12:00PM UNWARRANTED: THE SENSELESS DEATH OF JOURNALIST JOAN MEYER

A police raid of a small town newspaper in Kansas, and the death of the newspaper’s owner a day later, brings worldwide condemnation and attention to attacks on press freedoms in the United States. VIEW TRAILER

Director: Travis Heying, Jaime Green

Featured Short 1: COLOR ME WICHITA

Sara and Charity Harmon are sisters, artists and award-winning filmmakers. They spotlight Gary Pendergrass, creator of an outdoor museum called Steampunk Village. Inspired by Gary’s work, the sisters attempt to create a piece of art in a steampunk-ish style and present it to him.

Director: Charity & Sara Harmon

Featured Short 2: BLACK ENOUGH (Season 2, Episode 5)

Black Enough is a web series that follows Amaya, an insecure dancer and her kaleidoscope of friends as they learn what it means to be Black on the campus of a BWI. In the 5th episode of season 2, Black Ball brings out a new flame Amaya, and old frustrations in in her first college friend and former crush, Jaheem.

Director: Micah Ariel Watson

3:00PM ARRIVE ALIVE

Old friends, Ruby Hammond (Molly Strickler) and Erica Garner (Mercedes Hayden) share a dark secret. Karl Gallo (Naythan Smith) is fresh out of prison and looking to avenge his brother’s murder. Police Chief “Harv” Harvey (Emmanuel Cockrell) is looking to keep the peace without hurting his family. All their violent stories collide in a small Kansas town where all they want this to ARRIVE ALIVE. VIEW TRAILER

Director: Gina Bryant

Featured Short: MO’S STRANGE PREDICAMENT

A Gen Z teen gets mixed up in movie mayhem when a silent film star shows up in her house.

Director: Naythan Smith & Victoria Gayer

5:30PM THE SUNSHINE DREAMER BENEFIT GALA & CONCERT***

Ryan Benton is a young musician afflicted with the muscle-wasting disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which carries an average life expectancy of 16 to early 20s. He was the first human with MD to be treated with Mesenchymal Stem Cells. This treatment has worked on MD and many other untreatable rare diseases with no negative side effects! However, large pharmaceutical companies in the United States and the E.U. work hard to block this remedy since they stand to lose hundreds of billions in revenue if legalized. The film is a sobering snapshot of an uncured rare disease and an uplifting portrait of an artist who dreams big against all odds. VIEW TRAILER

Director: Shawn Rhodes

***BENEFIT GALA & CONCERT INFO:

Sunshine Dreamer by Wichita filmmaker Shawn Rhodes will serve as the Friday night spotlight gala with special musical performances as we donate a portion of the proceeds from the screening to the non-profit organization Coming Together for a Cure, a 501c3 on a mission to advance stem cell therapy for people battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and millions fighting other rare diseases.

Dr. Neil Riordan, PA, PhD, is a Wichita native and one of the early pioneers and experts in applied stem cell research. Riordan Technologies strives to improve the human condition through innovation in scientific research, regenerative medicine, and stem cell therapy.

Dr. Neil will join the Q&A with Director Shawn Rhodes and Producer Blake Benton. Although this is Shawn’s fifth year showing at Tallgrass (Bender, Hoover Road, This is Love, Little Satchmo, etc.), this is Shawn’s directorial debut.

Daydream, a brass band from Wichita, Kansas, will perform before the film. The band blends elements of jazz, funk, and rock to create a unique sound. Daydream performs at various events, venues, and festivals in the Wichita area, bringing their energetic and infectious sound to audiences. After the film and Q&A, Rudy Love & The Encore will perform. A Neo Soul band from Wichita, Kansas, the band’s name is in honor of Rudy Love Sr. based on the idea that this grouping is Love Sr’s Legacy – his encore.

Choose from two special Benefit ticket types:

Gala Film & Concert

Includes admission to all of the fun at the Orpheum: pre-music, film and after concert

Gala Film & Party on Stage +

Limited to first 100 purchasers; available for purchase only (no passes)

Includes admission to the pre-music, film and after concert at Orpheum with access to the stage party including light bites and 2 beverages.

PLUS You’ll also receive a separate, complimentary ticket for the Masquerade Party at City Arts following this event!

Outside the Orpheum food trucks will be available Shawarma UR’s and Taters N Toppings. Inside concessions and full bar are open.

…FULL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE