Vermillion Vortex Film Festival

09/28/2026

Year 3 of Vortex Film Festival is over, but we learned more than ever this year, and are so happy with the turnout. Funding art isn’t always easy, but without our friends, sponsors, filmmakers, partners, volunteers, and artists it would be impossible. We thank you all, and we’ll see you next year!

Congratulations to our award-winning filmmakers!
🏆 2026 People’s Choice Award - “Freeze” directed by Tate Mohlenkamp
🏆 2026 Somewhat Random Movie Award - “Mirror Sickness” by Shirin Jafarizade

09/27/2026

Tonight was OUT OF THIS WORLD! 👽

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of the South Dakota produced feature film ALIEN DINER on it's premiere at the Vortex Film Festival! 🎥

09/26/2026

Day 1 of Vortex Film Festival 2026 was a success! We almost had a sold out screening for our opening night marquee feature, Nine Little Indians!

Thank you to everyone who came, all of our sponsors, the delicious Indigenous food, and our panelists. We sure do love movies, but it's extra special when a night like this happens in our community. ❤️

Day 2 is happening now so don't miss out! The Saturday Day Pass is only $40 and it gets you in the last two marquee features, Imagining the Indian at 2 pm and Alien Diner at 7 pm w/ filmmaker Q&As after!

09/25/2026

The Dakota Boys have a message for YOU!

🎬 ALIEN DINER Premiere!
📅 Saturday, September 26 at 7:00 pm
📍 Coyote Twin Theatre - Vermillion, SD

🎟 coyotetwin.com/vortex

09/24/2026

Countdown to Vortex in 3...2...1...

💫 The 3rd Annual Vortex Film Festival takes over the Coyote Twin in Vermillion, SD THIS WEEKEND featuring 3 feature films, 3 workshops, and 6 blocks of short films -- with talkbacks after each block!

Don't miss out on the celebration of Midwest Filmmaking, Filmmakers, and Film Fans! 🎞️

More info and festival passes 👉 coyotetwin.com/vortex

09/23/2026

Filmmaker Workshops! 📽️

We invite our attending filmmakers to learn from and interact with industry professionals during the Vortex Film Festival! Check out our lineup of Filmmaker Workshops 👇

🎞️ Film Fest Submission Best Practices & DCP Making ➡️ Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 AM
Hosted by Vortex Film Festival Coordinators Casey Kelderman and Sam Lenz

🫂 Intimacy Coordination ➡️ Saturday, Sept. 26 at 4:30 PM
Hosted by Intimacy Coordinator Emily Vortherms

💡 Scene Lighting ➡️ Sunday, Sept. 27 at 11:00 AM
Hosted by Videographer and Director Adam Dyess

Learn more and get festival passes 👉 coyotetwin.com/vortex

09/22/2026

Saturday Feature Film Premiere! 🎬

Vortex is proud to welcome back "The Dakota Boys" for the feature film premiere of Alien Diner (2026; dir. Carson Knecht), a riotous comedy of galactic proportions!

📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ Screening at 7:00 PM + Q&A with Director Carson Knecht and the Dakota Boys

Get your festival passes and more info 👉 coyotetwin.com/vortex

Coming Soon to the Vermillion Vortex Film Festival on Saturday Sept...

09/21/2026

Saturday Matinee Feature! 🎬

Imagining the Indian (2022; dir. Ben West and Aviva Kempner) is a comprehensive examination of the movement to eradicate the words, images, and gestures that many Native Americans and their allies find demeaning and offensive.

📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ Screening at 2:00 PM + Q&A with Director Ben West & Producer Yancey Burns

Get tickets and view our entire festival lineup 👉 coyotetwin.com/vortex

The award-winning documentary feature 'Imagining the Indian: The Fi...

09/20/2026

Vortex Film Festival is basically the "for us, by us" of independent film festivals. Our workshops for filmmakers set us apart what everybody else is doing. Check them out!

▷Festival Submission Best Practices & DCP Creation - Sat Sept 26 @ 10:30 AM ▶︎▶︎Hosted by Casey Kelderman & Paul Ebsen (ehpvideo.com)

▷Intimacy Coordination - Sat Sept 26 @ 4:15 PM ▶︎▶︎Hosted by Emily Vortherms (emilyvortherms-intimacycoordinator.com)

▷Lighting a Scene - Sun Sept 27 @ 10:00 AM ▶︎▶︎Hosted by Adam Dyess (dyessmedia.com)

09/20/2026

OPENING NIGHT FEATURE! 🎬

Nine Little Indians (2026; dir. Shannon King) is a heart-wrenching documentary following the Charbonneau sisters' decades-long fight for acknowledgement, justice, and healing after the abuses they suffered in the American Indian boarding school system.

📅 September 25
⏰ Reception at 5:30 PM | Screening at 7:00 PM + Panel Discussion

Get tickets and more info at 👉 coyotetwin.com/vortex

NINE LITTLE INDIANS is Shannon Kring's wrenching and vital document...