Now Playing

Film composer Rolfe Kent to be awarded the 2010 Ad Astra

The Tallgrass Film Festival is awarding the 2010 Ad Astra to Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated composer Rolfe Kent. Kent is an award-winning composer who has scored over 40 films which include small independent films and large Hollywood productions. Some of his most recent work includes the Zac Efron film "Charlie St. Cloud" (released July 30, 2010) and both 2009 George Clooney films: the Oscar-nominated "Up In The Air" (for which Kent won a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy) and "Men Who Stare At Goats." Kent has won numerous BMI Film Music awards for his work, including for the films "Legally Blonde" (2001), "Legally Blonde 2" (2003), and "Sideways" (2004). His score for "Sideways" was also nominated for a Golden Globe. Kent was also nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for the original Showtime series "Dexter" (2006). [More]

Stubbornly Independent Stella goes retro as a Flapper Girl!

A very big thanks to Wichita artist Dustin Parker for giving Stubbornly Independent Stella a 1920’s makeover!

Parker, who lives and works in Wichita, is an accomplished painter and digital artist. Parker earns his bread and butter as a graphic designer and illustrator. Since 2000, Parker has participated in over 60 group exhibitions and nine solo exhibitions throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. Parker's work has been featured in numerous online and printed publications including Logo Lounge, Look Look, Head Magazine, Blanket Magazine, Moloko Plus, Women's Focus, The Wichita Eagle, Cru-A, F5 and Proteus Mag.

Stella’s Flapper girl style is a nod to this year’s TFF theme: Films on the Fringe — it’s sure to be a weekend full of gangsters and dolls and the best indie films from around the world!

The Cotillion presents “Grasscendo” at the 2010 TFF: A program of musically-themed films

We know Wichitans love their music, so TFF is excited to be adding the “Grasscendo” program our 2010 lineup, brought to you by The Cotillion. Confirmed films include:

Everyday Sunshine from filmmakers Chris Metzler (Plagues and Pleasures on the Saltan Sea) and Lev Anderson tells the story of the band Fishbone. Screening during the Saturday Night Spotlight presented by Tallgrass Brewing Company, the film will be followed by live performance with members of the band.

The Legend of Stuart Mossman, featuring the brothers Carradine, tells the story of the legenday Kansas luthier. This is David Carradine’s last film and shows him as a musician, singer and songwriter.

Do it Again chronicles Boston Globe reporter Geoff Edger’s in his personal quest to reunite his favorite rock band, The Kinks. Among those you’ll meet along the way: Sting, Zooey Deschanel, Robyn Hitchcock, Clive Davis and Warren Zines.

The Kid is Chaplin’s 1921 comedic masterpiece on which the great comedian worked on for a whole year. The digitally re-mastered print of this classic silent film will be accompanied by a live, and original score by Wichita native Arri Simon and will screen at the Closing Night Gala presented by WSU’s Ulrich Museum of Art.

Catch the OG Scarface at Cinema Alfresco tomorrow – FREE at the Brickyard!

Have you ever seen Howard Hawks’ Scarface (1932)? Now’s your chance to catch the precursor to the Brian DePalma/Al Pacino version! This must-see classic film chronicles the rise and fall of the insanely violent Tony Camonte (Paul Muni), an ambitious, ugly and stupid gangster.

When: 8 p.m., rain or shine
Where: The Brickyard, Oldtown, Wichita
How much: FREE
Specials: $3 Tallgrass Brewing Company Beers, $3.50 Stella Artois, $5 Brickyard Burger & Fries or Quesadilla, Drawing for 2 VIP TallPasses to the TFF 2010 ($300 value)

Each film will be preceded by a Tallgrass Film Festival short film and there will be drawing for a pair of Tallgrass Film Festival VIP Tallpasses, a $300 Value. Winners must be present to win. The Brickyard doors and kitchen open at 7 p.m. Enter at east and west doors (west side has better parking). Bring your ID. Under 21 welcome. Cinema Alfresco Specials include $3 Tallgrass Brewing Co. draws, $3.50 Stella Artois, $5 Quesadilla Special and $5 Brickyard Burger and Fries Special.

And don’t miss these films later this month.

Save the Date for August’s Third Thursday:
Left Field, the official story of Chicago’s unofficial kickball league

Kickball is a kid’s game that big kids with hangovers play in Chicago’s Humboldt Park on Sunday mornings. For these players it is far more than a game, it’s a lifestyle – and a family of free judgment, a way to remain kids in in defiance of the inevitable encroachment of aging and responsibility.

In Left Field, director Ben Steger films three seasons of a renegade league of teams with names like Big Red Ballers, Finger Beef Blasters and Not the Cripplers. In addition to the on-field action, the film tells the stories of a quirky bunch of Windy City misfits and their real-life joys and tragedies, featuring an emotional Wichita connection.

“…gives new meaning to the term ‘tragically hip.’” – Chicago Reader

Congrats to our VIP TallPass winners

Congratulations to everyone who has won VIP TallPasses to the 2010 Tallgrass Film Festival, thus far! The winners have been entering contests on our Facebook page or going to events such as Cinema Alfresco.

Mary Braun
Richard Bowman
Lois A. Gould
Jim Snell
Diane Pearmann

A $150 value, these lucky winners will enjoy a weekend of all-access to the Tallgrass Film Festival including:

• Opening Night Gala, Closing Night Gala and Saturday Night Spotlight
• All films and panels
• VIP Filmmaker Lounge
• VIP Mayor's Reception, VIP Filmmaker Brunch

Tallgrass Film Association membership special offer

Single $25 membership:

 

---

Two-person $35 membership:

Person One:

Person Two:

From now till the end of July, get a membership to the Tallgrass Film Association for just $25 -- OR get two for only $35.

The Tallgrass Film Association is the 501c3 parent organization of Tallgrass Film Festival. In addition to sponsoring our stubbornly independent annual film festival, Tallgrass offers special film screenings and events, the Third Thursday film series, the Cinema Alfresco film series, and educational programs for aspiring filmmakers. Become a member yourself or buy a membership for a friend and support Tallgrass and your passion for independent film.

Benefits of membership include:

• Your support of the U.S.'s most stubbornly independent film festival.
• Two free tickets to every Tallgras Film Association Special Screening or Third Thursday.
• A Tallgrass Film Association membership card.
• Advanced ticketing for Tallgrass Film Festival.
• Discounted VIP All-Access Tallpasses to Tallgrass: $120 (a $150 value).
• Sneak peek at the Tallgrass Festival film program.
• Discounts on Tallgrass merchandise.
• Free monthly e-newsletter.
• Invitations to exclusive TFA Member events held throughout the year.

Tallgrass Film Association presents eighth season of Cinema Alfresco: Films on the Fringe

The Tallgrass Film Association announces the line-up for Cinema Alfresco season. The series will take place Thursdays from May 27 through July 29. The Cinema Alfresco series will show under the stars at 8 p.m., at The Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island. The event is free and open to the public and because the Brickyard has a covered outdoor area, the movies will show rain or shine.

This season’s theme “Films on the Fringe” will focus Cinema Alfresco on flapper-era dramas. They include the musical “Chicago” (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere), the Oscar winning “Splendor In The Grass” (Warren Beatty, Natalie Wood), the original 1932 version of “Scarface” (Paul Muni) and Julie Andrews as a young lady from Salina in 1967’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” [More].

Tallgrass 2010 now taking submissions

Wichita, Kan. - The Wichita Association for the Motion Picture Arts (WAMPA) and the Tallgrass Film Festival announced their call for submissions for the 8th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival which will be Oct. 22-24 in Wichita. In the last seven years, more than 25,000 local and regional attendees and over 200 filmmakers from Kansas and all over the world have enjoyed the region’s premiere independent film festival. [More]