Missouri’s Next Generation of Film Festivals

Missouri is home to many iconic, well-known film festivals. However, beyond St. Louis International or True/False, there are plenty of new, niche, and notable fests. For cinephiles and filmmakers alike, here are five of Missouri’s newest film festivals.

Full Tilt Film Festival – Kansas City, Mo.

Brand new in 2026, Full Tilt Film Festival celebrates sports storytelling through screenings, panels, live events, and networking opportunities. They aim to highlight the intersection between sports, film, and media while connecting athletes, filmmakers, and fans.

The schedule includes six film screenings, including the world premiere of Chasing Goals, a film by KC-based Foolish Club Studios. Topical panels and exciting parties round out the program.

Full Tilt Film Festival will take place in August at Zhou B Arts Center, The Gem Theater, The Boone Theater, and The Blue Room.

Great Wonders Uplift Film Fest – Joplin & Webb City, Mo.

When Great Wonders Uplift Film Fest was established in 2024, it focused on honoring films made in, or by filmmakers from, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Now preparing for its fourth year, the ever-growing festival is accepting submissions from around the world.

The festival has a central focus on “inspiring, hope-filled films,” though they allow projects of all themes. In 2027, they will grant 21 awards across categories including Feature Awards, Short Awards, and Other Awards.

Great Wonders Uplift Film Fest takes place each spring at the Historic Route 66 Theater in Webb City and Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex in Joplin.

Hellbender Student Film Festival – St. Charles, Mo.

Established in 2021, the Hellbender Student Film Festival was founded by Lindenwood University professor Andrew Millians to showcase high school and college-level filmmakers. It was an instant success, receiving more than 430 worldwide submissions in its first year.

Today, Hellbender is one of the region’s most significant student festivals. In 2025, 46 films were screened across five categories: High School, College/University, Dance on Film, LGBTQ+, and Experimental. The selected projects were created by filmmakers across the globe, ranging from the USA to China, Australia, Ireland, and more.

The Hellbender Student Film Festival takes place on the Lindenwood University campus each November.

Hysteria Fest – St. Louis, Mo.

In 2022, the Creative Pulse Productions team conducted a market test to see how St. Louis would respond to a horror-centered festival – and the screenings sold out months in advance. Following this overwhelming success, Hysteria Fest was established and has grown exponentially since.

The festival takes a global approach, highlighting horror films from a different region each year. The 2026 theme was Japanese horror, while past years have featured Canadian horror, Scandinavian horror, and the French Extremity Movement. Alongside its geographic-focus, Hysteria screens some of the best films currently on the festival circuit.

Hysteria Fest is hosted at Arkadin Cinema in St. Louis each summer.

Silver Chance International Film Festival – Springfield, Mo.

Silver Chance International Film Festival joined Missouri’s festival lineup in April 2026. The event was founded by Efim Okov, a recent graduate of Missouri State University’s screenwriting masters program.

“The festival is dedicated to showcasing the work of filmmakers who navigate mental and physical disabilities, highlighting what we call the ‘Iron Will,’” Okov said. “The idea of the festival is to connect bridges between cultures across the globe.”

In its first year, Silver Chance was hosted at The Moxie Cinema and screened 11 narrative short films, 4 student short films, 2 animated shorts, 1 documentary short, and 1 music video.

Okov and his team are already planning the festival’s second season. They anticipate moving the event to mid-fall in order to further expand its reach.

St. Charles Film Festival – St. Charles, Mo.

One of Missouri’s newest fests, the St. Charles Film Festival debuted in May 2026. The festival was founded by St. Charles native Greg Upchurch and Lindenwood University professor Peter Vincent Carlos with the goal to “celebrate the power of storytelling through independent cinema.”

In its first year, the St. Charles Film Festival screened over 30 films and presented 18 unique awards, including Best First-Time Director, Best Call to Action Film, and Best Experimental Short.

The festival took place at Grand Opera House, The Foundry Art Centre, and Quintessential Dining & Nightlife. They plan to return for their second year in 2027.

For more, check out our comprehensive list of Missouri Film Festivals & Organizations.

This article was written by Missouri Film Office intern, Justine Favazza.