After screening 47 features and 196 shorts, from more than 35 countries around the world, the virtual 18th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival announce this year’s award winners. The award for Outstanding Narrative Feature – went to Itchy Fingers directed by Anna Nilles and Marco Jake; and Whirlybird directed by Matt Yoka won for Outstanding Documentary Feature.
The Tallgrass Film Association has announced that the 18th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival will go virtual this October, with extended dates and online film screenings, Q&As, parties, and other events. The original five-day event will be expanded to ten days from October 16 to 25, 2020.
Bomb City[/caption]
Bomb City, Big Sonia and Game wowed the audience at the 2017 Tallgrass Film Festival and were voted winners of the Audience Awards. Bomb City directed by Jameson Brooks won the Audience Award for Award Winning Feature Narrative, and Big Sonia directed by Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday won the Audience Award for Award Winning Feature Documentary. Game directed by Jeannie Donohoe won the prize for Audience Award Winning Short .
Bomb City is a crime-drama about the cultural aversion of teenage punks in a conservative Texas town and their ongoing battle with a rival, more-affluent group of jocks. The film is based on the true story of Brian Deneke.
In Big Sonia, Holocaust survivor and diva, Sonia Warshawski, has just been served an eviction notice for her popular tailor shop in suburban Kansas City. Sonia’s trauma comes to the surface as she struggles with the concept of retirement.
Gook, directed Justin Chon was awarded the prize for Outstanding Narrative Feature, along with Outstanding Rising Star for Simone Baker. In the film, set in 1992, two Korean-American brothers strike up an unlikely friendship with an 11-year-old African-American girl, while racial tensions build to a breaking point as the L.A. riots break out.
For Ahkeem directed by Jeremy S. Levin and Landon Van Soest took the award for Outstanding Documentary Feature. After a school fight lands 17-year old Daje Shelton in a court-supervised alternative high school, she’s determined to turn things around and make a better future for herself, despite challenges both personally and in society.
20 WEEKS[/caption]
Four independent films have been selected to compete in this year’s 2017 Tallgrass International Film Festival Stubbornly Independent competition.
Selections include Leena Pendharkar’s 20 WEEKS, Chris Hansen’s BLUR CIRCLE, Jameson Brooks’s BOMB CITY, and Dustin Cook’s I HATE THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT.
The award is given to honor an independent film or filmmaker who takes risks and isn’t afraid to tell important stories, and does all of this within the ultra-low budget of $500,000 or less. The winner will be featured as the Stubbornly Independent Gala Spotlight selection on Saturday, October 21st, will receive the Jake Euker Stubbornly Independent Award, and a $5,000 cash prize. The three runners up will be included as official selections in the festival and will be eligible for the Audience Award for Narrative Feature and $2,500 cash prize.
“This year’s selections feature stories and characters that are both timely and easily relatable, while delivering a unique and bold take, leading to films that feel anything but familiar,” said Tallgrass Film Festival’s Programing Director Nick Pope. “Ultimately these are films about redemption and self-discovery in a world that can be messy and unpredictable, but also rewarding and surprising. We’re honored to be showcasing these stories to Wichita audiences.”
This year marks the 6th year of the SI competition, where eligible films must be domestic narrative feature films made for $500,000 or less without traditional, theatrical, domestic distribution at the time of the festival screening. Finalists will be juried by a panel of industry professionals including Rebecca Celli (Cargo Films), Nancy Gerstman (Zeitgeist Films) and Jeffrey Winter (Film Collaborative.) The Stubbornly Independent competition winner will be announced with the Tallgrass Film Festival’s lineup next month.
20 WEEKS Director: Leena Pendharkar Country: USA, Running Time: 89min
20 WEEKS is a romantic drama about love, science and how prenatal and genetic testing impacts everyday people. Against the backdrop of modern-day Los Angeles, the story follows Maya and Ronan’s journey – interweaving their past and present – after learning that their baby has a serious health issue at their 20-week scan. Inspired, in part, by writer/director Leena’s Pendharkar’s real life experiences with her second daughter, the film seeks to explore an intimate issue that isn’t often talked about.
BLUR CIRCLE Director: Chris Hansen Country: USA, Running Time: 92min
BLUR CIRLCE is the story of Jill Temple, a single mother still grieving the loss of her young son after he disappeared two years ago. Unable to face the possibility that she has lost him forever, she pursues every lead and meets Burton Rose, a man with a mysterious past. The details of that past – and how Burton has responded to it – force Jill to look at her life in a completely new way.
BOMB CITY Director, Jameson Brooks Country: USA, Running Time: 95min
Based on the true story of Brian Deneke, BOMB CITY is a crime-drama about the cultural aversion of teenage punks in a conservative Texas town. Their ongoing battle with a rival, more-affluent group of jocks, leads to a controversial hate crime that questions the morality of American justice
I HATE THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT Director, Dustin Cook Country: USA, Running Time: 103min
Lonely and isolated, Claude is still grieving the murder of his wife. When he’s reluctantly coerced by his obnoxious co-worker to join him for some salsa lessons, Claude develops an unexpected crush on his instructor Kyra. Unfortunately, he’s not sure how to move forward with this budding romance since he still has an unconventional situation in his basement…
The 2015 Tallgrass Film Festival announced their filmmaker awards during a rousing ceremony preceding their Closing Night Gala screening of Ian and Eshom Nelms’ WAFFLE STREET on Sunday, October 18 at the Orpheum Theater in Wichita, Kansas.
Matt Sobel’s TAKE ME TO THE RIVER, (pictured above) was named “Best Narrative Feature,” and Abigail Disney & Kathleen Hughes’ ARMOR OF LIGHT, chosen as “Best Documentary Feature.”
Justin Johnson’s DOUBLE DIGITS: THE STORY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE STAR (pictured above) got the nod for both “Best First Feature,” as well as the Golden Strands Vanguard Award for “Dedication to the Craft of Filmmaking” for the film’s subject, R.G. Miller.
The Vimeo Audience Awards were led by Emily Ting, who added to her big night by receiving the $1000 Narrative prize for ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG. Producer Dennie Aig was on hand to accept the $1000 Documentary prize for Philllip Barbeau’s UNBRANDED. Benjamin Wolff’s BIS GLIECH took home the Audience Award and $500 prize for the short film category. The awards for Emily Ting provided a happy exclamation point to the filmmaker’s return to Tallgrass following her films MAN FROM RENO (2014), THE KITCHEN (2012), and BIG BAD SWIM (2005) (all of which she served as either a producer, associate producer or executive producer).
2015 Tallgrass Film Festival Filmmaker Awards
Vimeo Audience Awards
Audience Award Winning Narrative Film:
($1,000) IT’S ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG, Directed by Emily Ting
Vimeo Audience Award Winning Documentary Film:
($1,000) UNBRANDED, Directed by Phillip Barbeau
Vimeo Audience Award winning Short Film:
($500) BIS GLIECH (Germany), directed Benjamin Wolff
Golden Strands Programming Awards
Best Emerging Student Award:
THE GIRL, WHO’S SHADOW REFLECTS THE MOON, Directed by Walaa Al Alawi (Syria)
Best Kansas Short Film Award:
EPIC OF HERSHEY, Douglas McGinness, New York/Wichita, KS
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Female Filmmaker:
Emily Ting, IT’S ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG
(Award is the Venus Award which is designed by Glass Artist Claire Anderson
and is a representation of a Paleolithic Era Venus de Lespugue)
Golden Strands Award for Courage in Filmmaking:
PERVERT PARK, Directed by Frida & Lasse Barkfors of Sweden
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Cinematography:
OMO CHILD: THE RIVER AND THE BUSH, Sebastian Humphreys
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Ensemble Cast:
TANGERINE
Golden Strands Vanguard Award for Dedication to the Craft Of Filmmaking:
R.G. Miller, DOUBLE DIGITS (Award designed by Fisch Haus)
Golden Strands Award, Best First Feature:
DOUBLE DIGITS: THE STORY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE STAR, Directed by Justin Johnson
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Documentary Short Film:
LAST DAY OF FREEDOM, Directors Dee Hibbert-Jones/Nomi Talisman
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Narrative Short Film:
GUEST ROOM, Directed by Joshua Tate
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Documentary Feature:
ARMOR OF LIGHT, Abigail Disney & Kathleen Hughes
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Narrative Feature:
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER, Directed by Matt Sobel
The 13th Tallgrass Film Festival taking place October 14 to 18, 2015, announced the full schedule of 203 films (54 features, 149 short films). Gala selections include the Opening Night film, Adam and Aaron Nees’ comedy BAND OF ROBBERS and the Closing Night selection of Ian and Eshom Nelms’ comedy WAFFLE STREET, bookending Valerie Weiss’ A LIGHT BENEATH THEIR FEET which will screen as the Stubbornly Independent competition winner.
The first four official films are revealed for the 2015 Tallgrass Film Festival whose subjects truly embody the Stubbornly Independent spirit. These acclaimed documentaries recount engaging stories from around the world, and in Wichita. The first three feature humanitarians, adventurists and innovators in the compelling stories of their trials, tribulations and the up-hill battles they face. The fourth is a sweet and surprising gem that speaks volumes to the talent and perseverance of a local filmmaker with an unconventional and unbending will for the craft of moviemaking.
The 13th annual Tallgrass Film Festival takes place in and around downtown Wichita this October 14-18th.
DOUBLE DIGITS: THE STORY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE STAR, USA, 2015, Dir. Justin Johnson (pictured above)
In his tiny “studio” apartment in Wichita, Kansas, inspiring 50-year-old filmmaker Richard ‘R.G.’ Miller directs his cast of dolls and action figures in the weirdest “blockbuster”-style feature films you’ve never seen. His dream audience? More than 9 people. Double Digits explores what it means to be a DIY artist in the 21st century, while delving into the life and creative process of a gifted and truly unique talent. (Johnson and Miller scheduled to attend.) This film will screen as part of the Wichita State University Thursday Night Spotlight and will include the World Premiere of Mr. Miller’s newest short film commissioned for the Tallgrass Film Festival.
https://vimeo.com/128304036
ANGEL OF NANJING, USA/China, 2015, Dir. Jordan Horowitz and Frank L. Ferendo
The Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing is one of the most famous bridges in China. It is also the most popular place in the world to commit suicide. For the past 11 years Chen Si has been patrolling this bridge, looking to provide aid for those who have gone there to end their lives. Incredibly, he has saved over 300 people since he began – nearly one every two weeks. Winner, Best Documentary at Phoenix Film Festival (Filmmaker(s) scheduled to attend.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA93svbHgok
UNBRANDED, USA, 2015, Dir. Phillip Baribeau
Four young men take an unprecedented journey on adopted wild mustangs from the Mexican to the Canadian borders through the backccountry of deserts and mountains. Their goal: To prove the worth of the iconic horses that are the subject of often bitter controversy, as well as their own ability to complete the challenge. As they cover the 3000 miles of often unforgiving landscapes, the riders succumb to the contradictory tensions of camaraderie and rivalry. Winner, Audience Award at 2015 HotDocs Film Festival and 2015 Telluride MountainFilm Festival. Director scheduled to attend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQmmaiWHYHQ
THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, USA, 2015, Dir. Abigail E. Disney and Kathleen Hughes
Abigail Disney’s directorial debut, THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, follows the journey of an Evangelical minister trying to find the courage to preach about the growing toll of gun violence in America. The film tracks Reverend Rob Schenck, anti-abortion activist and fixture on the political far right, who breaks with orthodoxy by questioning whether being pro-gun is consistent with being pro-life. A courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSP0Soy8ACk
KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON, directed by Al Hicks is the winner of the Vimeo Audience Award Documentary Feature, and THE DAVID DANCE, directed by Aprill Winney is the winner of Vimeo Audience Award Narrative Feature at the12th annual Tallgrass Film Festival. Shot over the course of five years by first time filmmaker Al Hicks, KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON depicts a 23-year-old, blind piano prodigy, Justin Kauflin, and music legend and teacher Clark Terry, 89. A winter drama set in Buffalo, NY, THE DAVID DANCE tells the story of David, who is soft spoken, shy and unsure of himself. However, as his on-air alias ‘Danger Dave,’ the host of “Gay Talk,” he’s poised, witty, and every listener’s best friend! Then life one day throws him a lemon. Past and present intertwine to tell the story of a man learning to love and accept himself.
Vimeo Audience Awards
Vimeo Audience Award Short ($500): FOOLS DAY, Dir. Cody Blue Snider
Runner Up: THE PHONE CALL, Dir. Matt Kirby
Vimeo Audience Award Documentary Feature ($1,000): KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON, Dir. Al Hicks
Runner Up: THE LIFE AND MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST, Dir. Gabriel London
Vimeo Audience Award Narrative Feature:($1,000): THE DAVID DANCE, Dir. Aprill Winney
Runner Up: A IS FOR ALEX, Dir. Alex Orr
Programming Awards
Best Emerging Filmmaker Short: LAUNDRY DAY, Dir. Michael Stevantoni
Best Kansas Short: COUNTER PARTS, Dir. Patrick Rea
Golden Strands Documentary Awards
Outstanding Documentary for Cinematic Legacy: A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES, Dir. Wiktor Ericsson
Outstanding Documentary in Recognition of Social Action: SILENCED, Dir. James Spione
Outstanding Documentary: THE OVERNIGHTERS, Dir. Jesse Moss
Golden Strands Narrative Awards
Outstanding New Talent: John Diaz, FIVE STAR
Outstanding Ensemble Cast: The Cast of LOVE LAND, Dir. Joshua Tate
Outstanding Cinematography: Sean Porter, KUMIKO: THE TREASURE HUNTER
Outstanding Narrative: MAN FROM RENO, Dir. David Boyle
In addition to the previously announced Gala films, the 12th annual Tallgrass Film Festival has revealed its entire feature film lineup of 48 feature films, selected from over 1400 submissions. More than 30 visiting filmmakers and industry guests will attend the festival. The 12th annual Tallgrass Film Festival will take place October 15 through 19, 2004 in and around Wichita, Kansas.
In Competition: Narrative Features
Domestic Narratives:
A IS FOR ALEX d. Alex Orr (USA, 2014, 74m)
CHILD OF GOD d. James Franco (USA, 2013, 104m)
THE DAVID DANCE d. Aprill Winney (USA, 2014, 108m)
FIVE STAR d Keith Miller (USA, 2014, 83m)
GONE DOGGY GONE d. Kasi Brown (USA, 2014, 89m)
HALF BROTHER d. Anthony Grippa (USA, 2014, 75m
KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER d. David Zellner (USA, 2014, 105m)
THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE d. John Stuart Wildman (USA, 2014, 93m)
LOVE LAND d. Joshua Tate (USA, 2014, 93m)
MAN FROM RENO d. Dave Boyle (USA, 2014, 111m)
PRETTY ROSEBUD d. Oscar Torre (USA, 2014, 82m)
RUDDERLESS d. William H. Macy (USA, 2014, 105m)
SUN BELT EXPRESS d. Evan Buxbaum (USA, 2014, 91m)
World Narratives:
THE DARK VALLEY (Das finstere Tal) d. Andreas Prochaska (Austria/Germany, 2014, 115m)
LONGWAVE (Les grades ondes) d. Lionel Baler (Switzerland/France/Portugal, 2013, 85m)
METRO MANILA d. Sean Ellis (UK/Philippines, 2013, 115m)
MOOD INDIGO (L’ecume des jours) d. Michel Gondry (France/Belgium, 2013, 94m)
THE SALVATION d. Kristian Levering (Denmark/UK/South Africa, 2014, 89m)
TRAITORS d. Sean Gullette (Morocco/USA, 2013, 83m)
WETLANDS (Feuchtgebiete) d. David Wnendt (Germany, 2013, 105m)
In Competition: Documentary Features
U.S. Documentaries:
ART AND CRAFT d. Sam Cullman, Jennifer Grossman (USA, 2014, 89m)
BRAVE NEW WILD d. Oakley Anderson-Moore (USA, 2014, 76m)
FIGHT CHURCH d. Daniel Judge, Brian Storkel (USA, 2014, 84m)
GROWING CITIES d. Daniel Sussman (USA, 2013, 97m)
JOHNNY WINTER: DOWN & DIRTY d. Greg Oliver (USA, 2014, 95m)
THE KILL TEAM d. Dan Krauss (USA, 2013, 79m)
THE LIFE AND MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST d. Gabriel London (USA, 2014, 92m)
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP d. Thomas G. Miller (USA/Australia, 2014, 74m)
LITTLE HOPE WAS ARSON d. Theo Love (USA, 2013, 71m)
MAD AS HELL d. Andrew Napier (USA, 2014, 80m) – US Festival Premiere
OIL & WATER d. Alan Robert Davis (USA, 2014, 76m)
THE OVERNIGHTERS d. Jesse Moss (USA, 2014, 90m)
QUEENS AND COWBOYS: A STRAIGHT YEAR ON THE GAY RODEO d. Matt Livadary (USA, 2014, 92m)
SELF MEDICATED: A FILM ABOUT ART* d. Ethan H. Minsker (USA, 2014, 98m)
SILENCED d. James Spione (USA, 2014, 95m)
STRAY DOG d. Debra Granik (USA, 2014, 98m)
World Documentaries:
A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES d Wiktor Ericcson (Sweden, 2013, 80m)
LIGHT FLY, FLY HIGH d. Beathe Hofseth, Susann Ostigaard (Netherlands/Norway/India, 2013, 80m)
THE SUPREME PRICE d. Joanna Lipper (Nigeria/USA, 2014, 75m)
LIFE ITSELF
The 12th annual Tallgrass Film Festival taking place in and around downtown Wichita, Kansas from October 15 through 19, 2014, will open with the Wichita, Kansas theatrical premiere of LIFE ITSELF, and close with acclaimed feature BEFORE I DISAPPEAR. LIFE ITSELF, from critically acclaimed Director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) along with executive producers Martin Scorsese (The Departed) and Steven Zaillian (Moneyball), recounts the inspiring, entertaining and colorful life of world-renowned film critic Roger Ebert–a story that is by turns personal, funny, moving and transcendent. Based on his bestselling memoir of the same name, LIFE ITSELF, explores Roger Ebert’s legacy–his Pulitzer Prize-winning film criticism at the Chicago Sun-Times, his turn as screenwriter of BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, his on and off screen relationship with Gene Siskel, all culminating in his ascension as one of the most influential cultural voices in America.
BEFORE I DISAPPEAR
BEFORE I DISAPPEAR, written and direted by Sean Christensen, stars Christensen, Fatima Ptacek, Ron Perlman and Emmy Rossum and won the Audience Award at the 2014 South by Southwest Film Festival. Based on the 2013 Academy Award® winning short film CURFEW, at the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his eleven-year old niece, Sophia, for a few hours.
THE LIVING directed by Jack Bryan has been selected as the recipient of the Stubbornly Independent Gala prize at this year’s festival. THE LIVING weaves a thoroughly engrossing story with beautiful cinematography, solid direction, and strong performances that never pander, yet never fail to engage. The film conveys a thematic universality applicable to anyone who has ever felt trapped within the confines of a fate seemingly set in motion by one irreversible action, and yet the plot still unfolds in surprising and unpredictable ways.
GONE DOGGY GONE directed by Kansas filmmaker Kasi Brown, and MAD AS HELL directed by Andrew Napier will screen as Thursday Night Spotlight Films. GONE DOGGY GONE is a comedic feature about a couple stuck in a lack-luster marriage who treat their dog like a baby. Working the grind in LA they leave little time for each other, and what free time they have they spend doting on the dog… until it gets kidnapped. What ensues is an outlandish cat-and-mouse adventure as they hunt down the kidnapper, enlist a schlubby PI, find a renewed love of each other, and conquer their fear of parenthood.
In an unlikely version of the American dream, MAD AS HELL follows Cenk Uygur’s transition from unkown talk show host on local public access TV to his role as a national host for MSNBC to the creation and success of his online news commentary show, The Young Turks, which has amassed over one billion views on YouTube. With a mission to speak the truth, Cenk takes on traditional news media and becomes the thorn in their side with his controversial approach of never pulling any punches. Mad as Hell is an example of the changing media landscape and our desire for different voices. We see how Cenk and his loyal team, with their uncensored brand of journalism, navigate the traditional world of news while at the forefront of a burgeoning new media.