Submit to Tallgrass
The 22nd Annual Tallgrass Film Festival will take place October 24-27, 2024. Submissions are open!
WAIVER POLICY: Please do not* contact us requesting waivers or reduced submission fees. As a nonprofit organization, our annual operations and the process of viewing the volume of submissions we receive are very costly. We strive to keep our fees as reasonable as possible, and encourage all applicants to take advantage of our early and official deadlines to save on submission fees.
*If your film comes from a country that is affected by financial sanctions by the US Government, we can consider your request.
Festival Requirements
In addition to showcasing the best of independent cinema from around the globe, including documentary, narrative, world cinema, animation, LGBTQIA+, retrospective, and premiering films, the 22nd annual Tallgrass Film Festival is specifically seeking films to feature in the following special programs and spotlights:
Feature-length film with no traditional distribution deal at the time of the festival. Open to films of any production budget from any country from any genre with a director that self-identifies as Black, African-American or part of the African-Diaspora.
Vortex Animation, Experimental, and VR Short Films
This is for all animation, experimental, hybrid or virtual reality projects.
Murmurations
The Murmurations category is open to short and feature films that meet the following requirements: fifty percent of production is based in Spain OR writer, director, or producer is based in Spain; the original voice is in Spanish or one of the co-official languages of Spain (Basque, Catalan, Aranese, and Valencian); and subtitled in English language.
Feature films directed by women (Replaces the former DOXX category)
Stubbornly Independent Films
Domestic, narrative features made for under $750,000 USD with no traditional distribution.
Timothy Gruver Spotlight on Kansas Filmmakers
Kansas filmmakers submit for free—see below for official rules.
Joel Fein Emerging Filmmakers Program
Short films from filmmakers (19 and younger) may submit for free—see below for official rules
Tallgrass Film Festival Will Grant Cash Awards in the Following Categories:
- Stubbornly Independent: $5,000 and one-of-a-kind Tallgrass tap handle
- Female Filmmaker Spotlight: $5,000 and award
- Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking Presented by Cargill: $5,000, $15,000 value Panavision Camera Rental and an award
- Other cash awards may be available pending sponsorship.
