Tallgrass Film Festival

Wichita, KS, United States, North America

14 - 18 Oct, 2020

Category

Feature, Short

Tallgrass Film Festival logo
Tallgrass Film Festival

Wichita, KS, United States, North America

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General Information

edition

18th

Contact details

212 N Market St Suite 200 Wichita, KS 67202 United States

67202

info@tallgrassfilm.org

316-303-9292

Web & social

About the festival

Flavorwire calls Tallgrass “one of the foremost regional festivals in the country, showcasing exciting new movies and festival hits that otherwise probably wouldn't make their way to the heartland…a wonderful festival, and a reminder that New York and L.A. don't have the market cornered on vibrant film culture."

The largest independent film festival in the state of Kansas, more than than 70 visiting filmmakers from across around the globe attended the 2019 festival.

A hallmark of the region’s cinematic landscape and an internationally recognized, multi-day platform for world-class cinematic programming, the festival is a program of the Tallgrass Film Association, a 501(c)3 arts organization which fosters an appreciation of the cinematic arts by creating shared experiences around the international medium of film.

A growing Midwestern city that truly represents the spirit and hospitality of America's Heartland, Wichita was described in the Boston Globe’s Travel Section as “on-the-cusp America, a place where old ways and new styles are beginning to blend, where empty downtowns are being revived, museums founded, and unexpected treasures lie waiting in antiques stores...” Though Johnny Depp likes to insinuate that Midwestern American audiences are not sophisticated enough to appreciate independent film, Tallgrass audiences beg to differ.

Wichita is also home to a large art and music community, a growing filmmaking community, and generous patrons of the arts making Tallgrass audiences a hallmark of the festival. Sophisticated movie-goers of all ages and backgrounds - hungry for quality independent film - audiences are receptive, opinionated and genuine. Screening a film at Tallgrass is a catalyst for generating awareness and buzz in the epicenter of the country that radiates throughout the region. Also as accessible at Tallgrass, are the visiting filmmakers. Due to the city’s authentic nature it’s common to find a Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker deep in conversation with a high school documentarian or an avid movie-goer.

Located in the South Central portion of the state, Wichita, is known as the "Air Capital of the World” and is the largest city in Kansas in terms of both land area and population, with an estimated populace of more than half a million people in the greater metropolitan area. Known as a breeding ground of entrepreneurs, the city is home to corporations including Pizza Hut, Hawker Beechcraft, Learjet, Cessna and Coleman.

Tallgrass Film Festival will grant cash awards in the following categories:
• Audience Award Winning Documentary Feature: $2,500
• Audience Award Winning Narrative Feature: $2,500
• Stubbornly Independent Gala Winner: $5,000, as well as a gala screening and one-of-a-
kind Tallgrass tap handle
• Audience Award Winning Short Documentary Film: $1,000
• Audience Award Winning Short Narrative Film: $1,000
• DOXX Spotlight: $1,500, as well as a Spotlight screening and an award
• Best Kansas Filmmaker Documentary Short Film: $500
• Best Kansas Filmmaker Narrative Short Film: $500

Non-cash special recognition awards include:
• The Stubbornly Independent winner also receives a gala screening and one-of-a-kind Tallgrass tap handle.
• Golden Strands Awards (awarded by Tallgrass Programming Directors) for Outstanding Documentary, Narrative Feature, Short Film and more
• Best Kansas Filmmaker Short Film
• Best Emerging Filmmaker Short Film

About

Flavorwire calls Tallgrass “one of the foremost regional festivals in the country, showcasing exciting new movies and festival hits that otherwise probably wouldn't make their way to the heartland…a wonderful festival, and a reminder that New York and L.A. don't have the market cornered on vibrant film culture."

The largest independent film festival in the state of Kansas, more than than 70 visiting filmmakers from across around the globe attended the 2019 festival.

A hallmark of the region’s cinematic landscape and an internationally recognized, multi-day platform for world-class cinematic programming, the festival is a program of the Tallgrass Film Association, a 501(c)3 arts organization which fosters an appreciation of the cinematic arts by creating shared experiences around the international medium of film.

A growing Midwestern city that truly represents the spirit and hospitality of America's Heartland, Wichita was described in the Boston Globe’s Travel Section as “on-the-cusp America, a place where old ways and new styles are beginning to blend, where empty downtowns are being revived, museums founded, and unexpected treasures lie waiting in antiques stores...” Though Johnny Depp likes to insinuate that Midwestern American audiences are not sophisticated enough to appreciate independent film, Tallgrass audiences beg to differ.

Wichita is also home to a large art and music community, a growing filmmaking community, and generous patrons of the arts making Tallgrass audiences a hallmark of the festival. Sophisticated movie-goers of all ages and backgrounds - hungry for quality independent film - audiences are receptive, opinionated and genuine. Screening a film at Tallgrass is a catalyst for generating awareness and buzz in the epicenter of the country that radiates throughout the region. Also as accessible at Tallgrass, are the visiting filmmakers. Due to the city’s authentic nature it’s common to find a Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker deep in conversation with a high school documentarian or an avid movie-goer.

Located in the South Central portion of the state, Wichita, is known as the "Air Capital of the World” and is the largest city in Kansas in terms of both land area and population, with an estimated populace of more than half a million people in the greater metropolitan area. Known as a breeding ground of entrepreneurs, the city is home to corporations including Pizza Hut, Hawker Beechcraft, Learjet, Cessna and Coleman.

Tallgrass Film Festival will grant cash awards in the following categories:
• Audience Award Winning Documentary Feature: $2,500
• Audience Award Winning Narrative Feature: $2,500
• Stubbornly Independent Gala Winner: $5,000, as well as a gala screening and one-of-a-
kind Tallgrass tap handle
• Audience Award Winning Short Documentary Film: $1,000
• Audience Award Winning Short Narrative Film: $1,000
• DOXX Spotlight: $1,500, as well as a Spotlight screening and an award
• Best Kansas Filmmaker Documentary Short Film: $500
• Best Kansas Filmmaker Narrative Short Film: $500

Non-cash special recognition awards include:
• The Stubbornly Independent winner also receives a gala screening and one-of-a-kind Tallgrass tap handle.
• Golden Strands Awards (awarded by Tallgrass Programming Directors) for Outstanding Documentary, Narrative Feature, Short Film and more
• Best Kansas Filmmaker Short Film
• Best Emerging Filmmaker Short Film

Awards & Winners

There are no winners yet for this festival

Terms and rules

-Films must have been completed after January 2019. Some exceptions will be considered for non-domestic releases.

-Online screeners from secure sources are preferred. Include screener link and password in your submission.

-2 submission preview copies of the film are required if you are submitting on disc media (DVD).

-Press kit is optional - electronic only, please

-A Kansas premiere is required. World and US Premieres are not required, however premiere status may be one of the factors considered when determining a film's inclusion in the Festival.

-The Festival does not screen films available on VOD or any online streaming portal at the time of the festival. However, the festival reserves the right to make exceptions to this rule.

-All films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for festival presentation.

-The festival will consider work-in-progress, films with temporary soundtracks, digital outputs, and work that did not originate on film Filmmakers must deliver final format (as indicated) for Festival screening. No exceptions will be permitted.

-Kansas and Emerging Filmmakers submit for free under their respective categories.

-Emerging Filmmaker films MUST be works written, directed, and shot by high school age students – 18-YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER. This category is not for university or college filmmakers. Adult supervision is limited to advisory capacity. Emerging filmmakers must submit a copy of his/her valid high school identification (student id, school record, passport, drivers license or official identification that includes date of birth) to receive the fee waiver and to be eligible for this category.

-In order to receive fee waivers for Kansas filmmakers, Kansas filmmakers must submit a valid Kansas address, connection and identification respectively to receive the fee waiver. Kansas Filmmaker films are eligible for festival prizes, if the film is accepted as an “in competition” screening in the festival.

– – – SCREENING/PRESENTATION TERMS OF AGREEMENT – – –

Tallgrass Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The individual or corporation submitting the film shall indemnify and hold harmless Tallgrass Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Should your film be accepted, we ask permission to keep a copy of the film for our festival library. This request is voluntary and is not conditional. The copy of the film in the TFF library will not be used for profit. Should we consider re-screening the film for a public paid event, we will notify individuals or corporations representing the film for permission and conditions.

Packaging - ship your media in a bubble-pack envelope whenever possible. If you must use a fiberpack, please wrap the media with protective material. The festival is not responsible for damage to tapes incurred in shipping.

Costs and labeling - all shipping costs to and from Wichita must be borne by the sender. All discs must indicate title, shipper's name, and FilmFreeway tracking number.

International entries - all entries from outside the US should be sent Air mail Registered or by a parcel express service. We cannot accept entries shipped via air-freight if customs and delivery fees have not been paid.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

Stubbornly Independent Feature Film - USA Produced Narrative (60+ minutes only)
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €45
Regular (29th May, 2020) €55
Late (3rd July, 2020) €100

Stubbornly Independent Submissions must be US Domestic narrative feature film made for $500,000 or under USD, without traditional, theatrical, domestic distribution at the time of the festival screening, A representative for the winning and nominated films must be able to attend the festival. A selection of films will be nominated for the gala screening, and the winning film will be voted on by a select jury. In addition to the Gala Spotlight, the jury selected film will also receive a $5,000 cash prize. All nominated films will automatically be accepted as an “in competition” screening in the festival and will be eligible for the Best Narrative Feature Audience Award and The Golden Strands Outstanding Narrative Feature Film Award selected by the Festival Programming Directors.

DoXX Spotlight
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €45
Regular (29th May, 2020) €55
Late (3rd July, 2020) €100

DOX Spotlight Submissions must be a female-directed documentary feature without traditional, theatrical, domestic distribution at the time of the festival screening, A representative for the winning and nominated films must be able to attend the festival. A selection of films will be nominated for an evening screening, and the winning film will be voted on by a select jury. In addition to the Spotlight screening, the jury selected film will also receive a $1,500 cash prize. All nominated films will automatically be accepted as an “in competition” screening in the festival and will be eligible for the Best Narrative Documentary Audience Award and The Golden Strands Outstanding Documentary Feature Film Award selected by the Festival Programming Directors.

Feature Film - Narrative
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €45
Regular (29th May, 2020) €55
Late (3rd July, 2020) €100

Fiction feature films may be a narrative, animation, experimental, domestic or foreign film. Films entered in this category are eligible to be in competition for two awards. The Audience Award Winning Fiction Feature $2,500 award is granted to the fiction feature film accepted as an “in competition” screening in the festival that receives the highest score by the audience. The Golden Strands Outstanding Fiction Feature Film award is granted to the narrative feature film (foreign or domestic) accepted as an “in competition” screening in the festival that is selected by the Festival Programming Directors.

Feature Film - Documentary
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €45
Regular (29th May, 2020) €55
Late (3rd July, 2020) €100

Documentary feature films may be a foreign or domestic feature. Films entered in this category are eligible to be in competition for two awards. The Audience Award Winning Documentary Feature Film award is granted $2,500 to the documentary feature film accepted as an “in competition” screening in the festival that receives the highest score by the audience. The Golden Strands Outstanding Documentary Feature Film award is granted to the documentary feature film accepted as an “in competition” screening in the festival that is selected by the Festival Programming Directors.

Short Film - Narrative
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €15
Regular (29th May, 2020) €30
Late (3rd July, 2020) €50

Narrative short films (under 60 minutes) may be animation, experimental, domestic or international. The Tallgrass Audience Award Winning Short Narrative Film is granted to the short film screened at the festival scored highest by the audience and is awarded a $1000 cash prize.

Short Film - Documentary
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €15
Regular (29th May, 2020) €30
Late (3rd July, 2020) €50

Documentary short films (under 60 minutes) may be animation, experimental, domestic or international. The Tallgrass Audience Award Winning Short Documentary Film is granted to the short film screened at the festival scored highest by the audience and is awarded a $1000 cash prize.

Kansas Filmmaker Film
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €0
Regular (29th May, 2020) €0
Late (3rd July, 2020) €0

Kansas filmmaker films may be a documentary, narrative, animation or experimental film. Kansas filmmakers may submit their films and have any entry fees waived. Filmmakers MUST submit a valid Kansas address, connection and identification to be eligible for this category. For each major cast/crew Kansas connection, please include name, title, and city in Kansas connection. Include this eligibility information in your cover letter when you submit. Films submitted in this category that do not fulfill this requirement will not be considered. Kansas filmmaker short films are eligible to win the Best Kansas Filmmaker Short Film Award. The award is granted to the Kansas filmmaker short film screened at the Tim Gruver Spotlight on Kansas Filmmakers Program scored highest by the Tallgrass Programming Directors. All Kansas films (features or shorts) are eligible to qualify for other festival awards.

Emerging Young Filmmaker Short Film – 18 and Younger Only
Early Bird (1st May, 2020) €0
Regular (29th May, 2020) €0
Late (3rd July, 2020) €0

Films submitted in the Emerging Filmmaker films category MUST be works written, directed, and shot by high school age students – 18-YEARS-OLD AND YOUNGER. This category is not for university or college filmmakers. Emerging Filmmaker Short Films may be a documentary, narrative, animation, experimental, domestic or foreign films. Adult supervision is limited to advisory capacity. The winning Emerging Filmmaker Short Film is granted to the short film screened at the Joel Fein Emerging Filmmaker Program scored highest by the Tallgrass Executive Programming Directors. Fees are waived for any high school student submissions with valid high school identification (student id, school record, passport, drivers license or official identification that includes date of birth). All emerging young filmmaker films (features or shorts) are eligible to qualify for other festival awards.

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