Preserve the Past. Project the Future.
This Give STL Day, Cinema St. Louis invites you to support a timeless art: the magic of 35mm film. We hope to raise $35,000 to preserve and celebrate our 35mm film programming at the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, St. Louis’ only nonprofit-run movie theater.
Why 35mm Matters
Film is inextricably linked with our history. It captured and delivered the earliest moving stories to the screen and has continued to do so for over a century. It was the theater standard; more popcorn has been consumed in front of a 35mm projector than any other format! But since the advent of digital projection, film has become increasingly rare - and increasingly expensive to program.
The Hi-Pointe Theatre’s ongoing commitment to 35mm film projection is rooted in our reverence for the filmmaking craft and theater-going experience. Movies shot on film, lit for film and colored for film deserve to be presented as they were intended - on film. Month after month, we feature 35mm programming as a tribute to the medium and the art of projection.
“Many assume the film difference is one of brightness or resolution. But it’s not; it’s an intangible richness, depth and texture. Film is alive. It’s difficult to describe in technical terms, but it just breathes in a way digital cannot.” - Brett Smith, Hi-Pointe Theatre Director & Projectionist
We are dedicated to providing this one-of-a-kind viewing experience to the St. Louis community. There’s no ‘night at the movies’ quite like it.
Your support helps us:
Maintain our rare 35mm projectors
Showcase new, classic and rare archival films in their original format
Offer behind-the-scenes education on the art and science of projection
Inspire new generations of cinephiles and storytellers
Join the Movement. Keep 35mm Alive. Every dollar gets us closer to launching our full 2025 35mm series and deepening our investment in the magic of film. Donate, share and celebrate with us.
Films on film should never go out of style.
#35for35 #Keep35mmAlive #HiPointe35