Did you know that you can study film–or teach it–without moving to one of the coasts? If you didn’t, an upcoming free series of film-studies conferences is hoping to school you, starting Friday.

Washington University, Lindenwood University and Southwestern Illinois College are hosting the first annual St. Louis Film Conference, Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24. Film students and educators–as well as prospective film students and educators, and the general public–are welcome, but advance reservation is required. Attendees will talk about movies with other cinephiles from the region and compare the academic and technical offerings of the local film programs.

Here is the complete press release for the inaugural event:

St. Louis, Missouri — October 5, 2009 — A conference focused on film education will be held October 16, 17, 23, and 24 at Washington University, Lindenwood University, and Southwestern Illinois College.  The conference will feature presentations on specialized film studies and film production topics by film educators, some of whom are also filmmakers and presentations about teaching film studies and film production.  The conference focuses on film education in High School, College, and Graduate School.  Anyone who teaches, studies film, produces films or has an interest in film is invited and encouraged to attend.

On October 16 and 23 at 7 p.m., receptions and film showcase screenings will be held at Washington University’s Steinberg Hall Auditorium.  The October 16 showcase will feature shorts or scenes from the work of local film educators who are also filmmakers.  The October 23 showcase will feature reels of student work by participating educational institutions.  On October 17 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., presentations and panel discussions will be presented by area film educators, representative of film organizations, and filmmakers.  The October 17 conference presentations will be held in Black Box theater and the TV Studio at Lindenwood University, and the October 24 conference presentations will be held in Room 1200 of the Main Complex on the Belleville Campus of Southwestern Illinois College.  The events are free and open to the public, but space is limited, and reservations are required.  Those who RSVP in advance will be eligible for software giveaways and be served food at some events.  For Reservations and for Information about participating, email StLouisfilmconference@gmail.com.

According to conference organizers and cofounders, Sandra Olmsted, adjunct at Southwestern Illinois College and Fontbonne University, and Denise Ward-Brown, Associate Professor of Art at Washington University, a recognition of the quality and availability of film education available in the St. Louis area will encourage young filmmakers to study here and will develop the region’s filmmaking community.  Olmsted and Ward-Brown state that “The mission of the St. Louis Film Conference is to increase awareness of film education, to create interpersonal relationships among film instructors and professionals from various institutions, to share ideas, interests, production projects, and scholarly endeavors, and to grow film education and the film community in the St. Louis region, Southern Illinois, and Missouri.”  Olmsted and Ward-Brown are already planning a second conference for next year.

The Conference Website is http://sites.google.com/site/stlouisfilmconference. Steinberg Hall Auditorium is located in Steinberg Hall off of Skinker & Forsyth Roads on the east side of the Washington University campus, with the entrance off of the parking lots on either side of the Kemper Museum building.    The Emerson Black Box Theater and the Lindenwood Telelvision Studio is located in the Lindenwood Center for the Performing Arts - The Bezemes Family Theater at 2300 W Clay St (just a block west of First Capitol Drive), St. Charles, MO 63301, on the Lindenwood University campus.  Southwestern Illinois College is located at 2500 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville, IL 62221 and is easily accessed from Highway 64 by traveling south from the Green Mount Road exit.

Contacts:

Denise Ward-Brown
Ward-Brown@samfox.wustl.edu
Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
Washington University
Campus Box 1031
One Brookings Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63130-4899

Sandra Olmsted, MA, PhD Candidate
wryteralways@earthlink.net
Fontbonne University, Southwestern Illinois College, and Saint Louis University; President of St. Louis MCA, Assistant Director St. Louis Film Critics
Department of English, Saint Louis University
3800 Lindell Blvd, Adorjan Hall Room 127
St. Louis, MO 63108