INDIANAPOLIS _ The 30th Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) announced its 2021 award winners and recipients of more than $60,000 in cash prizes via its Virtual Awards Presentation October 15, and the Audience Choice Awards announted October 18.
Major cash prizes were awarded to Americanish from Director Iman Zawahry ($20,000 Narrative Feature Grand Prize), All These Sons from Bing Liu and Joshua Altman ($20,000 Documentary Feature Grand Prize), and Stay Prayed Up from Directors D.L. Anderson and Matt Durning ($5,000 Jimmy Stewart Legacy Award).
King Richard was named the HIFF Overall Audience Choice Award, and the film’s star and producer Will Smith was honored with a Pioneering Spirit Award.
Mass won the FIPRESCI Award for Best U.S. Narrative Directorial Debut, and was the winner of the Narrative Special Presentation Audience Choice Award. The Indiana Film Journalists Association named it as Best Special Presentation. One of the stars of the film, Ann Dowd, was honored with a Pioneering Spirit: Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Documentary Special Presentation Audience Choice Award went to The Rescue. The Narrative Official Selection Audience Choice Award was Peace by Chocolate, and the Documentary Award went to For the Left Hand. The Addict’s Wake won the Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award. In the horror category, What Josiah Saw won the Audience Choice Award.
The 30th Heartland International Film Festival showcased 143 films including 11 World Premieres, 8 U.S. Premieres, and 14 Event Titles. Many who attended the in-person showings were visiting a movie theater for the first time since the pandemic started.
In addition to in-person and outdoor screenings, film fans had the option of streaming films. While not all films were available for streaming due to contractual restrictions with studios, audiences spend thousands of hours streaming throughout the 10 days of the festival.
Heartland International Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying festival. In addition to the HIFF, Heartland also hosts an International Shorts Festival that draws hundreds of filmmakers from around the world to present their works. The Shorts Festival is also an Academy Award qualifying festival.
For more information about Heartland, visit heartlandfilm.org.
