Tallgrass Film Association (TFA) announces the call for submissions for the 11th annual Tallgrass Film Festival, October 16-20 in and around downtown Wichita, Kansas. The largest independent film festival in the state of Kansas, the 2012 Tallgrass Film Festival received over 700 submissions and screened featured more than 180 films from 30 countries around the world, including 50 feature and 130 shorts films, with more than 30 visiting filmmakers in attendance.

"The Tallgrass Film Festival was a fantastic venue for premiering our feature documentary, PABLO,” said Producer Jeremy Goldscheider. “From the moment we arrived we were embraced by the festival organizers and the entire film-loving community in Wichita.  I hope to bring my next film back to this wonderful and vibrant festival!"

A hallmark of the region’s cultural 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.  Flavorwire calls Tallgrass one of the top-ten best under-the-radar film festivals in America.

“Tallgrass is one of my favorite film festivals. It's so rare to get a festival that is so supportive and that brings together an entire community with great screenings, supportive audiences, wonderful parties, the best people and the sense that the whole city of Wichita is a part of the festival,” said Director Ishai Setton (THE KITCHEN.)

In addition to showcasing the best of independent cinema from around the globe, including documentary, narrative, world cinema, animation, LGBT, retrospective and premiering films, the 11th annual Tallgrass Film Festival is specifically seeking films to feature in the following special programs and spotlights:

• Grasscendo – music-themed films
• Greengrass  – environmentally-themed films
• Grassroots  – featuring films about social issues
• Spotlight on Women Filmmakers – films directed and produced by women
• Spotlight on Scandinavian Cinema – short and feature length films from the Nordic region
• Smallgrass – short and feature length independent films for children ages 3+
• Stubbornly Independent Films: domestic, narrative features made for under $750,000 USD
• Timothy Gruver Spotlight on Kansas Filmmakers  – Kansas filmmakers submit for free – see below for official rules)
• Joel Fein Emerging Filmmakers Program – short films from filmmakers (19 and younger) may submit for free – see below for official rules

Tallgrass Film Festival will grant cash awards in the following categories:

• Audience Award Winning Documentary Feature: $1,000
• Audience Award Winning Narrative Feature: $1,000
• Stubbornly Independent Gala Winner: $1,000
• Audience Award Winning Short Film: $500

Non-cash special recognition awards include:

• Golden Strands Awards (awarded by Tallgrass Programming Directors) for Outstanding Documentary and Fiction Feature, Acting and more
• Best Kansas Filmmaker Short Film
• Best Emerging Filmmaker Short Film

Submission Guidelines

Films should be submitted through Withoutabox. The entry deadline for film submissions is June 24, 2013 with a late submission deadline of July 15, 2013. The Early Bird Deadline offers reduced submission fees; however, films must be submitted by April 16, 2013, to qualify for the discount.

Fees:

Features
Early Bird Deadline: $40/$30 students
Regular Deadline: $50/$40 student
Late Deadline:  $100/$75 students
WAB Extended Deadline: $125/$100

Shorts:
Early Bird Deadline: $15
Regular Deadline: $25
Late Deadline: $50
WAB Extended Deadline: $75

Entries must be submitted on DVD (NTSC format) and will be screened in either 35 mm, HDCam DigiBeta, BluRay or DVD as a final presentation format. Entries should be sent to: 6505 East Central Avenue, Box #146, Wichita, KS, 67206. The 2012 Tallgrass Film Festival will screen approximately 40 features and 75 shorts. To submit a film, please visit www.withoutabox.com and follow official submission instructions.

Submissions from Kansas filmmakers for the Kansas Filmmaker Category, and Emerging Filmmakers for the Emerging Filmmaker Program will not require a submission fee, however, filmmakers must submit a valid Kansas address or a copy of a school ID, respectively, in order to submit for free. Students may submit feature films at a discounted rate with a valid copy of a school ID to qualify for reduced fee.

^{Withoutabox logos are trademarks of Withoutabox, a DBA of IMDb.com Inc. or its affiliates.}