Tallgrass Film Association Hosts the 21st Annual Film Festival Downtown Wichita October 5-8, in Several Venues, Including the Historic Orpheum Theatre

The Festival announces the big Opening Night Film, THE PEOPLE’S JOKER; Saturday gala film, the world premiere of TOKYO COWBOY; narrative, documentary features; shorts competition programs; spotlight events

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Wichita, KS (August 30, 2023) – The remainder of the offerings of the 21st annual Tallgrass Film Festival presented by Archer Hotels, were announced today. The festival will be held October 5-8, in downtown Wichita. With a mix of free and paid events and extensive educational programming, the Festival annually brings thousands of visitors to the city. Tickets and Tallpasses are on sale now at https://TallgrassFilm.org/ for all events. All films at the Advanced Learning Library are presented fee with the support of Evergy.

The Festival hosts more than 184 films for its 21st edition. Continued partnerships with the Orpheum Theatre, Temple Live (Scottish Rite), Exploration Place, the Advanced Learning Library (all downtown on 1st Street), and Ulrich Museum (on WSU campus) as host venues will be joined by WSU TECH: Niche (124 S. Broadway) as a new venue with a welcome return to the Wichita Art Museum (1400 Museum Blvd.) this year. The Festival is also partnering with the Prairie Fire Race Marathon on Sunday to support runners and to make for a lively downtown weekend. 

SPOTLIGHTS FOCUS ON KANSAS; THE IMPORTANCE OF INDEPENDENCE IN FILM

Among this announcement’s highlights are the World Premiere of the feature film FAR FROM HOME made by local Regina Klenjoski Dance Company and the opening night film THE PEOPLE’S JOKER with special guest, director Vera Drew. Filmmaker, Sav Rodgers returns to Kansas with CHASING CHASING AMY and the Kansas films NIGHT SCREAMS and LETTERS FROM HOME. Other highlights include Stubbornly Independent Winner HP Mendoza’s latest, THE SECRET ART OF HUMAN FLIGHT, and festival favorite KAREN CARPENTER: STARVING FOR PERFECTION.

Short film highlights include 7 Minutes from comedian Ricky Gervais (“The Office”); Robert & Billie, a love story set in Nicodemus, Kansas; Mahogany Drive, a short film created by the Astronomy Club sketch group and produced by Academy Award-winner Andrew Carlberg. Closing Time has Demi Adejuyigbe, known for his “September 21” videos. And This is About the Census features Geoff Ross, a comedian, who writes, directs and stars in the short film.

 

“The spotlight films are a collection of movies that reflect the multifaceted nature of the Tallgrass Film Festival. From a Midwest-grown film years in the making such as LETTERS HOME, to an amazing biopic about artist Joan Miró, MIRÓ, which details the artist´s life whose art is anchored in Wichita´s history. Debuting at Tribeca, the documentary CHASING CHASING AMY explores pop culture inside self-discovery by an alum and friend of the Festival, Sav Rodgers. We also have a lovely documentary FAR FROM HOME that tackles identity through dance made by members of the local Regina Klenjoski Dance Company. Our opening night film, THE PEOPLE´S JOKER, is a story that is both in front of the camera and behind the scenes an example of the Stubbornly Independent spirit that Tallgrass continues to champion,” Head Programmer Andre Seward said.

CONTINUING TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING GUILDS

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SPOTLIGHT (OUT OF COMPETITION) FILMS

CHASING CHASING AMY (Documentary)

Director: Sav Rodgers 

Producers: Sav Rodgers, Alex Schmider, Carrie Radigan, Lela Meadow-Conner, Matthew C. Mills

Kansas Premiere. RT: 95m/USA

For young Sav Rodgers, the Kevin Smith cult classic, CHASING AMY, became a life raft. As Rodgers examines the film and its making as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema, he finds himself at a complicated crossroads.

En El Limbo Nos Encontramos (short) plays with CHASING CHASING AMY

Director: Daniel DuBoulay

World Premiere. RT: 5m/USA

The film follows a lonely, estranged protagonist as they become obsessed with wanting to become part of their favorite TV show. 

These films play at TempleLive (Scottish Rite) on Friday, October 6 at 4:30 p.m.

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FAR FROM HOME (Documentary)

Directors: Shawn Brackbill, Regina Klenjoski, Dalton Paley

Producer: Regina Klenjoski Dance Company

World Premiere. RT: 70m/USA

FAR FROM HOME is a dance film that traces the transformative journey of migration inspired by the personal and universal story of Petkana and Fidan Klenjoski, who left their Macedonian village for America five decades ago.

My Name is Annabel (short) plays with FAR FROM HOME

Director: Ida Joglar

Kansas Premiere.  RT: 21m/USA

 

Annabel Hernandez, a 30-year-old Wichita, KS native with Down’s syndrome, determines the film's direction as she shares her story her way and asks her friends and family the questions she’s most curious about - How do you feel about adults with Down’s syndrome? 

These films play at TempleLive (Scottish Rite) on Friday, October 6 at 7 p.m.

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LETTERS HOME (Narrative)

Director: Scott Roberts

Producers: Scott Roberts, Paul Roberts

World Premiere. RT: 76m/USA

Newly arrived with his family in a small Midwestern town, a smart but hopelessly awkward boy despairs that he will never truly fit in. 

Death in Lavender (Short) plays with LETTERS HOME

Director: Tyler W. Moore

World Premiere. RT: 10m/USA

Secrets begin to unravel after the untimely passing of the patriarch of the Pennington family.

These films play at The Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, October 7 at 12:30 p.m.

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MIRÓ (Narrative)

Director: Oriol Ferrer

Producers: Oriol Marcos, Oriol Sala-Patau, Esther Dueñas, Tiffany Ruoz

Regional Premiere. RT: 84m/Spain 

MIRÓ is the story of a discreet and tenacious young man who had to emigrate from a gray and conservative Barcelona to Paris in full cultural effervescence to make himself known.

He ran alongside his comrade (short) plays with MIRÓ

Director: Genís Rigol Alzola

Regional Premiere. RT: 14m/Spain

The story of an elderly businessman in search of popularity. He evades taxes but practices philanthropy, understanding solidarity in a personal way. Thus, the protagonist will dedicate himself to generating problems for people to be able to help them.

 

These films play at the CAC Theatre (Wichita State) on Sunday, October 8 at 12:30 p.m. 

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NIGHT SCREAMS  (Narrative)

Director: Allen Plone

Producer: Dillis L. Hart

World Premiere of Director's/Producer's Final Cut. RT: 74m/USA

A late-entry slasher gem that offers up an embarrassment of inventive kills…alongside more "standard" methods of hacking and slashing.

Dead Enders (short) plays with NIGHT SCREAMS

Director: Fidel Ruiz-Healy & Tyler Walker

Regional Premiere. RT: 12m/USA

Disaffected, young gas station clerk Maya doesn't care about much besides messing with her manager and getting her beer discount at the end of the

midnight shift. But after irresponsible oil drillers set loose a sinister race of mind-controlling parasites, Maya realizes there might be more to life than spending all your waking hours stacking shelves for a corporate overlord. 

These films play at The Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, October 7 at 3 p.m.

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THE PEOPLE’S JOKER (Narrative)

Director: Vera Drew

Producer: Joey Lyons

RT: 92m/USA

 

An unfunny clown with a Smylex addiction grapples with gender identity, love, and foes while founding an illegal comedy theater in Gotham City.

Krush The Wrestler (short) plays with THE PEOPLE’S JOKER

Director: Alex Megaro

Kansas Premiere. RT: 14m/USA

Exploring the innate intimacy of submission wrestling, a lifelong wrestler turns his talents into an on-demand fetish video service.

These films play at the Crown Uptown Theatre on Thursday, October 5 at 7 p.m as the Opening Night Gala film.

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DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

GREAT PHOTO, LOVELY LIFE

Directors: Amanda Mustard, Rachel Beth Anderson

Producers: Amanda Mustard, Rachel Beth Anderson, Luke Malone

Regional Premiere. RT: 112m/USA

Photojournalist Amanda Mustard returns to her hometown to investigate the decades of sexual abuse her family and community experienced at the hands of her grandfather.

This film plays at the Advanced Learning Library on Saturday, October 7 at 11 a.m. 

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ISRAELISM

Directors: Eric Axelman, Sam Eilertsen

Producers: Eric Axelman, Daniel J. Chalfen, Nadia Saah

Regional Premiere. RT: 84m/USA, Israel, Palestine

When two young American Jews raised to love Israel unconditionally witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp turns.

 

This film plays at the Kemper Theatre in Exploration Place on Sunday, October 8 at 1 p.m.

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JOIN OR DIE

Directors/Producers: Rebecca Davis, Pete Davis

Kansas Premiere. RT: 99m/USA, Italy

JOIN OR DIE is a film about why you should join a club—and why the fate of America depends on it. 

Balloon Boy (short) plays with JOIN OR DIE 

Directors: Brian Gersten, Arlin Golden

Regional Premiere. RT: 17m/USA

America watched with rapt attention a large balloon float through the skies of Colorado.     

These films play at the Tallgrass Film Center on Friday, October 6 at 11 a.m.

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KAREN CARPENTER: STARVING FOR PERFECTION

Director: Randy Martin

Producers: Andy Streitfeld, Randy Schmidt

Kansas Premiere.