The 23rd Tallgrass Film Festival, a must for those who love indie film, great food and walkable downtown districts, is coming to Wichita, Kansas, Oct. 16–19. With 175+ films, panels, parties and special events, it’s a perfect reason to plan a long-weekend getaway to the state’s largest city.

Tallgrass is devoted to independent film—narrative, documentary, shorts, animation and more—typically made outside the big-studio system. MovieMaker has called Tallgrass one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals (2023 and 2024) and 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee in 2024, noting the nightly parties, daily panels, filmmaker support and a community that lives its “stubbornly independent” ethos. 

Who goes (and why Kansans love it)

Tallgrass welcomes first-timers, date-nighters, and die-hard cinephiles. Expect filmmaker Q&As, daily panels, and nightly events where you can meet visiting artists. Venues are wheelchair accessible, and most films offer open/closed captions. Can’t make every day? Virtual encores run Oct. 20–27 – the perfect opportunity to catch what you missed.

Credit: Tallgrass Film Festival
 

Gala spotlight: four big nights

This year’s theme is “Cinema is in our DNA.” Screenings will take place in downtown Wichita throughout the festival, including beloved venues such as the newly renovated Boulevard Theatre in Old Town. Gala screenings will light up Century II’s Mary Jane Teall Theater.

Credit: Tallgrass Film Festival
 

Opening Night Gala – It’s Dorothy!
Thu., Oct. 16 – 7:30 & 8:00 p.m. | Boulevard Theatres Old Town

Dir. Jeffrey McHale | 97m | USA | Kansas Premiere | Documentary Feature Competition.

A vibrant, culture-spanning celebration of Dorothy as a symbol of hope, centering women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ voices.

Credit: Tallgrass Film Festival
 

Friday Night Gala – Coroner to the Stars
Fri., Oct. 17 – 8:00 p.m. | Mary Jane Teall Theater, Century II

Dirs. Ben Hethcoat, Keita Ideno | 83m | USA | Kansas Premiere | Documentary Feature Competition.

The riveting story of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the LA coroner whose high-profile autopsies reshaped pop culture.

Chicken N' Pickle in Wichita
 

Saturday Night Gala – Our Hero, Balthazar (+ short THUMP)
Sat., Oct. 18 – 8:00 p.m. | Mary Jane Teall Theater, Century II

Dir. Oscar Boyson | 91m | USA | Regional Premiere | Narrative Feature Competition

A darkly comic, incisive look at adolescence, social media, and American gun culture (Jaeden Martell, Asa Butterfield).

Credit: Visit Wichita
 

Closing Night Gala – Lesbian Space Princess (+ short She Raised Me)
Sun., Oct. 19 – 8:15 & 8:30 p.m. | Boulevard Theatres Old Town

Dirs. Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese | 87m | USA | Kansas Premiere.

A candy-colored, riotous animated adventure through queer space with heart and hilarity.

Credit: Visit Wichita

More to see: 2025 Spotlight selections

• 25 Cats from Qatar – Fri., Oct. 17 (2:15 p.m.) & Sun., Oct. 19 (11:15 a.m.) | Boulevard
• Ato Noturno (Night Stage) – Fri., Oct. 17 (11:30 p.m.) | Boulevard
• God As My Witness – Sat., Oct. 18 (5:00 p.m.) | Century II & Sun., Oct. 19 (5:15 p.m.) | Boulevard
• Out of the Picture – Fri., Oct. 17 (12:15 p.m.) & Sun., Oct. 19 (1:15 p.m.) | Tallgrass Film Center
• Rosemead – Fri., Oct. 17 (5:00 p.m.) | Century II & Sun., Oct. 19 (2:15 p.m.) | Boulevard
• Row of Life (+ short Abseits – ein ungleiches Spiel) – Fri., Oct. 17 (2:30 p.m.) & Sun., Oct. 19 (11:15 a.m.) | Boulevard
• The War Between – Sat., Oct. 18 (11:15 a.m.) & Sun., Oct. 19 (12:00 p.m.) | Boulevard
• WTO/99 (+ short Sanctuary) – Sat., Oct. 18 (2:15 p.m.) & Sun., Oct. 19 (2:45 p.m.) | Boulevard

Tip: With multiple screens running at once, pick a neighborhood (Old Town or Century II area) and stack two films with a dinner break in between and choose from more than 1,200 restaurants, with many local eateries clustered in downtown districts.

Plan your Kansas getaway

Tickets and passes are on sale now. Anyone planning to immerse themselves in films should consider a FilmPass for $100 (films only, gala requires a separate ticket) or a TallPass for $259, which grants access to every screening, each special event/gala and the festival’s VIP lounge. The full schedule and film guide can help you map your day.

Make it a weekend and pair your screenings with Wichita must-dos such as the Keeper of the Plains, Old Town eats & breweries like Public and River City Brewing Co., the Wichita Art Museum, Botanica Wichita and the Frank Lloyd Wright Allen House.

Downtown hotels make it easy to walk between Boulevard Theatre, Century II and late-night hangs such as Brickyard, Dockum and Mort’s Martini & Cigar Bar.

See you in Wichita, where you can find annual Wichita festivals and exciting events all year. Get even more inspiration from Wichita’s Visitors Guide.

Visit Wichita