Together with Meritrust Credit Union

Some workplaces talk about culture. Meritrust wears it.

From leadership that listens to growth that’s real, Meritrust isn’t just a credit union—it’s a community that invests in you. The kind of place where careers thrive, ideas matter, and people love what they do.

Now that spirit’s showing up in style.

Help spread the word — vote Meritrust for Wichita’s Best T-Shirt of 2025!

(voting ends 10/17!)

Tallgrass Film Festival

Wichita isn't new to the film industry:

• Wichita native Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win an Academy Award (Gone with the Wind - 1939)

• Cult-classic King Kung Fu was filmed here. (now for sale on DVD)

  

• And last, but certainly not least, the Tallgrass Film Festival is celebrating its 23rd year!

Oh, and it starts TOMORROW!

What is the Tallgrass Film Festival?

In 2003,​ Timothy Gruver (Wichita-raised) started the Tallgrass Film Festival in what has become the indisputable, largest, independent film festival in Kansas and an annual tradition in Wichita.

It is a multi-day platform for world-class filmmakers and programming to show off their hard work. The Tallgrass Film Festival is operated by the Tallgrass Film Association, a non-profit organization in Wichita.

There will be a variety of films from Narratives to Shorts to Documentaries at locations across Wichita from the Tallgrass Film Center to Boulevard to Brickyard & more. There will likely be up to 16,000 patrons who attend at least one screening.

Filmmakers can be awarded juried awards and non-juried awards such as:

• Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking

• Stubbornly Independent Feature

• Woman Filmmaker Spotlight

• Best Narrative

• Best Documentary

and many, many more!

The festival runs from tomorrow (10/16) through Sunday (10/19).

What to Expect

If you want full details and the full schedule, click here.

I would try to explain how much there is to this festival, but I'll just give you a little taste.

Starting tomorrow, you can stop by at noon until late each day for a variety of different movies.

Example: You can stop by the Boulevard 6 tomorrow at noon, then get up for the noon showing of Murmations Shorts at the Tallgrass Film Center then head over to the Opening Night Gala film: It’s Dorothy at 8pm at Boulevard 4.

You will need a pass or ticket to check out the movies. Your options are:

• TALLPASS ($259) - aka VIP Pass - Every film. Every party. Every VIP event. Full access to all in-person content and select films online.

• FILMPASS ($100) - Enjoy all access to the festival films including all features and shorts—virtually and select films online. (this does NOT provide VIP lounge or party access)

• Flex 10 Pack Pass ($80) - Get access to TEN general admission tickets for in-person films screened during the festival. (does not provide access to VIP lounge, gala films, or party access)

• 5-Ticket Pass ($40) - Get access to FIVE general admission tickets for in-person films screened during the festival. (does not provide VIP lounge, gala films, or party access or priority entry to screenings)

• Volunteer - It’s not too late to get involved either! Want to volunteer? ​There are plenty of perks!

Check out additional details about Gala Film tickets, parties, matinees, and more!

Tallgrass Film Festival Locations

I mentioned that you can find the Tallgrass Film Festival all over downtown and I mean it.

Theatre and Education venues:

• Century II Mary Jane Teall Theater | 225 W. Douglas Ave.

• Tallgrass Film Center | 120 E. 1st St. N.

• Boulevard Theatres at Old Town | 353 N Mead St

• Courtyard by Marriott Wichita at Old Town | 820 E 2nd St N

Party / Reception Venues

• City Arts | 334 N Mead

• XY Bar | 235 N Mosley St

• Farm Credit Bank Building | 245 N Waco Ave

• Advanced Learning Library | 711 West 2nd St

• Brickyard | 129 N Rock Island St

Recommendations?

Not sure where to begin for the festival? We did a little digging to find a few you might want to look into:

2025 Gala Films:

• Opening Night Gala - “It’s Dorothy!”

• Friday Night Gala - “Coroner to the Stars

• Saturday Night Gala - “Our Hero, Balthazar”

• Closing Night Gala - “Lesbian Space Princess”

2025 Spotlight Films:

• 25 Cats from Qatar

• Ato Noturno

• God As My Witness

• Out of the Picture

• Rosemead

• Row of Life

• The War Between

• WTO/99

All Kansas films have attending filmmakers.

The Tallgrass Film Festival has been Stubbornly Independent for 23 years and will be for at least another 23!

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!

Together with CBD Plus

Whether it’s thunderstorms, fireworks from the neighbors after a Chiefs win (just my neighborhood?), or just the daily battle with the mailman—your dog deserves to stay calm and comfortable.

The best natural way to keep your pup cool, calm, and collected can be found at CBD Plus or online at TallTreesSociety.com.

👉 Use code Wichita20 at checkout for an exclusive online discount!

Quick Event Rundown

• Wild Lights | SCZ | Now Open!

• The Shining - 45th Anniversary | Century II | 10/16

• BooFest | Exploration Place | October 17, 18, 24, 25

• Fallapalooza | Tanganyika | 10/18

• Wild Lights | Sedgwick County Zoo | 10/15 - 12/21

• The Kickback | SouthWest Boys Club | 10/23

• Spooktacular Trivia Night | Botanica | 10/28

• Nate Bargatze | Intrust Bank Arena | 12/10 (rescheduled from September)