Date Night at Tallgrass Film Fest :: It’s On Us!

Special thanks to the Tallgrass Film Festival for sponsoring this post and bringing unique films and fun to Wichita!

Free time is a parent’s most precious commodity. Let‘s rephrase that: kid-free time. Tallgrass Film Festival understands that every minute counts and has planned the perfect Date Night for you and your partner or your bestie. Let us do the work, you just come and experience Wichita – and (grownup!) movie-going – in a whole new light.

What IS the Tallgrass Film Festival?

Founded in 2003, by Wichita native Tim Gruver, the festival is simply a 5-day celebration of movies – movies that aren’t rated “G.” As the festival marks its 15th year, it showcases 182 movies from around the world, including feature films, documentaries, and shorts at various downtown locations. And what would a festival be without parties? We offer a lot of those too. Whether we’re converting the old Greyhound Bus Station into a party venue, hosting our VIPs at Aero Planes Brewing or showing off our beautiful art museum, the tunes and adult libations flow freely. Here’s everything you need to know:

How Do I Decide What to See?

We get it, 182 movies is a LOT. Our programmers combed through more than 2,000 submissions to pick the best playlist for Wichita audiences. Are you an Indie Darling or a Thrill Seeker? Take the Tallgrass Movie Personality Quiz to get your customized Tallgrass queue.

The Perfect Date Night at Tallgrass Film Fest

And, take advantage of the Wichita Moms Blog Tallgrass Special, and join us on Friday, October 20th at 8:00pm for the Centerpiece Gala Film & After Party sponsored by Grumpy Old Men. The evening includes the Midwest Premiere of HUNTING EMMA, with Actor Neels van Jaarsveld and Producers Tim Theron and Cobus Van den Berg (each traveling 8,893 with their swoon-worthy accents.) The action-packed film, with a booty-kicking female heroine who’ll make you cheer out loud, will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and an After Party at Union Station with drinks, eats, and live music from The Comfort Revue. Tickets for the whole shebang are just $25, but use this promo code: WMB15 to save $5 on each purchase. That’s a whole lot of entertainment on date night for just $40!

Other Festival Highlights

If time allows, other festival highlights include:

  • The Ad Astra presentation to Actress, Filmmaker, and Activist Rose McGowan, whom you might remember from Scream, Charmed, Nip/Tuck, Jawbreaker, her relationship with Marilyn Manson or her very opinionated Twitter account!
  • The first-ever DOX Spotlight honors female documentary filmmakers. This year, the festival is also proud to feature 25 films that are women-centric or directed by women.
  • Site Box Cinema in the Pop Up Park: Have some time to kill around lunchtime? Head down to the Pop Up Park, grab a food truck lunch, and join us in our pop-up movie theater to watch film previews and catch some uniquely-Wichita content produced by our partners Music Theatre Wichita and the Ulrich Museum of Art.
  • SERVED LIKE A GIRL is the festival’s Closing Night Gala film. The emotional documentary tells the story of women veterans who are competing in the Ms. Veteran America pageant to raise awareness for the currently 55,000 homeless women veterans. A Q&A will follow with Director Lysa Heslov and two of the film’s subjects. An After Party will follow in the Emprise Bank lobby with live music, food, and drink.

Get Tickets and Browse the Film Guide here.

The Tallgrass Film Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating communal experiences around the international medium of film, through educational programs for area-youth, a traveling Road Show, Down to the Wire: 24 Hour Film Race, year-round special screenings and an annual film festival. “Local art-driven events like the Tallgrass Film Festival not only have a positive impact on Wichita’s economy, “ said Robert Redford, “but also add to the quality of life in this city.”

Wichita Mom
Wichita Mom is the #1 parenting website and your local family guide to the best of Wichita! Providing relevant information and all things Wichita, we love to share about our favorite activities, local businesses, things to do, family fun, and helpful resources unique to Wichita Area parents and families.