Festivals, Funding & Freeways: Late-September St. Louis Video Production Outlook
St. Louis video production teams can expect a dynamic fortnight as awards ceremonies, specialty screenings, new financing rounds and evolving permit rules converge between Sept 17 and Oct 1. The following roundup details what’s happening, why it matters, and how to prepare.
48 Hour Film Project Awards Night
The city’s fastest-turnaround contest culminates with “Short Films, Tall Trophies” at Work & Leisure on Monday, Sept 29 at 7 p.m., where jurors will crown the best shorts shot earlier this month. Winners advance to Filmapalooza and gain Oscar®-qualifying eligibility—an incentive for camera crews and post houses courting breakout directors. Local sound mixers note that Work & Leisure’s brick interior favors close-mic techniques, so arrive with wireless kits if you plan to record reactions on the night.
Hi-Pointe’s Dual Screening Series
Starting Sept 17, Hi-Pointe Theatre begins a weekly Robert Altman centennial program with Nashville, followed two nights later by the first entry in “Art House Cinema 1945-2000.” Each screening is presented on newly serviced 35 mm projectors, offering cinematographers reference points for color-timing homage pieces. The theatre’s social channels encourage behind-the-scenes reels, so content creators should secure location releases early.
Lion Forge Entertainment’s $30 Million Boost
Animation powerhouse Lion Forge—best known for the Oscar-winning short Hair Love—announced a $30 million investment led by HarbourView Equity Partners on Sept 9. The capital will expand its kids-and-family pipeline and spur hiring across storyboarding, rigging and compositing. For freelancers, the studio’s growth signals fresh contract opportunities without relocating to either coast. Company statements emphasize keeping production dollars local, reinforcing St. Louis’ post-incentive comeback
Active Features & Casting Calls
Spectrum News reports two narrative features—penned by St. Louis natives—are filming “around the area this month and next,” with paid background roles still open. Shoots span downtown lofts and suburban diners, so expect mixed union-and-non-union crew calls and brief daytime street holds. Casting directors advise extras to keep late-September weekdays free, aligning with Missouri’s 20–42 percent refundable credit that reimburses payroll and vendor spend.
Permits, Policies & Incentives
The St. Louis Film Office reminds productions to customize and distribute a Filming Notice within a one-block radius and to share daily call sheets with the office once locked. City parks require a separate motion-picture permit with a $25 application fee, payable to the county parks department. Meanwhile, the Show MO Act continues to attract work with a 20 percent base credit and stackable bonuses for in-state hires, marginalized representation and post-production spend, topping at 42 percent.
Road & Lane Closures
MoDOT’s weekly construction bulletin lists single-lane closures on Route 67 in St. Louis County beginning Sept 15 and running nightly through December. Producers planning night exteriors along the corridor should budget additional travel time and potential noise filtering. The film office suggests scheduling police assistance at least seven days in advance for any detours.
Looking Ahead: SLIFF & Gateway Studios
While the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) doesn’t roll until Nov 6-16, submission materials—including DCPs—were due Sept 8, confirming the lineup announcement is imminent. Separately, Chesterfield’s 300-million-dollar Gateway Studios—slated to open next May—continues to book advance clients and offer hard-hat tours, providing a glimpse of next-year soundstage capacity.
Conclusion
From award-night spotlights to arthouse revivals, from fresh venture capital to evolving tax breaks, St. Louis offers a full spectrum of opportunity over the next two weeks. Crews that align their schedules with screening dates, apply permits early and stay alert to traffic advisories will be best positioned to capitalize on the metro’s accelerating St. Louis video production boom.
