It started with a headline: Sundance Film Festival is looking to leave Park City, UT. That day, like every other film office in the country, we started getting calls, texts, emails and dm’s. All saying the same thing. “Are we bidding on Sundance?” People wanted to know if Kansas City would throw its hat in the ring.
Here’s the honest answer, we did.
We explored it. We asked the questions. We identified venues. We looked at what it would take to bring something like that here. And the more we dug in, the more it became clear that while it might be possible, it didn’t quite feel right. It felt like we’d be trying to force something into Kansas City that wasn’t built for Kansas City.
That realization ended up being the most important part of the process. Because instead of asking “how do we bring Sundance here,” we started asking a different question: What kind of festival actually makes sense for this city?
Kansas City is one of the most passionate sports cities in the country. It’s also a place where we’re seeing real growth in production, in creative talent, and in the kinds of projects that are choosing to film here. At the same time, the industry itself is shifting in a big way.
Sports storytelling isn’t just a niche anymore. It’s driving culture. From documentary series to scripted projects to athlete-led production companies, we’re seeing an explosion in how these stories are being made and who is making them. Athletes are stepping into roles as producers and business leaders. Leagues and teams are investing in longform content to reach new audiences. Women’s sports are gaining long-overdue visibility and momentum. And audiences are showing up for all of it.
This isn’t a trend that’s coming. It’s already here, and it’s growing fast. What’s been missing is a space that brings all of those pieces together. A place where the people making this work, the people featured in it, and the people shaping what comes next can all be in the same room. That’s the opportunity we saw.
That’s where Full Tilt came from.
Full Tilt Film Festival is a sports storytelling film festival and industry summit. It’s built around screenings, panel conversations, and live events that bring together athletes, filmmakers, studios, and industry leaders to explore how sports stories are being told across documentary, scripted, and unscripted formats. It’s as much about the process and the people behind the work as it is about the work itself.
The festival will unfold across Kansas City, with an opening night premiere and citywide activations, followed by a full day of programming anchored in the historic 18th & Vine district. Audiences can expect a mix of screenings, conversations with athletes and creators, and opportunities to connect in a way that feels accessible, social, and distinctly Kansas City.
Building something like this doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen alone. We’ve been working with consultants who help us connect with industry leaders, identify projects, and shape programming in a way that’s thoughtful about perspective, equity, and culture. We’re also bringing on a team to support the logistics of the festival itself, all of which allows our office to stay focused on our core mission: bringing production work to Kansas City and supporting the crew base and overall creative ecosystem.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about a festival It’s an extension of how we think about marketing Kansas City as a destination for film and television.
We want to bring industry decision-makers into our city. We want them to experience it firsthand. Not just by screening their work or sitting on a panel, but by actually being here. Walking the neighborhoods. Seeing the venues. Meeting the crew. Understanding what makes this place work.
And yes, we’re going to talk about our incentives. We’re going to highlight how competitive they are. We’re going to make the case for why Kansas City should be on their short list. But more than anything, we want them to leave feeling something.
That this is a city where stories can be told. Where people want to collaborate. Where there’s momentum.
We’ll be sharing more about programming throughout May and early June, including screenings, panels, and special events. Passes will go on sale in May, and we hope you’ll join us for the first year of something we believe can grow into a defining event for the city.
Full Tilt is our way of building something that feels true to Kansas City and where the industry is headed.
On August 28th & 29th, we’re going Full Tilt. We hope you will too.