Experience Resource Specialist at SLPL. Beehler works closely with library customers who are producing films or interested in learning more about video editing and production.
SLPL’s three Creative Experience locations—Barr, Central, and Julia Davis (temporarily closed)—offer state-of-the-art recording studios and computer workstations equipped with digital creative software. Available tools support audio production, graphic design, film editing, animation, and game development. Customers also have access to virtual reality equipment, 3D printers, laser cutters, large-format printers, Cricut machines, and embroidery and sewing machines.
Click here to learn more about Creative Experience, SLPL’s digital makerspaces.