Minnesota Film Arts volunteer


Minnesota Film Arts

Minnesota Film Arts’ is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering an active and living appreciation of the film arts in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. We pursue our mission through numerous programs in the areas of presentation, production, and advocacy.


Current Programs

Minnesota Film Arts currently runs programs in each of its mission areas,
Presentation, Production, and Advocacy.

Film Festivals:

The anuual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival hosts an additional 150 film programs for a hugely diverse audience in excess of 40,000. MSPIFF is the biggest film event of the year in the Upper Midwest (outside of the Chicago Int'l Film Fest in October) and includes some 150 feature films, along with selected short films, including documentaries, Minnesota-Made, and children's films, and a $3000 or more juried competition for 1st and 2nd feature film and documentary directors.

St. Anthony Main Theatre:

In January 2010, the 5 screen St. Anthony Main Theatre Complex, located in a thriving neighborhood on the banks of the Mississippi River, became the main venue for all MFA and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival screenings. This move is an opportunity for MFA to significantly expand its presence in the Twin Cities market and to create a multiplex of art house and alternative programming.

Throughout the year, classic repertory, foreign, and art films will play alongside mainstream St. Anthony screenings. The Oak St. Cinema will continue to be used for special screenings, rentals, and occasional film parties. St. Anthony has been the primary and successful venue for the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival for the past two years.

Oak Street Cinema:

Oak Street Cinema hosts special screenings, rentals, and fest parties. With over 300 seats and 35mm/digital projection equipped, the Oak St. is an ideal venue to host a local premiere or private event. Regular MFA programming will screen at St. Anthony Main Theaters.

Access Screening:

Access Screening provides opportunities for and collaborations with special interest groups that enable them to use our respective theaters at or below cost.

Collaborative Production Programs:

Collaborative Production Programs are aimed at encouraging filmmakers in the Twin Cities region, and include our annual Trailer Training program and quarterly 24-Hour Film Challenge, both of which are undertaken in collaboration with the local production organization Scene 6. In addition, we have immediate plans to launch a Screenplay Players series, and we have submitted numerous high-profile grants for an Artist-in-Residency program, to be launched as part of the 2006 M-SPIFF.

Advocacy Programs:

Our advocacy programs are also new, and to date include an interactive website serving local filmmakers, a weekly e-mail newsletter serving the local film community, and an active partnership program, putting our theatres and organization at the service of various interest groups throughout the Twin Cities.