The Tallgrass Film Festival today announced that Rose McGowan, this year’s recipient of the Ad Astra Award tonight at the Scottish Rite Theater, has cancelled all upcoming public appearances due to the compounding factors surrounding recent revelations in the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment case.

“While we’re disappointed that Rose cannot be here with us in person, we understand that her well being is the priority. We support her and our thoughts are with her. We’ll seize this opportunity to amplify her message and celebrate all the women filmmakers with works here at the 15th annual festival.,” said Tallgrass Creative Director Lela Meadow-Conner. “The whole world is now aware, in large part due to Rose’s efforts, about the rampant sexual harassment within the entertainment industry, and so in her honor, we have pulled together a panel of guests who are attending the festival with their films, for a frank conversation, because the message doesn’t stop here.”

Prior to Thursday night’s screening of PLANET TERROR, at 9:00 pm, Amy Nicholson, Film Critic and host of The Canon, and Festworks.com John Wildman will host, #WokeWomen: A Candid Conversation With Tallgrass’ Female Filmmakers with Dorie Barton (Director, GIRL FLU), Skye Borgman (Director, FOREVER ‘B’), Madeleine Cooke (Writer/Actor SEAT 25), Simoné Nortmann (Actor, FOR THE BIRDS), Deborah Pearl (GETTING ED LAID), Devin Sanchez (Producer/Actor, LAURA GETS A CAT) and Deborah Riley Williams (Director, OLYMPIC PRIDE, AMERICAN PREJUDICE), to address the issues that affect all women – following the lead on the very things that Rose has spoken out about. The film will begin at 10pm.

PHOTO (Clockwise from top left corner: Simoné Nortmann (Actor, FOR THE BIRDS), Deborah Pearl (GETTING ED LAID), Deborah Riley Williams (Director, OLYMPIC PRIDE, AMERICAN PREJUDICE) Amy Nicholson (The Canon), Madeleine Cooke (Writer/Actor SEAT 25), Dorie Barton (Director, GIRL FLU), Skye Borgman (Director, FOREVER ‘B’), Devin Sanchez (Producer/Actor, LAURA GETS A CAT)

Tallgrass’s Program Director Nick Pope added, “Tallgrass has sought to honor Rose McGowan for three years now as we have always felt she epitomizes our motto: Stubbornly independent. We also felt that, in the process of the deserved attention her activism receives, arguably her presence as an independent film icon and genuine filmmaking talent can get lost in the mix. It was our goal to shine a light on her career and her talent and put that part of the Rose McGowan equation front and center for a very special evening. We will still honor her achievements from afar.”

Passes for the Tallgrass Film Festival are available for purchase now. Please visit http:// www.tallgrassfilmfest.com for festival pass and ticketing information.