Tallgrass Announces New Agency of Record

WICHITA, Kan. – The Tallgrass Film Association has named Greteman Group its new marketing partner. The nonprofit organization puts on the Tallgrass Film Festival every October. The first was held in 2003. Over time its programming has expanded to year-round screenings, special events and a traveling road show.

“Tallgrass ignites creativity and a deeper appreciation of the cinematic arts,” says Sonia Greteman, agency principal and creative director. “It lends itself to head-turning, soul-stirring creative and a user-friendly, easily updated website, which we can’t wait to deliver.”

Greteman Group has supported Tallgrass since 2017 when it became the sponsor for the DoXX Spotlight, a juried competition for women-directed, feature-length documentaries. Last fall’s was especially appropriate: director Katie Wiatt’s Fly Like a Girl. Previous winners were Sahra Mani’s A Thousand Girls Like Me (2018) and Robin Berghaus’ Stumped (2017).

“Magic happens when you bring together writers, directors, filmmakers, actors and an appreciative audience,” says Gray Brand, Tallgrass director of marketing and communications. “With Greteman Group’s support, we have every confidence that we’ll be able to attract more people, generate more sponsorships and provide an even better experience.”

The 2020 Oscars awarded Tallgrass-featured Parasite best picture, the first time a foreign-language film has won. Director Bong Joon-ho also won best director, best original screenplay and best international feature for his comedy-drama-thriller. Tallgrass is the largest independent film festival in Kansas, evaluating close to 2,000 submissions a year. It typically features more than 150 of the world’s best independent films at centralized Wichita venues. Cash awards and other special recognition awards are given. Tallgrass also includes filmmaker roundtables, filmmaker labs, gala parties and VIP events. Many have been nominated for, or received, Sundance or Independent Spirit Awards.

Tallgrass has been rated a “Top 10 Film Festival” by Livability and “The Best Under the Radar Film Festival” by Flavorwire. It has been included in MovieMaker Magazine’s annual “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” for the past five years.

“I would not want to imagine a world without independent films,” says Greteman. “Passion rather than money drives these original, risk-taking ventures. They entertain, yes, but the great ones also expand our thinking, empathy and social consciousness. Bring it on.”

The 18th-annual Tallgrass Film Festival runs Oct. 14-18, 2020. Films can be submitted at https://filmfreeway.com/TallgrassFilmFestival.

ABOUT GRETEMAN GROUP
Greteman Group has developed an international reputation from its base in Wichita, Kan. – the Air Capital. Leading aircraft manufacturers, flight support, aftermarket services, fractional ownership, insurance, in-flight Wi-Fi and regional airlines have entrusted their brands to Greteman Group. Clients include FlightSafety International, SmartSky Networks, Wichita Eisenhower National Airport, Clay Lacy Aviation, USAIG, King Aerospace, Piedmont Airlines, Aviation Partners and APiJET. The agency also supports causes and clients such as Saint Francis Ministries, Mark Arts, the City of Wichita, Wichita Water Partners, Hutton, GLMV Architecture, MKEC Engineering, AGC of Kansas, Celebrity Cruises and Village Travel. The firm is a founding member of the Wichita Aero Club and a longstanding member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). Since its founding in 1989, this certified women-owned business enterprise (WBE) has developed a team of purpose-driven pros. The agency celebrated its 30th anniversary April 1, 2019. gretemangroup.com