For 21 years, the city of Wichita has hosted the Tallgrass Film Festival in Kansas. This festival which proudly boasts to be “stubbornly independent”, showcases some of the best of indie films from around the world. This is through an annual 4-day film festival, year-round special screenings, filmmaking competitions and filmmaker labs.
The in-person and virtual festival runs Oct 5-8. The films in competition have been awarded. However, there is the audience award that is still up for grabs. The festival keeps going until October 30th virtually, which means you can watch films from the festival and vote for who you would like to win the audience awards to be announced November 1.
Here at BGN we always like to highlight Black excellence in entertainment — the following is a list of Black films and filmmakers with official selections at the festival. There are Black-centric films featured on this list with non-Black directors. As well as films with Black directors that are not specifically focused on Black experiences.
FEATURES
Elizabeth Gray Bayne – Chocolate Milk
Chocolate Milk explores racial inequities in birth and breastfeeding in the US by following the stories of three Black mothers in South Los Angeles over multiple years – a new mom, a WIC employee and a homebirth midwife.
Lagueria Davis – Black Barbie: A Documentary
Through intimate access to a charismatic Mattel insider, Beulah Mae Mitchell, BLACK BARBIE delves into the cross section of merchandise and representation as Black women strive to elevate their own voices and stories, refusing to be invisible.
Nicki Micheaux – Summer of Violence
Refusing law school to pursue poetry, a sheltered college grad, cut off from her father’s money, struggles to survive while living in Denver during the Summer of Violence in 1993.
William Forbes and Douglas Skinner – Name of the Game
The untold story of black male exotic dancing in south Los Angeles and how it intersects with the origins of hip hop, gang culture, and kung fu assassins.
J.S. Hampton – The Unseen
A witch from the 1850’s is transported into the head of her descendant in modern Kansas City, who is tasked with helping get her ancestor’s body back.
SHORTS
Shequeta Smith – Dick Control
Richard Tye “Trigga” Simmons, a rich, promiscuous, jet-setting rapper, has a one-night stand with a beautiful groupie who happens to be a witch. When Tye disrespects her, she places a curse that can’t be broken until he learns how to respect women.
George Ellzey Jr. – Cottage Grove
A young man struggles to communicate with his stroke-afflicted father, and at the same time, stay true to himself.
Destyn Fuller-Hope – A Part of You/ Made Me Whole Again
Two Lives. One Gift. A post-kidney transplant memoir, told as a dream-like prayer to Mom.
Kameishia Wooten – Choices
Hidden away under the bleachers at school, free-spirited Aisha gives a pregnancy test to Jessica, a cheerleader and prom queen contender, who’s terrified of what the results might mean. They are joined by their childhood friend Portia, who has made her own decisions about motherhood. The three reconnect over their circumstances and celebrate all of life’s choices.
Bailey Williams – Black People Surf?
A documentary that chronicles the renaissance of Black surf culture in Southern California.
It’s no secret that Black people are not the first that come to mind when you think of water activities or surfing. But what if we told you there were communities all around the world where Black folks are meeting at the beach and communing in the water to dispel those ideas?
This documentary follows the founders, instructors, and surfers who are committed to building a more inclusive surf community through their collectives and non-profit efforts. We hope this film will help inspire those who do not know how to swim into changing the tide.
Anndi Jinelle Liggett – Jelly
A young, Black girl with a peculiar fascination with death tries to solve the mysterious case of a missing neighbor while coming to terms with a more personal disappearance.
David Fortune – Shoebox
After sweeping hair at a local barbershop, a 12-year-old boy hopes to make a purchase that will bring honor and healing to his loved ones.
Frederick Thornton – October Mourning
Grieving the unexpected loss of his father, Henry Sims gets a chance to have one more conversation with Dad.
Directed by Tessa Slovis and Written by Bukola Ogunmola – Falsies
Robert is applying for his dream job at Harborville Corporation. But with the change comes the aching weight of feeling the need to fit in. Gail is trapped in the monotony of marriage and motherhood. These strangers world’s collide when Gail becomes the sole witness of racially charged violence against Robert. In a tailspinning, time bending 13 minutes, FALSIES examines white female complicity, the necessity of action, self actualization and acceptance.
Robert Brogden III – Robert & Billie
A generational love story set in the historic town of Nicodemus, Kansas, the only remaining western settlement founded by formerly enslaved Black Americans following the Civil War. Robert works as a maintenance man at the Nicodemus National Historic Site, tending to the very building where he met his wife, Billie, over sixty years ago. A few years after her passing, Robert reflects on their shared life and love.
Kris Bailey – I Am Brihanna Jayde
The 2023 Kansas All American Goddess gives viewers and listeners a glimpse of the Drag Queen life and what it means to live life authentically as a gay man.
Benjamin Shimwa – Inner Sounds
After a car accident ends his singing career, Louis rediscovers his musical passion through the keys of a piano, inspired by a heartfelt conversation with his sister.
Hophni William – The Ballad of Rich and Champ
Rich and Champ arrive at their nightly stomping grounds for some easy money at the billiards table. The pair have different aims for their lives, but their working relationship keeps them moving in the same direction. The night cruises along like any other until a new challenger drops more money than either man expects on the table. When everything’s on the line, Rich and Champ will learn who each other really is.
Geoff Ross – This Is About The Census
A loyal citizen is called into a government office to answer a life or death question: why does the census only have one person?
Niki Taylor Roberts – Go To Bed, Raymond
A father discovers the surprising truth about why his son won’t go to bed.
Not every film is available online, to select which films you would like to stream you can click on the hyperlink in the title. Deadline is October 30th to submit your vote.
