Nashville, Tennessee (March 13, 2013) – Agile Ticketing Solutions is excited to welcome our newest film festival partner, Tallgrass Film Association. Agile Ticketing Solutions will provide Wichita, Kansas based Tallgrass Film Association’s annual film festival, known as the Tallgrass Film Festival (TFF), with ticketing, membership and event management services during its next festival scheduled October 16^th through the 20^th 2013. Read more...

Wichita’s 10^th annual Tallgrass Film Festival proved an enormous success, with not only a record number of films (180) and visiting filmmakers (34+), but also attendance, which was at an all-time high of 11,223!

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended, and especially our sponsors and volunteers. Your continued support and hard work makes Tallgrass possible year after year, as evidenced by Flavorwire naming the Tallgrass Film Festival in the top 10 of under-the-radar film festivals in the U.S. Plus, take your pass or ticket stub to any of these local establishments for some Audience Appreciation through the end of October.

TFA is so thrilled by the success of TallgrassX that we’ll be spending the next few months focusing our energy on building a great program for 2013, which will include Filmmaker Labs, Down to the Wire: A 24-Hour Film Race, Road Shows, Special Screenings, a “007”-themed affair and an extra day to the 11^th annual Tallgrass Film Festival, October 16-20, 2013. 

So while we’re on hiatus from programming through the rest of the year, please stay tuned to the website, and our facebook and twitter pages for information on cinematic events throughout the city, Road Shows around the state, updates on festival films and filmmakers, TFA membership specials and more. And now, we’re ready to “go to eleven!”

Photo: My Eye On Photography

Kansas movie lovers will have plenty to watch, learn and talk about at the 10th annual Tallgrass Film Festival, taking place in and around downtown Wichita from October 18-21. Over 700 films were submitted to this year’s festival, including 307 features, 48 of which were selected by the Tallgrass Programming Committee  to screen at the festival. The festival features 1 World Premiere, 2 U.S. premieres and several Midwest and Regional Premieres. More than 30 filmmakers will be flying in from all over the country to attend, with many regional and local filmmakers also participating in the festivities. Check out TFF’s online Film Guide for more information about each film. A full lineup of short films will be announced on October 5.
 
Program Highlights
 
Highlights of this year’s festival include a few new additions and special programs: Smallgrass - a children’s film program at Exploration Place, sponsored in part by KPTS; Grassroots: Spotlight on Civil Rights films and reception sponsored by the Ulrich Museum of Art, and a Spotlight on Scandinavian Cinema, sponsored by the City of Lindsborg/Lindsborg Arts Council.

FIAT of Wichita is the presenting sponsor for World Cinema selections, while LIV Music & Arts Fest will sponsor the Grasscendo Music Films, Liberty Press presents the Spotlight on LGBT Films, Aspen Boutique presents the Spotlight on Women Filmmakers, media sponsor for that program is Women’s Focus Magazine.
 
For Fest-Goers
 
Consolidated Equities Trust will present the Filmmaker Lounge for the festival’s VIP guests while Clear Channel Outdoor presents the Volunteer Lounge, for more than 100 volunteers who dedicate hundreds of hours year-round to the Tallgrass Film Association.

Heroes Sports Bar & Grill will set up the Heroes Hospitality Tent,  a mobile cafe serving food and beverage to festival goers, outside the festival’s hub, the Orpheum Theatre. The tent will also house several filmmaker panels sponsored by the Wichita Film Commission,  a free-throw basketball clinic with Guinness Book of World Records free throw champ (and Kansan) Bob Fisher and the Centerpiece Gala Party.

Education &  Students
 
In addition to the filmmaker panels, the festival offers several educational programs this year including Free Friday Films, “Free Friday Films” – specially selected educational films that are free of charge for high school and college students/teachers and the senior community (65+.); and a Tallgrass Filmmaker Lab: Documentary Production 101 with alumni filmmaker Chris Metzler.  An exclusive screening of a festival film will be offered at East High School for USD259 High School students. The festival will also offer a VIP Student TALLPass for just $75. This allows students access to all festival general admission and gala films (excludes VIP events, filmmaker lounge and gala parties.) (Parental discretion is advised, most films have not yet been rated by the MPAA.)

Schedules and Tickets
 
Film screening times will be available on the website’s film guide on October 5, which is also when general admission tickets will go on sale. VIP TALLPasses, Gala Tickets and Filmmaker Lab tickets are on sale now.A full list of visiting filmmakers will also be announced at that time. The official festival program will be published as an insert in the Wichita Eagle on October 12, and will be available around the city.

2012 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
 
GALA SCREENINGS:

Fidelity Bank Opening Night Gala: PABLO (USA, 2012) - with Producer Jeremy Goldscheider, Animation Design Team Freddy Morales and Marcela Perdomo. Followed by the Opening Night Party at 155 N. Market, with open bar, eats and music by DJ Carbon. ($25) Thurs., Oct. 18, 8:00 pm at Wichita Orpheum

Centerpiece Gala Screening: THE STORY OF LUKE (USA, 2012) - with Director Alonso Mayo and Star Lou Taylor Pucci at the Scottish Rite. Followed by the Centerpiece Gala Party at the Heroes Hospitality Tent with live music by Travel Guide and cash bar. ($15) Fri., Oct. 19, 8:00 pm. at the Scottish Rite Theater

Stubbornly Independent Gala: FILM TBA*, with Filmmakers - hosted by Steve Anderson Followed by the Stubbornly Independent party at 241 N. Broadway with open bar, eats and entertainment from Antimosity. ($20) Sat., Oct. 20, 8:00 pm, Wichita Orpheum (*see contenders under Official Selections)

Jean Garvey Presents the Closing Night Gala & Awards: THE STANDBYS (USA, 2012) - with Director Stephanie Riggs and star Ben Crawford, at the Orpheum Theatre, with a Q&A hosted by Music Theatre of Wichita’s Producing Artistic Director Wayne Bryan. The evening also includes the presentation of the txtwrks Audience Awards. Followed by the Closing Night Party at The Lux with open bar, eats and live entertainment. ($25) Sun., Oct. 21, 7:00 pm at the Orpheum Theatre


SPECIAL SCREENINGS:

Smallgrass at Exploration Place: (Media Sponsor KPTS)
IRA FINKELSTEIN’S CHRISTMAS
New York International Children’s Film Festival PARTY MIX
New York International Children’s Film Festival KID’S FLIX

Midnight Screenings (sponsored by The Anchor):
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (USA, 1968)
THE BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST

Tallgrass Filmmakers Lab: Film School 101:
TITICUT FOLLIES (USA, 1967)

Athletic Showcase: (sponsored by Maximum Outdoor Equipment)
FREE THROW
Special screening at East High School, and downtown on Friday, Oct. 19 followed by a free throw clinic and competition at the Heroes Hospitality Tent with Guinness Book of World Records free throw champion Bob Fisher.

Greengrass Showcase: (sponsored by WSU Student Chapter of American Association of Petroluem Geologists)
SWITCH
Free Screening at Wichita State University

IN COMPETITION: NARRATIVE FEATURES (*Denotes filmmaker(s) in attendance)

Stubbornly Independent Gala Contenders (made for under $750,000 USD, no traditional theatrical distribution):
DEAD DAD*
FAITH IN DESTINY* (World Premiere)
PETUNIA*
SHOUTING SECRETS*
THE KITCHEN*
THINGS I DON’T UNDERSTAND*

U.S. Narratives:
CALIFORNIA SOLO
COMPLIANCE
FAT KID RULES THE WORLD
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
THE DYNAMITER
 
World Narratives:
CITADEL (Ireland)
COMBAT GIRLS (Germany)
KISS ME (Sweden)
SALT (Spain/Chile)
STARBUCK (Canada)
TEDDY BEAR (Denmark)
THE DAY I SAW YOUR HEART (France)
VALLEY OF SAINTS (India)
 
IN COMPETITION: DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
 
U.S. Documentaries:  
AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING*
BOOKER’S PLACE: A MISSISSIPPI STORY*
BONES BRIGADE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
DETROPIA
OXYGEN FOR THE EARS: LIVING JAZZ*
PAUL WILLIAMS STILL ALIVE*
THE RIGHT TO LOVE: AN AMERICAN FAMILY*
SIDE BY SIDE
SUSHI: THE GLOBAL CATCH*
THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA*
THE INVISIBLE WAR
YEAR OF THE LIVING DEAD* (U.S. Premiere)
 
World Documentaries:
5 BROKEN CAMERAS (Palestinian Territories/Israel/France)
CALL ME KUCHU (Uganda/USA)
HITLER’S CHILDREN (Germany/Israel/USA)
JUSTICE FOR SALE (Netherlands/Congo)
MEET THE FOKKENS (Netherlands)
PORTRAIT OF WALLY (Austria/USA)
SCARLET ROAD (Australia)

SPECIAL INTEREST PROGRAMS

Ulrich Museum of Art Presents Grassroots: Spotlight on Civil Rights: AI WEI WEI: NEVER SORRY BOOKER’S PLACE: A MISSISSIPPI STORY
From classics like To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and King (1978), to Malcolm X (1982) and Get on the Bus (1996), how has the social justice film genre evolved? What can audiences expect in the 21st century? The Ulrich Museum celebrates the Tallgrass Film Festival’s 10th anniversary with afternoon film screenings, directors’ talks, and a reception in conjunction with The Hard Kind of Courage. 210 McKnight West, School of Art and Design, Wichita State University (Free admission for Ulrich Museum members and WSU faculty/staff/students with current WSU ID. General admission $10; $8 for students, educators, seniors, military, and Tallgrass Film Association members. For more information, go to info@tallgrassfilmfest.com or call (316) 303-9292.)
 

City of Lindsborg/Lindsborg Arts Council Presents Spotlight on Scandinavian Cinema: KISS ME, TEDDY BEAR, Scandinavian Short Film Showcase

Joel Fein Emerging Filmmaker Program: This  program features the best short films from high school filmmakers, and younger,  from around the globe. FREE for High School Students and younger with valid school ID

Kansas Film Commission presents the Timothy Gruver Spotlight on Kansas Filmmakers: This program showcases the best short films made by filmmakers from across the state of Kansas. FREE for high school students and younger with valid school ID
 
LIV Music & Arts Festival presents the Grasscendo Music Program: CALIFORNIA SOLO, THE BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST, OXYGEN FOR THE EARS: LIVING JAZZ, PAUL WILLIAMS STILL ALIVE
 
Aspen Boutique Spotlight on Women Filmmakers (Media sponsor Women’s Focus): THE STANDBYS, IRA FINKELSTEIN'S CHRISTMAS, SHOUTING SECRETS, KISS ME, THE DAY I SAW YOUR HEART, AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY, DETROPIA, THE RIGHT TO LOVE: AN AMERICAN FAMILY, CALL ME KUCHU, JUSTICE FOR SALE, SCARLET ROAD, MEET THE FOKKENS
 
Liberty Press LGBT Spotlight:  KISS ME, KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, PETUNIA, CALL ME KUCHU, THE RIGHT TO LOVE: AN AMERICAN STORY

Smallgrass Family Programming: THE BEST OF THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL: KID FLIX MIX; THE BEST OF THE NYICFF: PARTY MIX;  IRA FINKELSTEIN'S CHRISTMAS
 
Greengrass Environmentally-themed Program: SWITCH, SUSHI: THE GLOBAL CATCH
 
 

Purchase a 4-pack of Tallgrass Brewing Company’s delicious Belgian style Tripel Velvet Rooster on your next trip to the liquor store and look for the Tallgrass Film Festival logo on the can.

Tallgrass Film Festival is pretty proud to be representin' on a can, so please support our official beer sponsor, Manhattan, Kansas-based Tallgrass Brewing Company.

About Velvet Rooster
This beer is a Belgian Tripel that lives up to its name. Smooth and carefully crafted like a fine velvet painting, but with an 8.5% ABV this bird has some spurs! The beer pours a golden straw color with brilliant clarity. Topped with a lofty pure white head the beer has a wonderful floral nose, with subtle fruit notes.

The taste is clean and crisp, with subtle fruit notes and a touch of candy like sweetness. The beer has a Champagne-like effervescent that provides a crisp offset to its sweet finish.  While a pint glass is always nice, Velvet Rooster would also be at home in a tulip glass or Champagne flute.

Select filmmakers at the 2012 Tallgrass Film Festival will be eligible for a new honor, the Jake Euker Stubbornly Independent Award.

Jake Euker was a longtime friend and supporter of the festival and a true film afficianado. The Stubbornly Independent award will be given in his honor to an independent film or filmmaker who takes risks, isn't afraid to tell important stories, demonstrates immense creativity and does all this within the confines of low or ultra-low budgets.

Most importantly the Stubbornly Independent award will be given to someone who inspires future generations of filmmakers and encourages them to follow their dreams.