This year, Tallgrass Film Festival introduced the Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking, a partnership with David Parks, Cargill, The Kansas African American Museum, the Wichita Chapter NAACP, Wichita State University Office of Diversity & Inclsion and Shocker Studios.
The inaugural award of $5,000, as well as a $15,000 camera rental package from Panavision. The award was given to FINDING SALLY, directed by Tamara Dawitt, and produced by Isabelle Couture. The award was presented by jurors David Parks, Brandon Wilson, and Kate Gondwe. An Honorable Mention was awarded to Many Fires This Time: We the 100 Million, directed by Jason RA Foster and produced by Michael “Quess?” Moore and Jeremy Liu.