21st Annual Tallgrass Film Festival
When: Oct. 5-8 at venues across downtown Wichita.
What: In addition to film viewings, there are educational filmmaking seminars and gala parties. Costs: Tickets can be purchased online @ TallgrassFilm.org or at the Tallgrass office, 120 E. 1st St. N. Individual film tickets can be purchased for $12, $10 for matinees (begin before 4 p.m.) or use the senior, military, student or teacher discount code to get tickets for $6. Weekend passes range from $100 to $250.
Although this is the third year for the Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking, it’s making a big impact on the Tallgrass Film Festival by diversifying the event with a number of high quality feature-length films.
An attractive competition with a $5,000 cash prize, plus a $15,000 Panavision camera rental package, the award is attracting top-notch films from across the diaspora.
This award honors the legacy of Kansas writer, artist, filmmaker and photographer Gordon Parks, whose iconic works provided a window into the world of African-American life from the 1940s to the 1970s. Gordon Parks used Panavision for his films, making the camera rental prize a meaningful addition to honor his legacy. The award is presented by Cargill.
To qualify, films were required to be a minimum of one hour, with no traditional distribution deal at the time of the festival. The entries were open to films of any production budget, from any country and the director must self-identify as either Black, African American or African Diaspora.
This year, five films are competing for the Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking during the Tallgrass Film Festival in downtown Wichita, Oct. 5-8.
This year’s competitors are:
Black Barbie: A Documentary
Through intimate access to a charismatic Mattel insider, Beulah Mae Mitchell, “Black Barbie” delves into the cross section of merchandise and representation as Black women strive to elevate their own voices and stories, refusing to be invisible. 100 minutes. Director: Lagueria Davis. Fri., Oct. 6, 1 p.m. Scottish Rite Temple, 332 E. 1st St. N.
Preceded by the short film:
Jelly
A young Black girl with a peculiar fascination with death tries to solve the mysterious case of a missing neighbor while coming to terms with a more personal disappearance. 10 minutes. Director: Amdi Jinelle Liggett.
Chocolate Milk (Documentary)
“Chocolate Milk” explores racial inequities in birth and breastfeeding in the U.S. by following the stories of three Black mothers in South Los Angeles over multiple years – a new mom, a WIC employee, and a homebirth midwife. 92 minutes. Director: Elizabeth Gray Bayne. Sat., Oct. 7, 4 p.m. at WSU Tech-Niche, 124 S. Broadway.
Preceded by the short film:
Choices
Three very different friends find a renewed connection as they await pregnancy results at their Los Angeles High School. 13 minutes. Director: Kameishla Wooten.
Name of the Game (Documentary)
The untold story of Black male exotic dancing in South Los Angeles and how it intersects with the origins of hip-hop, gang culture, and kung-fu assassins. 113 minutes. Directors: William Forbes & Douglas Skinner. Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 p.m. at Tallgrass Film Center, 120 E. 1st St. N.
Summer of Violence (Narrative)
Refusing law school to pursue poetry, a sheltered college grad, cut off from her father’s money, struggles to survive while living in Denver during the 1993 Summer of Violence. 110 minutes. Director: Nicki Micheaux. Fri., Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m. at Tallgrass Film Center, 120 E. 1st St. N.
The Unseen (Narrative)
A witch from the 1850s is transported into the head of her descendant in modern Kansas City, who is tasked with helping get her ancestor’s body back. 89 minutes. Director: Nicki Micheaux. Fri., Oct. 6, 10:30 a.m. at Orpheum Theater.
Preceded by the short film:
Split
When a hopeless romantic teenager discovers the jukebox in his family’s bowling alley, it sends him back to the glory days of the 1980s. He must choose between a shot at love in the past or healing the relationship with his father in the present. 15 minutes. Director: Vincent Essid.
Feature films you might like
Lost Soulz (Narrative)
A young rapper leaves everything behind and embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery, music, and friendship in the heart of Texas. This film is shown in-person only. 96 minutes. Director: Katherine Proper. Sat., Oct. 7, 3 p.m. at Kemper Studio at Exploration Place.
Preceded by the short film:
Stuck
Wanda, an introverted stoner, is roped into her roommates’ music video shoot, when she finds a kindred spirit in a mouse stuck to a sticky pad. 10 minutes. Director: Brittany Reeber.
With Peter Bradley (Documentary)
At once an intimate portrait and a deep study of the creative process, “With Peter Bradley,” is situated entirely at the artist’s rural home and studio, and unfolds over the course of changing seasons. The sole figure on screen, Bradley narrates his life in a series of unscripted conversations: often provocative, sometimes bitter, and full of surprises. Bradley was the first Black haute art dealer in New York; likely the first Black abstract artist represented by a major New York gallery; and curator of what is considered the first integrated modern art show in America. 86 minutes. Director: Alex Rappaport. Sat., Oct.7, 10 a.m. at Wichita Art Museum.
“Chocolate Milk” tells the story of Black women and their babies and explores the inequities in breastfeeding. 
The story of Black male exotic dancing is told in “Name of the Game.” 
“Black Barbie” delves into merchandising as a way to tell the stories of Black women. 
A witch from the 1850s is transported into the head of her modern-day descendent in Kansas City in “The Unseen.”
Short films you might like
Affirming Ourselves – 8 minutes
“Affirming Ourselves” is a short film that showcases Black joy through movement and dance. It’s a celebratory exploration of all the different facets of Black happiness and demonstrates the magic of Black womxn/femmes. A linear journey that will take you through the four stages of life: childhood, teenagehood, young adulthood, and older adulthood. We will pan up from each scene to the next like the rising and setting sun. Each scene will have a different component of movement including hula hooping, stepping, roller skating, and dancing. The first scene will begin with young Black girls and will occur at dawn, ending with the Black elders scene that takes place at night. Each scene will also represent the four astrological elements: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Director:
Aurora Sikelianos. Sat., Oct. 7, 2 p.m. at Tallgrass Film Center.
A Clean Slate – 14 minutes
This uplifting documentary follows Shanyeill McCloud’s work helping the formerly incarcerated expunge their records and start their lives again. In 2007 McCloud was convicted of misdemeanor battery protecting herself and her daughter from her abusive husband, a record that upturned her life, making it nearly impossible to find employment. After almost 16 months unemployed, Shanyeill learned she was not eligible for expungement under current Wisconsin state law. Despite this, McCloud has dedicated herself to helping others navigate the process of receiving judicial clemency using the knowledge she gained — one of those beneficiaries being Karie Elliott, a vet tech living in Milwaukee. Director: Trần Hoàng Calvin.Thu., Oct. 5, 11 a.m. at Advanced Learning Library.
Black People Surf? – 12 minutes
This documentary chronicles the renaissance of Black surf culture in Southern California.
It’s no secret that Black people are not the first that come to mind when you think of water activities or surfing. But what if we told you there were communities all around the world where Black folks are meeting at the beach and communing in the water to dispel those ideas?
This film follows the founders, instructors, and surfers who are committed to building a more inclusive surf community through their collectives and nonprofit efforts. We hope this film will help inspire those who do not know how to swim into changing the tide. Directed by Bailey WIlliams & swim team. Thu., Oct. 5, 11 a.m. at Advanced Learning Library.
Dick Control – 15 minutes
Richard Tye “Trigga” Simmons, a rich, promiscuous, jet-setting rapper, has a one-night stand with a beautiful groupie who happens to be a witch. When Tye disrespects her, she places a curse that can’t be broken until he learns how to respect women. Director: Shequeta L. Smith. Thu., Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m. at Tallgrass Film Center.
Falsies – 14 minutes
Robert is applying for his dream job at Harborville Corporation. But with the change comes the aching weight of feeling the need to fit in. Gail is trapped in the monotony of marriage and motherhood. These strangers’ worlds collide when Gail becomes the sole witness of racially charged violence against Robert. In a tailspinning, time-bending 13 minutes, “Falsies” examines White female complicity, the necessity of action, self-actualization and acceptance. Director: Tessa Slovis. Fri., Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. at Advanced Learning Library.
October Mourning, 18 minutes
Grieving the unexpected loss of his father, Henry Sims gets a chance to have one more conversation with Dad. Director: Frederick Thornton. Fri., Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. at Advanced Learning Library.
Inner Sounds, 14 minutes
After a car accident ends his singing career, Louis rediscovers his musical passion through the keys of a piano, inspired by a heartfelt conversation with his sister. Director: Benjamin Shimwa. Sat., Oct. 7, 2 p.m. at Tallgrass Film Center.
Choices, 13 minutes
Hidden away under the bleachers at school, free-spirited Aisha gives a pregnancy test to Jessica, a cheerleader and prom queen contender, who’s terrified of what the results might mean. They are joined by their childhood friend Portia, who has made her own decisions about motherhood. The three reconnect over their circumstances and celebrate all of life’s choices. Director: Kameishia Wooten. Sat., Oct. 7, 4 p,m. at WSU Tech – NICHE, 124 S. Broadway.
