History

From thought-provoking documentaries and films in competition to indies and experimental feature-length films, the following is a brief list of some of the films and special events that have played at the Kansas International Film Festival in recent years.

2009 Audience Award Winners

The Kansas International Film Festival is proud to announce the winners of our Audience Award. All competition films are voted on by our audiences. Films are divided between narrative and documentary and compete in their respective categories. After seeing a film, audience members are given the opportunity to cast their vote on a four-point rating system to gague how much they liked the film.

Best Documentary - Vincent: A Life in Color

Director: Jennifer Burns
Vincent P. Falk is Fashion Man. Clad in brightly colored suits; Vincent twirls on Chicago's many bridges, performing fashion shows for the passing tour boats. As he spins his way through the city, tourists and locals alike are left to wonder just who is this strange man. Over the course of one boat season, we follow Vincent and begin to unravel the mystery that surrounds him. Vincent started out in this world as a blind orphan. He was always going to be different. It was a fact of life he couldn't escape, so he decided to embrace it. If people were going to notice Vincent, he would decide why, when, and how they would notice him. And so, he spins on.

Best Narrative - 16 to Life

Director: Becky Smith
Kate is a rural American teenager whose angst about sexual inexperience drives a comic quest for love and understanding on a birthday to end all birthdays. Kate’s irreverent fantasies of sexual awakening and guilt, fueled by obsessive reading of books on bizarre subjects (currently the Chinese Cultural Revolution) drive this explosive day. Kate is turning 16 and has never been kissed! Before the clock strikes midnight, Kate will learn more about love than most 16-year-olds could imagine. And Kate will learn what a 16-year-old American girl has in common with a 16-year-old Chinese girl half a world, and a cultural revolution, away.

The votes are in and counted. We have the winners! All films are judged on a scale of 1 to 4,
with 4 being the best score. Listed below are the results.

Winners will be shown at the Glenwood Arts Theatre in Overland Park, Kansas, on Oct. 2nd. Vincent: A Life In Color and In/Significant Others will be shown. The film 16 To Life will play in March with the director Becky Smith and talent attending. Watch for details.

Past Winners

2008
Best Documentary -
Best Narrative - The Flyboys

2007
Best Documentary - The Edge of Eden: Living with Grizzlies
Best Narrative - Midnight Clear

2006
Best Documentary - Hand of God
Best Narrative -Mojave Phone Booth

2005
Best Documentary -
Best Narrative -

2004
Best Documentary - Bellmore: The Unscene & Mojados: Through the Night (tied)
Best Narrative -
Independent Vision Award - Chris Gore

2003
Best Documentary -
Best Narrative -

2002
Best Documentary -
Best Narrative -

2001
Best Documentary -
Best Narrative -

Past Films Screened at KIFF

Barbara Hammer – Documentary filmmaker presented two of her films, History Lessons and Resisting Paradise.
G – Special appearances by Producer Charles Drew Jr. and actor Jillian Lindsey.
Jeffrey Phelps' Special Ed, Shannon Young's Razor Eaters, Rusty Nails' Highway Robbery, Neil dela Llana's Cavite, Sidney King's Pearl Diver and so many more.
Primer – 2004 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Winner.
Code 46 – critically acclaimed Michael Winterbottom film starring Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton.
Festival Express – Documentary starring Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band and more.
The Sundance Channel Film Series sponsored by Human Rights Watch.
What The Bleep Do You Know?
James Ellroy Presents Bizarre Bazaar
Think! Film Series – thought provoking documentaries including Origins of AIDS, War Takes, Ruthie and Connie, Mojados, The Naked Feminist, Voices of Women and Border Bandits.
Filmmaker forum with Chris Gore of FilmThreat.com and IFC's Film Fanatic.
The Bread, My Sweet – Special appearances by Actor Scott Baio and Filmmakers Melissa Martin and Adrienne Wehr.
The Secret Lives of Dentists – Starring Campbell Scott, Hope Davis and Denis Leary.
13 Conversations About 1 Thing – Feature Film direct from the Sundance Film Festival, guest appearance by Director Jill Sprecher.
Kubrick: A Life In Pictures – Documentary on Stanley Kubrick, part of a special retrospective.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys – Starring Kieran Culkin and Jodie Foster.
Senorita Extravidia – Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in Documentary.
Alloy Orchestra – World Premiere, Phantom of the Opera. Performed live scores for silent films Nosferatu, The Lost World, Speedy, Metropolis and Blackmail.
30 Year Anniversary Tribute to Women Make Movies – Special appearance by WMM, Executive Director, Debra Zimmerman.
CSA: Confederate States of America – First screening of critically acclaimed film by local filmmaker, Kevin Willmott. CSA went on to be shown at Sundance and has now been sold for distribution.
Charlie: The Art and Life of Charles Chaplin – Documentary by filmmaker Richard Schickel, closing film for 2003 Cannes Film Festival.
Silence – World Premiere, special appearance by Actors, Tony Todd and Daveigh Chase, Producer Dennis Fallon and Director Tom Whitus.
Kansas Connection from L.A. – Series of films from L.A. Filmmakers who have ties to Kansas.
And Many, Many More!

Past festival information

2008 - Schedule, Film Descriptions & Program
2007 - Schedule & Program
2006 - Schedule & Film Descriptions
2005 - Film Descriptions
2004 - KIFF Festival Guide
2003 - H2H Festival Guide