INDIANAPOLIS — Heartland Film has announced the lineup for the 31st Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) taking place October 6-16, which will showcase more than 115 feature films – 11 World Premieres, 3 U.S. Premieres, 17 Special Presentations from major distributors and 11 Indiana Spotlight films.
The 11-day festival will open and close with two early awards season favorites with Indiana connections. Director Sacha Jenkins’ “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues,” from Apple Original Films, will open the festival on October 6. Louis Armstrong’s illustrious recording career began in Indiana back in 1923 when he traveled with King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band to Richmond’s Starr-Gennett Studio to record a 78 rpm record of “Froggie Moore”/”Chimes Blues.” HIFF will close with a special screening of “The Whale” from A24 and Darren Aronofsky on October 16, based on the play by Samuel D. Hunter starring Brendan Fraser. Fraser, who was born in Indianapolis, came to the HIFF in 2019 and was met with multiple standing ovations at a 20th anniversary screening of “The Mummy.”
This year’s theme is centered around a maze and attendees are invited to “Get lost in film” with screenings at Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art), Living Room Theaters, The Kan-Kan Cinema & Brasserie, Landmark Glendale 12, The Historic Artcraft Theatre and the Indianapolis Arts Center (outdoor picnic-style). All film selections will have in-person screenings and many of the films will also be available to view virtually. Individual tickets and Fest Passes are available at www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org
This year Heartland Film Festival will have a selection of titles that first debuted at the Cannes Film Festival from major distributors including A24, IFC Films, and NEON. These acclaimed films will all play in-person only once at The Kan-Kan: “Aftersun,” “Broker,” “Close,” “Corsage,”and “R.M.N.”
The Heartland International Film Festival will award more than $60,000 in cash prizes at their Awards Presentation and Party on Saturday, October 15. Since 1992, Heartland Film has presented $3.5 million in cash prize – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America.
Special events, besides the Opening and Closing Nights at Newfields, including a Family Fun Day at the Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple featuring “Hotel Transylvania” on Sunday, Oct. 8, and a Centerpiece Screening of “The Lost King” on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Newfields.
There are also Showcase films, such as “Empire of Light” by Sam Mendes with an all-star cast, “Till” special presentation, as well as the world events showings of “Retrograde,” and “The Return of Tanya Tucker.”
Tickets and the schedule for the 31st Heartland International Film Festival can be found at www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org
