by Catherine Marquis-Homeyer
staff editor

St. Louis film fans, here it comes!

The Eight Annual St. Louis International Film Festival starts this weekend and runs through the following weekend. The opening weekend special events include:

Oct. 28 - Pre-opening Night Special Screening "The Big Brass Ring", by St. Louis filmmaker George Hickenlooper 7 p.m. at the Esquire

Oct. 30 - Spin Magazine Party - Meet the Filmmakers and Stars, sponsored by Absolut Vodka. (must be 21 or over). 9:30 p.m. at Blueberry Hill.

Oct. 31 - Halloween Special "The Phantom of the Opera" 9:30 p.m. at the Tivoli

This year's program features over 100 films, including classic films, foreign language films, documentaries, short films, and independent films. These are all well-chosen treats, some of which wouldn't otherwise appear here, and others, which will run here throughout the coming year. Special programs include the Documentary Sidebar, African-American Sidebar, Critic's Choice Showcase, Young People's Sidebar (for teens and younger), and the New Filmmakers Forum. Complete listings of films, with descriptions and times, can be found on the St. Louis Film Festival website (www.sliff.org) or by calling their hotline (367-FEST). Other special events, such as panel discussions and parties are also planned. A great treat for Halloween.