INDIANAPOLIS — The 98th Academy Awards took place on Sunday, March 15. Five films honored by Heartland Film won Oscars, including “The Singers,” which received the Oscar-qualifying Narrative Grand Prize Award at the 2025 Indy Shorts Film Festival.
Three short films showcased at the festivals took home Oscars. “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” were both Official Selections at the Indy Shorts Film Festival in 2025, and they share the Oscar for Best Live Action Short. Along with winning the Narrative Grand Prize Award at Indy Shorts, “The Singers” won the Narrative Audience Choice Award.
“All the Empty Rooms” was a Special Presentation at the Heartland Film Festival in 2025 and won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Director Joshua Seftel has a close relationship with Heartland Film. This is his second Oscar-nominated short film to come through the festivals. His documentary short, “Stranger at the Gate,” won the Academy Award-qualifying Grand Prize at the 2023 Indy Shorts Film Festival and went on to receive an Oscar Nomination that year.
Two feature films celebrated by Heartland Film received Academy Awards. “Sentimental Value” from Neon was the International Closing Night film at the 2025 Heartland Film Festival and won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Heartland Film also presents the Truly Moving Picture Award to studio titles that do more than entertain. “Hamnet” was honored with the Truly Moving Picture Award in 2025, and Jessie Buckley took home the Oscar for Best Lead Actress for her role.
Heartland Film has now showcased a total of 13 Oscar-winning short films. Just a few days before the Oscars, the Heartland Film Festival was chosen as the #1 Best Film Festival by USA TODAY 10BEST Reader’s Choice Awards. For a month, readers voted on 20 nominated film festivals, and the Heartland Film Festival held the #1 spot from day 1 through 28 of voting.