It’s Tallgrass time! Here’s your guide to this year’s film festival highlights

It’s Tallgrass time!

The Tallgrass Film Festival is back for the 21st year, to be held Oct. 5-8, in various venues in downtown Wichita. It’s presented by Archer Hotels.

Founded by the late Timothy Gruver, the festival had humble beginnings, but has evolved into one of Wichita’s signature events, and has grown into a world-class film festival. (It was named one of MovieMaker magazine’s 25 Coolest Film Festivals of 2023 — no small feat).

The festival will host more than 184 films this year, as well as panels, workshops, gala parties, visiting filmmakers and more.

There’s so much going on, the Tallgrass schedule can be daunting. Here’s a look at some of the spotlight events and screenings. A full schedule, tickets and Tallpasses are available at https://TallgrassFilm.org.

OPENING NIGHT GALA

Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas

7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.

“The People’s Joker” (narrative) Director: Vera Drew — An unfunny clown with a “Smylex” addiction grapples with gender identity, love and foes while founding an illegal comedy theater in Gotham City.

Preceded by: “Krush The Wrestler” (documentary short) Director: Alex Megaro — Exploring the innate intimacy of submission wrestling, a lifelong wrestler turns his talents into an on-demand fetish video service.

FRIDAY NIGHT GALA

Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway

7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6.

“Penitentia” (narrative) Director: Chris Lawing — Young attorney, Ale Villacaño, takes a pro bono prison rights case and gets quickly drawn into a criminal web and corporate negligence.

Preceded by: “Liberty” (narrative short) Director: Chris Lawing — The story of a disgraced journalist who flees to a small midwestern town to rebuild her life, only to find deadly corruption pursuing her at every turn.

Followed by the Dream On party at 9 p.m. at Union Station.

CENTERPIECE GALA

Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway

6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7.

“Tokyo Cowboy” (narrative) Director: Marc Marriott — A Japanese businessman goes on an unwitting journey of self-discovery when he takes a company trip from Tokyo to a Montana cattle ranch.

Preceded by: “Bull Rider” (documentary short) Director: Steven Gray — This merges meditations on dance from choreographer Martha Graham with music by composer Philip Glass and video featuring professional bull rider/modern dancer Ouncie Mitchell at the 2022 Oakley Rodeo in Oakley, UT.

The awards gala party will follow the award ceremony at 9 p.m. at Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd.

CONVERSATION WITH AD ASTRA RECIPIENT BARRY CORBIN

Orpheum Theatre

4 p.m Sunday, Oct. 8

This year’s Ad Astra Award recipient is actor Barry Corbin, probably best known for his starring role as Maurice Minnifield on the television series “Northern Exposure,” which earned him two consecutive primetime Emmy Award nominations. The conversation will follow a screening of the short film “Trail End,” starring Corbin and directed by former Wichitan Shannon Keenan.

Corbin also will present “Barry Corbin: From Shakespeare to Cowboys,” noon-1 p.m. Oct. 6 in 200 Ahlberg Hall on the WSU campus. Admission is free, and anyone is welcome to attend.

Corbin’s appearance is sponsored by Wichita State’s Department of History and the Society for Public Historians.

Visitor parking is available south of Ahlberg Hall, between WuShock Drive and 17th Street. A paid parking garage is also available next to the Rhatigan Student Center, west of Ahlberg Hall.

CLOSING NIGHT GALA

Orpheum Theatre

7 p.m Oct. 8

“Three Birthdays” (narrative) Director: Jane Weinstock — In 1970, at the height of the sexual revolution, an idealistic academic couple and their 17-year-old daughter wrestle with revolutionary ideas around sex, race and class.

The “Tallgate Party” will follow at 9 p.m. at Chainlink Gallery, 121 E. Douglas.

EVERYTHING ELSE

▪ The Jake Euker Stubbornly Independent competition presented by the Cotillion is open to domestic narrative feature films with a production budget of less than $750,000. The winner will receive $5,000 and a custom-made Stubbornly Independent beer tap handle. Four features are in the competition.

▪ The Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence competition presented by Cargill has a $5,000 cash prize and a $10,000 camera rental package from Panavision. Five features are in the competition.

▪ The Woman Filmmaker Spotlight competition presented by Fidelity Bank will provide a $5,000 cash prize to the winner. Five features are in the program.

▪ Education opportunities will be held throughout the festival, ranging from filmmaker chats to specific filmmaking topics.

▪ There’s much, much more, and it’s all listed in the Tallgrass Film Festival program or online at https://tallgrassfilm.org. Ticket and pass packages are also available online or at the Tallgrass box office at The Lux, 120 E. First St.

Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com.