Events

2024 Tallgrass Film Festival Film Screenings at Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center

Thursday, Oct. 24th

I Needed Paris, Inspired by Gordon Parks

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 11:00 AM

I Needed Paris follows nine middle school photo students from Gordon Parks Academy in Wichita. The students reimagine how Gordon Parks photographed fashions, portraits and street photography, during his 1950-1952 tenure in Paris, as a photographer in the LIFE magazine bureau. The film explores Gordon's foray into composing classical music and his interest in poetry. The documentary also introduces the students to African American expats living in Paris, who share their experiences hoping to inspire the trajectory of the students' young lives.

The Paper Bag Plan

Century II Peach 201 | 1:00 PM

Oscar has dedicated his life to the well-being of his disabled son, Billy. But Oscar is not only a devoted father, he is also a high functioning alcoholic. The thought of "who will care for my son once I die" has now come face to face with Oscar with his recent colon cancer diagnosis.

After scrambling unsuccessfully to find any kind of job placement for Billy, he notices a help wanted sign at a nearby grocery store. With their remaining precious time together, Oscar forges ahead with training his son how to bag groceries in the hopes of landing him his first job and beginning a life of independence.

No Other Land

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 1:30 PM

Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta, has been fighting his community's mass expulsion by the Israeli occupation since childhood. Basel documents the gradual erasure of Masafer Yatta, as soldiers destroy the homes of families - the largest single act of forced transfer ever carried out in the occupied West Bank. He crosses paths with Yuval, an Israeli journalist who joins his struggle, and for over half a decade they fight against the expulsion while growing closer. Their complex bond is haunted by the extreme inequality between them: Basel, living under a brutal military occupation, and Yuval, unrestricted and free. This film, by a Palestinian-Israeli collective of four young activists, was co-created during the darkest, most terrifying times in the region, as an act of creative resistance to Apartheid and a search for a path towards equality and justice.

Hope in the Heartland: Wichita's Quest to End Homelessness

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 4:00 PM

As homelessness increases each year in America, Wichita, Kansas is determined to find a way to address this challenge in their community. City leaders, outreach organizations, and community members have worked independently in the past. Now, in 2024, collaboration increases and a realistic roadmap to ending chronic homelessness in Wichita is revealed.

A documentary film crew follows this quest as Wichita seeks to become the next city in America to end chronic homelessness through an innovative approach to collaboration, a housing-first model, and a sense of community. Unhoused and housed members of the community share their stories, prompting discussions of misconceptions, challenges, and possible solutions.

Through the City’s “Project HOPE” (Homeless Outreach Proactive Engagement) initiative and the Wichita Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), we meet 22-year-old Caitlin living in “Narnia,” the city’s largest tent encampment. As Caitlin attempts to leave homelessness through city and nonprofit resources, major changes in local policy and federal laws directly influence her journey. Meanwhile, the City encounters numerous hurdles in its attempt to develop a Multi-Agency Center (MAC) to serve as a one-stop-shop for homeless outreach resources as they receive feedback from the community and face budget challenges.

Will the MAC get built? Will the City have funding for resources? Will Caitlin get housing? Will Wichita end chronic homelessness? Decide for yourself if Wichita will fall short of its goal or become a national model for other communities.

This film is a venture by Project HOPE and the City of Wichita. To learn more, visit https://www.wichita.gov/415/Project-HOPE.

They Call Her Death

Century II Peach 201 | 4:00 PM

On the wild frontier of the American prairie, Molly Pray is on a bloody crusade against the criminal forces that have wronged her. She shows no mercy, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake on a mission that ultimately strikes at the heart of the American identity and the notion of manifest destiny. But for Molly Pray - who has the embodied specter of death on her side - this isn'€™t political. This is personal.

Shot entirely on 16mm film, utilizing equipment from the 1960's for an authentic retro aesthetic and film experience.

Friday, Oct. 25th

Loud Enough - Surviving Justice

Century II Peach 201 | 11:30 AM

Set against the backdrop of the fifth-year anniversary of the #MeToo movement, this intimate, personal film follows a sexual assault survivor and her tight-knit family as they fight for justice and systemic change. LOUD ENOUGH - SURVIVING JUSTICE, from the Emmy Award and Peabody Award-winning producers of A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL, SEA CHANGE, and MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY (EPs) and directed by Hilary Klotz Steinman, reveals the Herculean effort still required for a survivor of sexual violence and their loved ones to hold an attacker and the U.S. judicial system accountable.

After surviving a life-threatening sexual assault in her hometown of Lindsborg, Kansas, college freshman Madison Smith and her parents were stunned when the local county prosecutor declined to file charges against the rapist, despite a strong case and compelling physical evidence. Traumatized by both the assault itself and her treatment by the police and prosecutor, Madison never wavered from the conviction that her attacker must be held accountable. She and her family refused to let the criminal justice system deny the facts and ignore her case, or to give up their quest for legal consequences. LOUD ENOUGH - SURVIVING JUSTICE chronicles the poignant journey of an ordinary family confronting a system biased against them, undergoing personal transformation, and embarking on a new mission as activists fighting for lasting change. Through their emotional wins and crushing defeats, this compelling story demonstrates the power of love, tenacity, and community to survive, and explores concrete ways in which the criminal justice system in America can and must change.

Los Frikis

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 1:30 PM

Inspired by true events, Los Frikis is a power coming-of-age story set in early 90s Cuba, centering around 18-year-old Gustavo who idolizes his older brother and his punk, "Frikis" bandmates. When word reaches the Frikis of a potential reprieve from the effects of the economic crisis, they do the now unthinkable: deliberately inject HIV to live at a government-run treatment home. It’s there they create their own utopia to live and play music freely.

No One Asked You

Century II Peach 201 | 1:30 PM

Comedian, disruptor-extraordinaire Lizz Winstead (co-creator of The Daily Show), and Abortion Access Front crisscross the U.S. to support abortion clinic staff and bust stigma. Pop culture icons and next-gen comics fuel this six-year road film activating small-town folks to rebuild vandalized clinics, exposing wrongdoer politicians, anti-abortion extremists, and media neglect as the race to the bottom ensues. A bold call to action reminds us that even as our rights burn down, joy will prevail.

Super High: A Period Piece

Century II Peach 201 | 1:30 PM

In the semi-autobiographical short film "Super High: A Period Piece," Amanda battles excruciating period pain caused by fibroids. Desperate for relief, she experiments with a celebrity cannabis brand's edibles. A dosage mishap catapults her into a surreal, anxiety-filled journey until she awakens.

Donde Los Arboles Dan Carne (Where the Trees Bear Meat)

Century II Pear 101 | 2:00 PM

In the heartland of Argentina, a hardworking cattle rancher, Omar, finds himself entangled in an unyielding battle against the wrath of nature. Due to a prolonged drought, the land now bears the heavy burden of dying livestock. As Omar struggles to keep his cows alive, we witness the heart-wrenching decisions he must make to save what little remains.

In a parallel narrative, we are introduced to Omar's 93-year-old mother, who has begun planning for her own imminent departure. She prays for rain to help the cows survive, and yet she deeply understands the harshness and fragility of life that does not make any promises.

The youngest branches of this family end at Libertad, the innocent 4-year-old granddaughter, who pines for her missing father. Omar takes on the dual role of protector and provider for this fragile child, shielding her from the dangers of the wilderness outside.

Poppy Crash

Century II Pear 101 | 2:00 PM

Fields of radiant red poppy flowers fill the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico. The sale of the opium paste extracted from these poppies drives the mountain economy, allowing them to pay for their children’s education, construct homes and put food on the table. This was until fentanyl crashed the market and drove opium paste prices down.

Poppy Crash examines these mostly indigenous farmers' dependence on the volatile black market that provokes an uncertain future where increased poverty and violence is evident. When illicit crop cultivation is reduced, campesinos migrate to work as underpaid farmworkers, join the ranks of organized crime, or just try to keep eking out a living while harvesting corn and poppy.

This intimate portrait of rural life bound to an illegal economy, diverts the lens from the havoc and death wreaked by fentanyl overdoses and encourages viewers to reflect on the impact of global drug policies on those who slice poppy flowers just to get by.

The Spirit of Halloweentown

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 4:30 PM

In 1998, the Disney Channel Original Movie “Halloweentown” was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon. Since then, the town has become a de facto Halloween destination with over 50,000 visitors each October. “The Spirit of Halloweentown” is an observational portrait of St. Helens 25 years later focusing on its residents as they transform the town and navigate their inescapable identity. Just as ghouls and ghosts inhabit the Halloweentown of the movie, many St. Helens residents believe their town to be truly haunted. As visitors pour into the city and specters of all kinds fill the autumn air, life for the locals in Halloweentown becomes much more than the celebration of a movie. It’s a quest for belonging and a reckoning with demons both personal and spiritual.

Dark Mommy

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 4:30 PM

Ben is the only night shift 911 operator in a small town. His bubble of self-isolation is only ever punctured by drunks or prank calling kids, but tonight Dark Mommy has her own intentions for Ben...and the rest of the town.

If that Mockingbird Don't Sing

Century II Peach 201 | 4:30 PM

After a passionate prom night, Sydnie's boyfriend Lucas drops a bomb: he wants to date other girls in college. Devastated, Sydnie gives up on her travel dreams, and to make things worse, she discovers she's pregnant. Hoping to win back Lucas, she keeps the baby despite her family's objections. Lucas, compelled by his religious mother, returns from college. Initially upset, he eventually embraces the pregnancy as an opportunity to transform and support his family.

Reuniting tentatively, Sydnie and Lucas clash over values and future plans. Enter Daniel, the charismatic lead singer of 'Delusions of Grandeur.' Sydnie then faces a decision: stay with Lucas and keep the baby, or pursue her dreams with Daniel.

Wichita Wurlitzer Presents Metropolis

Century II Exhibition Hall | 7:00 PM

Wichita Wurlitzer is happy to team up with Tallgrass Film Festival to present the 1927 silent film Metropolis. Organist Donnie Rankin will provide the live musical score to this show set in a futuristic urban dystopia which follows the attempts of a wealthy city master to overcome the vast gulf separating the classes in their city and bring the workers together with the city master. Metropolis is considered one of the most influential films ever made.

Saturday, Oct. 26th

El Vaquero (The Cowboy)

Century II Peach 201 | 11:00 AM

The arrival of a stray horse triggers a series of events in Bernicia's life that alters her world as she slowly takes on the persona of a cowboy. Through her journey, she must overcome several obstacles that threaten her newfound desires. EL VAQUERO is an uplifting drama about self-determination.

Paper Flowers

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 11:00 AM

Based on an incredible true story, Shalin Shah, an ambitious USC graduate, leaves behind his loving Indian American family and devoted Taiwanese American girlfriend, Fiona, to pursue his dream of making a difference as a Peace Corps volunteer. However, his life takes a devastating turn when a check-up for a lingering cough reveals a shocking diagnosis: a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Forced to return home and undergo treatment, Shalin confronts the fundamental question: what is the true meaning of life when faced with limited time? PAPER FLOWERS is a poignant and inspirational journey of love, loss, and hope. It serves as a road-map to cherish the moments we have and to remember to stop and enjoy every sunset.

Carefully Taught

Century II Pear 101 | 11: 30 AM

Carefully Taught is a thought-provoking and at times comedic documentary revealing the intricate web between US policies, Asian stereotypes and media representation. Experts and artists deconstruct these images and share personal stories about its impact on individual lives. A timely countermeasure for rising Sinophobia in the West, this film confronts the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and issues a powerful call for societal and individual reconstruction.

The World According to Allee Willis

Century II Pear 101 | 2:00 PM

Take one look at award-winning songwriter / artist Allee Willis and you see someone unafraid to be themselves. Dressed in a cacophony of prints and colors, her signature asymmetrical haircut and famed parties at her real-life Pee-Wee'€™s Playhouse, Allee didn'€™t waste any opportunity to tell you what she was about. But privately, Allee struggled with not fitting established gender and sexual norms. She buried herself in her work, until true love manifested her ultimate masterpiece - self-acceptance. Allee began filming her life in 1950s Detroit and never stopped. This film is the realization of her wish that her "final art piece be someone putting together the trail I have left behind".

Start Up

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 2:00 PM

Brothers, Pete and Norm Stuckey, will do anything to make sure their brand-new make-up startup is successful. Pass out flyers, hit-up social media influencers...and even borrow money from their town's local loan shark. With the clock ticking to pay him back, and their product missing days before their company launch, they'll have to turn to a late-night, infomercial 'fixer' to save their business...and their lives.

Jimmy Trigger and the Mystery Box

Century II Mary Jane Teall | 2:00 PM

Jimmy Trigger, a self-proclaimed secret agent, must retrieve a box from his arch-nemesis, Buster Douglas.

Paper Marriage

Century II Peach 201 | 2:00 PM

Fanny, a Chinese immigrant desperate for a green card, pays Jeff to be her fake husband. Over the course of a year, they adjust to living together, meet Jeff's parents, and even have a “wedding banquet.” To convince everyone that their love is real, Fanny and Jeff must overcome their differences and find the good in each other.

Qualye

Century II Peach 201 | 2:00 PM

Two roommates have one last chance to admit their true feelings.

Missing From Fire Trail Road

Century II Pear 101 | 4:30 PM

Mary Ellen disappeared over two years ago from the Tulalip Indian reservation near Seattle. Because the investigation is at standstill, her sisters and other tribal members set off to discover what happened to her. Their quest uncovers a harsh reality: indigenous women are murdered at an alarming rate. Most crimes go unsolved and are committed by non-natives.