In keeping with its bellwether tradition, Cinema St. Louis, the official host of the 14th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival, once again is proud to include a number of films destined to be dripping with Oscar buzz in coming months.

Among the contenders: Opening Night Spotlight Film, The Matador, starring Pierce Brosnan, Transamerica, starring Felicity Huffman and the Closing Night Spotlight Film, Mrs. Henderson Presents, starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.

“The St. Louis International Film Festival is the last major film festival in country, towards the end the year and as we’ve seen time and again, it’s an early predictor of hot films,?said Cinema St. Louis Chairman of the Board Jay Kanzler. “Every year, SLIFF is blessed with distributors who want to see how their films play here in St.Louis. We have very discriminating film festival devotees who know and appreciate good films and know how to start up the buzz.?

Last year, the 13th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival featured Kinsey, starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney and Finding Neverland, starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. Kinsey Director, Bill Condon says the St. Louis audience was a pleasure.

“Kinsey, like the man who inspired it, was a controversial subject last fall, said Condon, "but the response from the closing night audience at the Tivoli was very sophisticated and rewarding. We had a great time at the various festival parties around the city, and absolutely look forward to bringing more movies back to the great theatres and warm audiences of the St. Louis International Film Festival.?

This year’s festival runs November 10-20th and includes more than 150 films from 26 countries being featured during the 11-day run. The festival takes place in the heart of St. Louis’s film community, the vintage Tivoli Theatre and the definitive local Indy film Mecca, Webster University. Tickets go on sale for all shows on November 1st at the Tivoli Theatre box office.