Since our early days renovating the Coyote Twin, it’s been a VCA goal to host a film festival on our home turf. In September 2024, we launched the Vermillion Vortex Film Festival and welcomed over 200 individual guests to a lineup of 41 films, including the South Dakota premiere of Lost on a Mountain in Maine by South Dakota director Andrew Kightlinger.
Vortex Film Festival seeks to create a community of area cinema enthusiasts and filmmakers of all experience levels for networking, support, and inspiration. Vortex will showcase movies produced by regional Midwest filmmakers and filmed in South Dakota and neighboring states (IA, MN, NE, ND).
The 2nd annual Vermillion Vortex Film Festival is forming and developing, but we are still looking for sponsors and volunteers to make it happen!
We are offering sponsorship packages ranging from $100–$1000 that include various marketing opportunities like 30-sec to 1-min ad in the preshow, 1/4-page ad in the program, branded and credited signage at events and the reception space, and of course awesome social media shoutouts as we continue to promote the festival. :)
Send us a message at events@vermculture.org to be a part of the only East River film festival!
Vortex Film Festival is supported in part by the South Dakota Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Vermillion Cultural Association, and the Coyote Twin Theater.
Festival passes and feature tickets available at
coyotetwin.com/vortex/
2025 MARQUEE FEATURES
Friday, September 26th at 7PM - with Q&A
A young ranch hand hunts justice for his sister through the vast landscape of South Dakota. As he wrestles with what he is about to do, Cody crosses paths with a local county sheriff coming to terms with what she has already done.
Starring: Joey Lauren Adams, Joe Hiatt, and Jennifer Pierce Mathus
BEFORE THE FIRE (2020) - Dir. Charlie Buhler
Saturday, September 27th at 7PM - with Q&A
Fifth anniversary screening
Deep in the throes of a global pandemic, up and coming TV star, Ava Boone, is forced to flee the mounting chaos in Los Angeles and return to her rural hometown. But as she struggles to acclimate to a way of life she left behind long ago, her homecoming attracts a dangerous figure from her past – threatening both her and the family that serves as her only sanctuary.
Starring: Jenna Lyng Adams, Jackson Davis, Ryan Vigilant, and Charles Hubbell
PORTFOLIOS: LLOYD MENARD (2025) - Dir. Susan Goldman
Saturday, September 27th at 2:30PM - with Q&A
"This documentary tells the story of Lloyd Menard, Professor Emeritus, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, who had a significant impact on American art and arts education.
Plus 4 other feature films, and 6 short film blocks including horror, comedy, drama, documentary, student and Fool's 48 films!
See the full festival schedule at coyotetwin.com/vortex.
FALL IS A GOOD TIME TO DIE (2025)- Dir. Dalton Coffey
10 E. Main Street
A dedicated cinema for over a century, the Coyote Twin is an entirely nonprofit theater that screens current feature films and hosts special screenings and private rentals.
Our two auditoriums seat a combined total of 228 and feature industry standard digital projection and newly updated Dolby speakers. In 2023 we refreshed our lobby and concessions area for improved customer service, and as of 2025, our auditoriums both feature state of the art laser projection. We’re proud to be Vermillion’s local nonprofit cinema!
VERMILLION
Homeland of the Lakota Wasé Wakpa community, seat of Clay County, and location of the National Music Museum and flagship institution University of South Dakota, Vermillion is nestled in the southeast corner of South Dakota, not far from the Missouri River. We are just 1 hour south of Sioux Falls, 40 mins from Sioux City, and an easy 2 hours from Omaha.
Vermillion’s bustling downtown features several local eateries, a lot of USD Coyote Spirit, and the Coyote Twin Theater, of course. Download the LiveVermillion mobile app to start planning your trip!