Founder Steve Head, talks about the upcoming third annual, Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival converging in the Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas areas.
After speaking with founder Steve Head, it’s clear that Great Wonders Productions was born not just from a passion for film, but from a desire to build a thriving cinematic arts community in Southwest Missouri. The nonprofit was officially launched in January 2023, by a small group of three individuals with a screenplay and a vision. Rather than immediately pursuing their own film project, the team pivoted to establish a broader platform for filmmakers and creatives—a network of support and collaboration.
Under Head’s guidance, Great Wonders Productions quickly assembled a dedicated board of directors and adopted a membership-based structure, inspired by other successful arts organizations in the region. The aim was to create a space where professionals and creatives could connect, collaborate on film projects, and support one another in their artistic pursuits.
Recognizing the steep barriers that independent filmmakers face when trying to break into major production studios, the organization was created as an alternative platform where local artists could develop and self-produce meaningful cinematic works. The mission of Great Wonders Productions is to promote film and video production in the region, with a focus on projects that are socially redeeming and culturally enriching. The organization also offers educational and hands-on opportunities for creatives to grow their skills.
In its inaugural year, Great Wonders Productions launched two key initiatives. The first is the production of ‘The Butterfly People‘, a documentary about the 2011 F5 tornado that devastated Joplin, MO, featuring powerful stories of “angelic” encounters experienced by children during the storm. The second initiative was the founding of the Great Wonders Uplift Film Fest, a regional event designed to unite filmmakers from across the 4-State area of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas as well as the entire United States. The festival offers a platform for collaboration, networking, and support among artists who are all within a day’s drive of each other.
Looking ahead, the organization plans to continue producing at least one new film annually while growing its impact and expanding opportunities for creatives throughout the region.
Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival runs from March 5 through 7, 2026, submissions are being taken now.
For more information about Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival and to submit your film visit: https://www.upliftfilmfest.com/.
