Tallgrass Film Festival best bets for this weekend

Wichita’s premier indie film celebration, the Tallgrass Film Festival, returns for its 23rd year. It started Thursday, Oct. 16, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 19, with more than 175 films, panels, parties, and events taking place at several venues throughout downtown Wichita. The festival’s theme this year is “Cinema is in our DNA.”

A major update for 2025 is the return of screenings to Old Town, at the newly renovated Boulevard Theatres (the original Warren Old Town Theatre was an early venue for Tallgrass). It will host regular festival programming and two of the festival’s biggest gala screenings. The Century II Mary Jane Teall Theater will again serve as the grand stage for select feature events.

With so much going on this weekend, it’s tough to see and do everything, but it’s always fun to try. Here are my best bets for don’t-miss films and events:

GALAS

Friday Night Gala: “Coroner to the Stars” – This documentary spotlights Dr. Thomas Noguchi, whose autopsies of icons such as Marilyn Monroe and RFK rocked Hollywood. Showing at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at Mary Jane Teall Theater in Century II at 225 W. Douglas. Followed by the Weird Science Party at Farm Credit Bank, 245 N. Waco.

Saturday Night Gala: “Our Hero, Balthazar” – This darkly comic coming-of-age tale follows ultra-wealthy NYC teenager Balthy, who makes dramatic gun control videos to impress his activist crush. When an online troll targets his content, Balthy becomes convinced he’s communicating with a potential school shooter and embarks on an ill-advised journey to Texas to confront him. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, Mary Jane Teall Theater. Followed by the Blizzard of Oz Party at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. Second St.

Closing night gala: “Lesbian Space Princess” – This vibrant animated queer adventure is set in outer space – a wild ride of heartbreak, heroism, and hilarity. At 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. (in two different theaters) Sunday, Oct. 19, at Boulevard Theatres, 353 N. Mead. Followed by the Closing Night Gene Pool Party at the Brickyard, 128 N. Mead. The party will also serve as a clothing drive for Humankind Ministries, so feel free to bring jeans to add to the Gene Pool (other clothing items welcome, too).

Each gala will be paired with a short film beforehand.

SHORT FILM COLLECTIONS

Most shorts are curated into themed blocks.

Kansas Shorts – An eclectic, lively collection of short films by Kansas filmmakers. Showing at 11:15 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 11:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at Boulevard Theatres.

Vortex Experimental shorts – A collection of offbeat and daring short films that aren’t for the faint of heart. Noon Friday, Oct. 17, and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, Boulevard Theatres.

Documentary Shorts 2: The “Me” in Me” – This is a collection of enthralling, powerful real-life stories. 2:45 p.m. Friday, and 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, Boulevard Theatres.

OTHER FEATURE FILMS

Many of these films are preceded by a short film.

“Anything That Moves” – A young man bikes through Chicago delivering snacks and satisfaction to his love-hungry clients while a serial killer leaves a trail of blood that leads to the innocent lover’s own bed. 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at Boulevard Theatres.

“Remaining Native” – This documentary follows Ku Stevens, the solo runner at his high school with no coach. Living on the Yerington Paiute reservation in Northwest Nevada, his dream is to run for the University of Oregon. As Ku trains, unreconciled emotions unearth the memory of his great-grandfather, Frank Quinn. At 8 years old, Frank ran 50 miles across the desert to escape an Indian boarding school. Frank’s story becomes interwoven with Ku’s journey to run a collegiate qualifying time. Will Ku outrun his history or will he learn to run in parallel with it to achieve his dreams? 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, Boulevard Theatres.

“If You Should Leave Before Me” – Mark and Joshua, a married couple, face a devastating loss that strains their relationship. To escape grief, they focus on their unconventional jobs as guides for the recently deceased, leading them to the afterlife. 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, Boulevard Theatres.

“Rosemead” – In a race against time, an ailing woman (Lucy Liu) discovers her teenage son’s violent obsessions and must go to great lengths to protect him, and possibly others, in this portrait of a Chinese American family that’s inspired by true events. 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, Century II Mary Jane Teall Theater, and 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, Boulevard Theatres.

“Let’s Talk Shop” – This is the world premiere of a documentary by sisters and award-winning local filmmakers Sara and Charity Harmon, which tells the history of Wichita’s two biggest department stores: Innes and Henry’s. Though these stores no longer exist, the former buildings are being repurposed for higher education. 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, Tallgrass Film Center, 120 E. First St., Unit 113.

TICKETS AND INFO

Ticket and pass information and a full schedule are online at www.tallgrassfilm.org. Please check the website for updates as times and titles are subject to change.

Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com.