The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC), in partnership with Continuity, is excited to announce the grant recipients of the St. Louis Film Project funded by a grant from ARPA for the Arts.
Each filmmaker will receive a grant up to $100,000 to produce documentaries and feature films in St. Louis. Projects require 75 percent of the grant funds to be spent in St. Louis City and must be completed by January 2026.
St. Louis Film Project Grant Recipients:
St. Louis Film Project Grant Recipients:
- Luke Terrell – Unlocked
- This is a documentary about a group of Missouri prisoners who teach themselves to code without access to the Internet. When two prisoners are released after 25 years of incarceration, they use their coding skills to create a start-up that will upend the current prison education system.
- Bobby Herrara – The Seven Ages of Olajuwon
- Told on stage and through over 16 years of intimate, powerful footage, this documentary tracks a talented Black performer as he navigates the challenges of unrealistic expectations and injustice.
- Kiley Enno – Octarine
- A feature film about a lonely fan’s obsession with a pop star – creating a dangerous clash between fantasy and reality that plunges the fan into a chilling confrontation with the pop star. Surreal and haunting, Octarine studies the cost of fame and the desperate need to be “seen.”
- Liz Peterson – A Steak Guerilla in St. Louis
- A compelling documentary chronicling Dr. Arturo Montemayor Taca’s journey from a respected surgeon to a revolutionary leader in the Filipino Democracy Movement.
- Darryl Frierson – Jacob Beats Up Nate
- A feature film about an accomplished sci-fi author Jacob Mann, who is being inducted into his high school hall of fame. All is well until Jacob realizes that his childhood bully, Nate, is also being honored. Jacob embarks on a journey to do something he wishes he could have done 20 years ago: beat up Nate.
“The amount of creative talent we have in St. Louis is incredible,” said Vanessa Cooksey, president and CEO of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. “With the reinstated Missouri Film Tax Credits and investments like the St. Louis Film Project grants, our region can continue to enhance its reputation as a premier destination for exceptional filmmakers and storytellers.”
The St. Louis Film Project is part of the ARPA for the Arts Tourism Recovery grants and is modeled after the successful St. Louis Mural Project. It aims to foster a vibrant local film and media arts scene by investing $500,000 in local creators and bringing together film/TV and content enthusiasts, industry professionals, and the public for screenings, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
“We understand the heart, dedication, and passion that go into bringing a story to life. That’s why it was incredibly challenging for our selection committee to choose just five grant recipients from over 115 applications. The range and depth of storytelling we encountered were truly inspiring, said Cooksey.
All submissions were reviewed and scored by a selection committee made up of RAC staff, RAC commissioners, and a panel of leading professionals from the film and media arts industry.
In addition to grants and film screenings, the St. Louis Film Project will host various events designed to promote awardees, facilitate industry access, and elevate St. Louis as a hub for creative storytelling.
RAC will host a film showcase event in March 2026 to allow the public to enjoy each of these projects.
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