Kanza Fest 2008

The films are in for this year, and I have to say, what I have seen so far is extraordinary. We had some great films in 2007 and we have some, well...they may be even better this year. In just two years we have had some fantastic entries and now it's again time to share these filmmaker's visions.

Because of some of our generous sponsors, advance tickets will be FREE for 2008 - all you have to do is ask! One of goals of the Board of the Kanza Film Festival for this year was to build an audience for the festival - we want to have a full house Saturday night - and we started talking about how to do that. People have so many options today - it is sometimes hard to break through the noise of daily life even when you have a great product, like all the great films we have set to roll Saturday night.

We started the regular promotion machine, and then in talking with some of our sponsors we found they were willing to help us out with advertising and the exchange of tickets for that support came about. So if you want to come out and see some great films - stop by the Exchange National Bank in Atchison and ask for your FREE tickets, or stop by the Atchison Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. 10th Street in Atchison (home of the Atchison County Historical Society Museum and the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce) come to the Visitors Center desk and ask for your FREE tickets, or call Theatre Atchison (especially if you are a member or season ticket holder already) at 367-1647, or listen to KAIR Radio - they will be giving out tickets to listeners this week as well.

If you don't get advance tickets the cost will be a reasonable $4 at the door, unless you are one of the filmmakers & guests - then just ask at box office to pick up you filmmaker passes.

Hope to see you there - and even if you get free tickets - if you like what you see - you may make a donation toward the 2009 Kanza or the upcoming Movie Camp USA this summer. By later this year we will be out own 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and it is support from people who value the work we are doing to promote independent films and support aspiring filmmakers that will allow us to grow The Kanza into bigger and better things.

See you at the film festival.

Chris Taylor-co-director of The Kanza

It's time for take two

The Kanza is getting ready for its second year and we are looking for this little film festival to grow into even bigger and better things - because of you - the filmmakers who entered in 2007 and those of you who are getting your films ready for this year (check out the entry forms for full details). The entry deadline will be Tuesday, April 1, 2008 to have your film in our hands. Some of you have been looking for details and I apologize for the only now getting all the info out and up on our new website. We have made a lot of changes since last year and even though the film festival will be similar to that of 2007, there has been a lot of progress made since our first try at this film festival thing last year. Thanks to a generous grant from the Kansas Arts Commission we are on the way to becoming a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation - for those of you who aren't sure what that means - we will be able to grow, add more programs, be able to concentrate of the heart of what The Kanza is about - because now those agencies that support film can now officially contribute and make this the best film festival for aspiring filmmakers in the Midwest.

What is the difference between The Kanza and other film festivals? The goal of the Kanza is to give student and other aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to generate some income from their efforts. Your entry may be chosen for the "Best of the Kanza" DVD, or be part of the Kanza Road Show that will take the best films across the state to different communities and local television and cable outlets are interested in your best work as well. As we grow The Kanza will offer scholarships to help you make your movies, give you an outlet to get your film shown and get your name out across the region and you can get paid. A portion of each DVD sale, each person who pays for a seat at the road show and other opportunities will go to the filmmaker - YOU.

We want to get scholarships to you to make your movies and be a resource for movie makers in Kansas and beyond. We are starting off aiming at Kansas filmmakers but we also want to reach out to neighboring states in the Midwest . If you don't live in the Midwest and can't make it to The Kanza you can still enter and you have just as good a chance at winning. Last year we had entries from as far away as Canada and California and the grand prize winner was from California, but the Kansas entries captured most of the first place spots (nudge to you Missouri filmmakers).

So here we are gearing up for year two and beyond - now we need you to submit your films. I can't wait, the films that came in last year were above our expectations and I'm sure those of you reading this will not let us down in 2008.

Chris Taylor - co-director of The Kanza