Tallgrass was founded in 2002 and is Kansas's largest independent film festival. Named a top 25 Coolest Film Fest and Top 50 Film Festival Worth the Entry Fee for multiple years by MovieMaker Magazine, the festival is a hallmark of the region’s cinematic landscape and an internationally recognized, multi-day platform for world-class cinematic programming.
The festival brings sophisticated movie-goers of all ages and backgrounds - hungry for quality independent film - audiences are receptive, opinionated, and genuine. Screening a film at Tallgrass catalyzes awareness and buzz in the country's epicenter that radiates throughout the region. The visiting filmmakers are also accessible at Tallgrass. Due to the city’s authentic nature, it’s common to find an Oscar-winning filmmaker deep in conversation with a high school documentarian or an avid movie-goer.
AWARDS & PRIZES
Tallgrass Film Festival will grant juried awards in the following categories.
Unless the prize amount is noted below, Cash and other in-kind prizes are pending until sponsorship is approved in 2025. We strive for equity in gender representation across all categories.
-Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking - Feature Film: $5,000 (Presented by Cargill).
-Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking - Short Film
-Stubbornly Independent Feature
-Best Narrative Feature
-Best Documentary Feature
-Best Kansas Feature Film
-Best Murmurations Feature
-Best Murmurations Short
-Best Kansas Filmmaker Documentary Short Film
-Best Kansas Filmmaker Narrative Short Film
-Best Emerging Documentary Short
-Best Emerging Narrative Short
-Best Narrative Short
-Best Documentary Short
-Best Animation Vortex Short
-Best Experimental Vortex Short
-Best Music Video
Non-Juried Awards:
-Audience Favorite Documentary Feature
-Audience Favorite Narrative Feature
-Audience Favorite Narrative Short
-Audience Favorite Documentary Short
-Audience Favorite Vortex Film
-Audience Favorite Kansas Film
Programming Awards(determined by Programming Team):
-Outstanding Courage in Filmmaking
-Outstanding Cinematography
-Outstanding Editing
-Outstanding Art Direction
-Outstanding Sound Design