If you’ve never been to the Tallgrass Film Festival — or looked at its massive schedule in years past and wondered where to begin — this may be the year to give it a try.
Wichita’s independent film festival returns Oct. 15-18 for its 24th year with a considerably smaller lineup, most screenings concentrated in Old Town and tickets that can cost as little as $8 per movie when purchased in a multi-ticket package.
And while smaller might not normally sound like better, there may be an upside for moviegoers.
The festival will screen 108 films this year. If that doesn’t sound small, compare it with last year’s 188 films, including 38 features and 150 shorts.
The smaller lineup wasn’t caused by a shortage of films. Festival leaders had already announced plans to scale back this year, but Tallgrass still received about 1,500 submissions. Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
Smaller and Easier to Navigate
For audiences, one of the biggest changes may be geography.
Instead of bouncing among numerous locations, most screenings will be at Boulevard Theatres in Old Town. Opening night will be at Wichita State University’s Shocker Studios, with three Saturday screenings at the Orpheum Theatre. Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
Other festival activities and filmmaker meet-and-greets will also be concentrated around Old Town, making it easier to spend several hours — or an entire day — taking in films and festival activities without moving your car.
With fewer films, each feature will screen twice, giving festivalgoers more flexibility to build their weekend schedule and fewer chances of having to choose between two films showing at the same time.
Short films are grouped into blocks, offering another easy way to sample the festival. Audiences can see collections of related shorts, including narratives, documentaries, animation, experimental films or music videos, in one sitting.
A Festival With a National Reputation
Tallgrass may be a Wichita festival, but it has built a national reputation among independent filmmakers.
Founded in 2003 by Wichita native Timothy Gruver, the festival has spent more than two decades building a reputation for filmmaker hospitality and accessibility. MovieMaker Magazine has repeatedly named Tallgrass one of its “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.”
That reputation helps explain why roughly 1,500 filmmakers still submitted work despite competing for fewer spots this year. Programming Director Ouma Amadou, who joined Tallgrass after the cutback was announced, said her understanding is that the reduction was budget-driven. Tallgrass Film Festival Program… Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
Despite its popularity with filmmakers, Tallgrass has faced recurring financial pressures in recent years.
Editor’s Pick: Gordon Parks Shorts
Eight films. Two hours. One ticket.
If you want to sample Tallgrass without committing to a full-length feature, this is an easy place to start. The Gordon Parks shorts offer eight very different Black stories in small doses — drama, comedy, social justice, family and more — all in one sitting.
Sun., Oct. 18 • 2:30 p.m.
Boulevard Theatre 4
Gordon Parks Offers a Place to Start
For Black Wichita moviegoers wondering where to start, the Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking offers a natural entry point.
Named for the Fort Scott-born photographer, writer and filmmaker behind “The Learning Tree” and “Shaft,” the competition is open to directors who identify as Black, African American or part of the African diaspora. Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
This year’s lineup includes three Gordon Parks feature documentaries and eight shorts. Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
“Fort Scott Stories,” directed by photojournalist D. Michael Cheers, returns to Parks’ Kansas hometown. “Fighting More Than Fire,” directed by Keith Daniels, looks at Black firefighters who broke racial barriers in Tulsa’s segregated fire department. “Wood Street,” directed by Caron Creighton, follows residents of Oakland’s largest unhoused encampment as they face eviction. Tallgrass Film Festival Program… Tallgrass Film Festival Program… Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
The three Gordon Parks features each screen twice, giving moviegoers more flexibility to work them into their weekend schedules. The eight Gordon Parks shorts will all screen together Sunday — eight different films and stories in one sitting. Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
Black filmmakers also appear elsewhere in the festival, including “HOPE,” an animated short directed by Jamal Ademola. Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
Something for Almost Every Taste
Beyond Gordon Parks, Tallgrass offers narrative and documentary films, Kansas films, animation, experimental work and music videos.
Among the higher-profile selections are “Copeland,” a documentary about Stewart Copeland, drummer for The Police, who is expected to attend the festival, and the world premiere of “Harrison Ford Comes to Wichita,” exploring the actor’s connection to the city through aviation. Tallgrass Film Festival Program… Tallgrass Film Festival Program…
The full festival schedule, screening times and information about each film are available through Tallgrass’ online box office. Tallgrass Film Festival schedule and box office
How Much Does It Cost?
Regular individual screenings cost $15 online, while Spotlight Films are $20.
Moviegoers who plan ahead can cut the price considerably. A five-ticket Flex Pass is $40 and a 10-ticket Flex Pass is $80 — $8 per screening.
A $100 FILMpass provides admission to all in-person films, including Spotlight Films, but not festival parties. The festival also includes director and filmmaker panels that are free, with donations welcomed.
For first-timers, there’s no need to tackle the whole festival. Pick a documentary. Try a block of shorts. See a locally made film. Catch one of the Gordon Parks selections. Or simply choose something you wouldn’t ordinarily see at the multiplex.
This year, Tallgrass may be small enough to make trying something different a little easier.
Tallgrass Film Festival runs Oct. 15-18. Most screenings will be at Boulevard Theatres Old Town, 353 N. Mead St. Tickets, passes, film descriptions and the complete schedule are available online.
