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Ninth annual Tallgrass Film Festival to honor Elliott Gould

WICHITA, KAN — The Tallgrass Film Association announced that Academy Award nominated actor Elliott Gould will receive the Ad Astra Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ninth Annual Tallgrass Film Festival, to be held in and around downtown Wichita this Oct. 20-23.

Gould began acting in Hollywood films during the 1960s and during the next decade went on to star in some of his most notable film roles, including Ted Henderson in BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE (1969) which earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination; Trapper John in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H (1970) and Detective Philip Marlowe in Altman’s THE LONG GOODBYE (1973).

Gould quickly became an icon of the anti-Vietnam protest and free-love era. His follow up roles in I LOVE MY WIFE (1970) and GETTING STRAIGHT catapulted Gould to national celebrity and solidified his status as an icon of the youth counterculture. He continued acting steadily in film and television throughout the next three decades with notable roles in A BRIDGE TOO FAR (1977), CAPRICORN ONE (1978), THE LADY VANISHES (1979), Christopher Guest’s THE BIG PICTURE (1989) and Barry Levinson’s BUGSY (1991).

In 1994, Gould landed a fan base of a whole new generation as Jack Geller, the father of Monica and Ross, on the long-running NBC sitcom Friends. This led to roles in many independent films — such as Noah Baumbach’s KICKING AND SCREAMING (1995) and Tony Kaye's AMERICAN HISTORY X (1998) — and studio blockbusters such as Steven Soderbergh’s OCEAN'S ELEVEN (2001), OCEAN'S TWELVE (2004) and OCEAN’S THIRTEEN (2007). He remains one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, currently appearing in more than eight films, both studio and independent, slated for release or production in the coming year, and serves on the National Board of Directors for the Screen Actors Guild.

“We are beyond excited that Elliott Gould will be coming to Tallgrass this year. His career spans more than four decades of incredible performances, his colleagues have included many amazingly talented writers, directors and actors (even Kermit the Frog, twice) and he is overwhelmingly deserving of this recognition,” said TFA Executive Director Lela Meadow-Conner. Gould has appeared on the big screen at Tallgrass in the past, in the 2008 Closing Night Film THE DEAL, which was produced in part by Wichitan Arthur Allen.

The Ad Astra Gala will take place on the evening of Friday, Oct. 21, at the Scottish Rite Theater and will include a hosted Q&A with Gould as well as a retrospective screening from his illustrious career. More details will be announced in the coming months. The festival will also screen Gould’s recent film, THE ENCORE OF TONY DURAN, which premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Filmmakers, there’s one week left to submit your film to the ninth annual Tallgrass Film Festival, late deadline is July 15. Kansas and high school filmmakers submit for free. Click here to submit!

Upcoming TFA Events

  • July 16: Tallgrass Filmmakers Lab Presents: Movie Trailers 101 & The Business of Film Marketing, with award winning trailer editor and producer Erin Wyatt. An essential class for filmmakers of all ages, and a chance to glean insider information on the tricks of the trade. Register here!
  • Thursdays, July 7-18: Cinema Alfresco Continues every Thursday night through the end of July with FREE screenings at Rock Island Studios in Old Town Plaza. Films show rain or shine. Beer & wine specials available next door at Beyond Napa. Feel free to bring your own chair for outdoor seating. Click here for a full schedule.
  • Aug. 18: Save the date for the Tallgrass Third Thursday screening TBA! 7 p.m. at the Forum Events Center, 147 S. Hillside. Tickets are $10 General Admission/$8 students and teachers, seniors, military and TFA members.
  • Aug. 27: TFA presents a Dudegrass, a Lebowski Extrvaganza, 5-9 pm at Northrock Lanes & A.J.’s Sports Grill. $15 includes a screening of THE BIG LEBOWSK, four hours of unlimited bowling/shoes, Hammer + Sickle White Russian specials, costume and trivia contests. Dudegrass is sponsored by Joma Bowling, Northrock Lanes, Hammer + Sickle Vodka, 107.3 The Brew and Tallgrass Brewing Company. Tickets on sale soon!
  • Sept. 8: TFA, KMUW & Living Sound Home Automation will present an encore screening of the 2008 Tallgrass Film Festival Audience Award winning feature film THE WRECKING CREW, with special guest, Director Denny Tedesco at Abode Venue. A portion of the screening proceeds will go to the Tedesco for music licensing so that the film can be released theatrically. Stay tuned for more details!
  • Sept. 15: Save the date for the Tallgrass Third Thursday screening TBA! 7 p.m. at the Forum Events Center, 147 S. Hillside. Tickets are $10 General Admission/$8 students and teachers, seniors, military and TFA members.