About KCUFF

Our Mission

The Kansas City Underground Film Festival exists to bring underseen and underappreciated independent films to the Kansas City community.

To fulfill that mission, we believe in removing obstacles for both filmmakers and moviegoers. That means:

  • No required admission fees or tickets

  • Waived submission fees for local filmmakers and project of particular need

  • The lowest submission fees of any film festival in Kansas City (often half of other festivals!)

  • No restrictions on runtime or genre

Our Organization

The Kansas City Underground Film Festival operates under the umbrella of Film Society KC which is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Film Society KC aims to build a more vibrant film culture in Kansas City by supporting local filmmakers and theaters, organizing educational programs and events, and creating unforgettable movie experiences for film enthusiasts. The society's mission is to promote and enhance the art of cinema, and to bring people together to celebrate the magic of film.

Our Team

Willy Evans - Festival Director/Co-Founder

He/Him

My love affair with movies began when I was just 10 years old and watched "The Lord of the Rings" for the first time. Now, as the president of Film Society KC in Kansas City, I'm thrilled to be surrounded by a vibrant community that celebrates the art of film. Leading Film Society KC is a dream come true for a lifelong movie lover like me.

Some of my favorite movies include: Weekend, Jeanne Dielman, Chungking Express, In The Mood for Love, Cache, A Separation, Stalker, Your Sister’s Sister, It Follows, Hard Ticket to Hawaii, and many many more. (Just go look at the list)

You can catch me most nights obsessively watching festival submissions or hanging out at one of the amazing movie theater in KC.

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Kari Bingham-Gutierrez - Co-Founder/Head of Screening Committee

She/Her

I've always enjoyed movies, but my love for film probably didn't begin until I started co-hosting a movie discussion radio show/podcast with Willy. Recently, I took a quiz to figure out which Bojack Horseman character I'm most like. My result of Diane and my resulting disappointment should tell you all you need to know about me. I currently work as a Circulation Supervisor at the Olathe Public Library.

Some of my favorite movies include: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Synecdoche, New York, and Only Lovers Left Alive.

More often, though, you'll catch me watching Rom-Coms, terrible Netflix Originals, or binge watching the latest reality show obsession.