Kansas City is set to roll out a new sports-centered film festival this August, with part of the action landing in the historic 18th & Vine district. The Full Tilt Film Festival debuts August 28–29, 2026, promising screenings, panels, and Q&As across the city, plus a world premiere tied to a local youth soccer story. Organizers say the two-day event is built to blend industry talk with community-facing programming.
In its inaugural year, the festival, created by the Kansas City Film Office, will feature both narrative and nonfiction projects, and pass holders will get first access to reservations, as reported by The Pitch. Kansas City Film Office director Rachel Kephart has described the lineup as wide-ranging and rooted in local sports culture. Organizers say the program will mix premieres with panels, Q&As, and industry conversations.
World Premiere Puts Local Soccer In Focus
The festival will host the world premiere of Chasing Goals, a feature documentary that follows Global FC, a Kansas City youth soccer club of refugee athletes. The film is produced by Foolish Club Studios in partnership with Trevor Noah’s Day Zero and Wavelength, according to a Kansas City press release. Director Josh Gloer said the documentary tracks the team from the pitch to their homes to tell an intimate story of sport and community, the release notes. The premiere will be one of several centerpiece screenings scheduled across the two-day event.
Programming And Tickets
Full Tilt Film Festival lays out screenings, panels, networking events, and youth workshops as core components, and notes that programming and ticket details will continue to roll out this summer. Passes are on sale now, and organizers say pass holders will have priority access to reservations for popular screenings, per the festival site. The citywide format is designed to keep programming walkable for attendees and to spotlight multiple Kansas City neighborhoods.
Rooted In 18th & Vine
Organizers specifically scheduled Saturday, August 28 programming in the 18th & Vine district to “make sure that this festival feels like a festival, walkable, accessible, but also rooted in sports, Kansas City, and entertainment history,” Rachel Kephart told The Pitch. The choice places Full Tilt in a corridor that has seen renewed cultural activity this year, with expanded festivals and arts programming drawing larger crowds. KCUR has reported on recent events that have helped increase foot traffic and community programming in the district.
Organizers say more programming announcements, guest lists, and scheduling details will be released in the coming weeks, and the festival aims to position Kansas City as a hub for sports storytelling. For now, pass holders and industry attendees remain the first priority as Full Tilt builds what its backers hope will become an annual attraction.
