The Tallgrass Film Festival turns 20. Here are the highlights of this year’s event.

It’s a monumental year for the Tallgrass Film Festival as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The late Timothy Gruver started the festival in 2001 with ambitious goals. Back in its beginnings, many Wichitans didn’t even really know what a film festival was.

But now, Tallgrass has grown to be one of Wichita’s grand premier events and a world-class festival. It attracts films and filmmakers from all over the world with the mantra “Stubbornly Independent,” coined by the late Jake Euker in 2003.

This year, Tallgrass will screen 53 features and 14 short film programs with 195 films total, from about 1,400 submissions.

Tallgrass executive director Melanie Addington said, “The films selected this year embrace the same stubbornly independent spirit as Tallgrass, from freedom of speech fighters to almost-famous indie musicians.

“The best part is that many of the directors, actors, documentary participants, and musicians will be coming to Wichita with those films and will be joining amazing film personalities like Lloyd Kaufman and Kansas favorites like Kevin Wilmott and The Embarrassment.”

The 20th anniversary celebration will also include a return visit and salute to Tallgrass Film Festival’s former executive director Lela Meadow Conner and film programmer Eric Moore.

Addington says it will be “a true extended anniversary party for film lovers here in Wichita.”

Organizers say they have planned several other special events for the 20th anniversary festival, in addition to Tallgrass’ regular programming categories. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

For a full schedule and full film descriptions, visit tallgrassfilm.org.

GALA EVENTS

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” John Hughes’ comedy classic, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean. Followed by 20th anniversary gala.

“Four Samosas” An unmotivated South Asian American rapper plans a heist on a grocery store. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway, followed by Mojo Samosas Gala, 9 p.m., Public at Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island.

“The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Times of Mojo Nixon“ Follows the rise of a rebellious musician, 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, Regal Warren Old Town, 353 N. Mead, followed by Mojo Samosas Gala, 9 p.m., Public at Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island.

“We Were Famous, You Don’t Remember: The Embarrassment” Documentary about band formed in 1979 in Wichita, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, Orpheum Theatre, followed by the Embarrassment Gala.

“All Man: The International Male Story” A colorful peek behind the pages and personalities of the racy male catalog, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, Temple Live, 332 E. First St., followed by Embarrassment Gala, Orpheum Theatre.

“Butterfly in the Sky” This documentary explores the journeys of broadcasters, educators and filmmakers who believed television could inspire a lifelong love of reading, 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, Orpheum Theatre.

“Still Working 9 to 5” A documentary about how the iconic comedy had a serious message about women’s inequality in the office, 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, Orpheum Theatre, followed by closing night gala, 9 p.m., Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. Second St.

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

Features 11 films that have garnered excitement and attention worldwide. Highlights include:

“Death and Bowling” A transgender actor struggles with what it means to be seen after the beloved captain of his lesbian bowling league dies. 4:30 p.m., Friday, Sept 30, Temple Live.

“Donnie Darko” After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit. 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, Orpheum Theatre.

“No Place Like Home: The Struggle Against Hate in Kansas” This work-in-progress documentary by Kansan Oscar winner Kevin Willmott examines people who have found themselves in a battle for LGBTQ rights in such rural places as Trego County, Salina and Topeka. 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, Orpheum Theatre.

JAKE EUKER STUBBORNLY INDEPENDENT COMPETITION

Named after the late longtime Tallgrass volunteer, this juried category sponsored by The Cotillion highlights six domestic narrative films with a budget of under $750,000. The winner will receive $5,000.

Films include “Attack, Decay, Release,” a sci-fi musical chronicling a human migration following decimation from a pandemic, and “East Bay,” just now being released that features “Crazy, Rich Asians” star Constance Wu in her first film role.

FEMALE FILMMAKER COMPETITION

This juried competition sponsored by Fidelity Bank includes five narrative and documentary films. The winner will receive $5,000.

Films include “A Place In The Field,” which follows a veteran who fulfills a promise made for a friend while in combat, “God Save the Queens,” about four drag queens finding common ground at a therapy retreat, and “Refuge,” which looks at a white nationalist leader and former veteran who is forced to confront his hatred.

GORDON PARKS COMPETITION

This program celebrates the legacy of famed Kansan Gordon Parks by highlighting six African American-directed films in this juried competition sponsored by Cargill. The winner will receive $5,000.

Films include “Amansa Tiafi (Public Toilet Africa),” which follows a woman’s quest to pay an old debt by returning to the place where she was gifted to a white art collector as a little girl, and “Black Daddy: The Movie,” a look at the experience of fatherhood by black men.

KANSAS FEATURE COMPETITION

These five films in this juried competition sponsored by City Arts were made by Kansans or made in Kansas.

Films include “It Started with a Horse,” a biographical documentary of legendary Western Kansas folk-artist M.T. Liggett, and “PPP Loan Gone,” about how the recent pandemic has caused many small businesses to struggle to keep their doors open.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

Features two films: “That Thing | That Sound,” a love letter to the steel guitar, and “The Pez Outlaw,” about a man from rural Michigan who spent 10 years smuggling Pez dispensers into the USA from Eastern Europe.

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION

Features five films that include “Shall I Compare You To A Summer’s Day,” a contemporary queer musical taking Arab folktales as its formal reference, and “Quantum Cowboys,” a rotoscoped time-travel western.

2022 AD ASTRA RECIPIENT

The festival’s annual honorary award this year goes to Lloyd Kaufman, who has directed cult classics such as “Poultrygeist: Night of the Living Dead” and “The Toxic Avenger.” Both films will be screened in addition to an awards ceremony.

MURMURATIONS COMPETITION

Inspired by Joan Miro’s mural “Personnages Oiseaux” at the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, this program aims to highlight the connection between Kansas and Miro’s home country, Spain, through his unique artwork.

Films includes “Home Owners,” about a young couple who find their dream house, and “Finlandia,” about Muxes (so-called third-gender people) whose lives change after a devastating earthquake in Oaxaca.

SHORT FILMS

Programs include a comedy program, documentaries, dramas, horror, identity, music and dance, the Timothy Gruver Spotlight on Kansas Short Films, the Joel Fein Spotlight on Emerging Filmmakers and more.

EDUCATION

The festival is offering free panels and conversations about filmmaking throughout the weekend, which are open to the public.

GOING TO THE FESTIVAL

Events and screenings are held in various locations in downtown Wichita. Tickets and pass package prices vary. For more information, go to www.tallgrassfilm.org.

Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com.