Now in its 23rd year, the Heartland Film Festival continues its mission to showcase films with a heart — and a soul. Under new leadership from Stuart Lowry (former Indianapolis Parks Department head), the festival kicked off with a big weekend of sell-out shows and lots of critical buzz. Popular films such as An Honest Liar (about the Amazing Randi), and Highway to Dhampus were sold out quickly, but audiences weren’t disappointed in “second choice” films such as Uranium Drive-In, and the farce Lucky Stiff. The Shorts programs this year are incredibly well done, with collections of 10-15 minute films grouped together, often thematically (“The Many Faces of Love,” “Three Short Docs,” and “It’s Tough to be a Kid.”). The shorts we saw were an eclectic bunch, ranging from a crowdfunded animation about memory and loss (Load) to a wryly funny requiem for a dead car (We Keep on Dancing).
The 2014 Award winners were also announced Oct. 18, with the $45,000 Grand Prize for Best Narrative Feature going to Siddharth, the $45,000 Grand Prize for Best Documentary Feature to Happiness, the $5,000 Grand Prize for Best Narrative Short to Record, the $5,000 Grand Prize for Best Documentary Short to Showfolk. The $2,000 Winners of the Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award went to Grand Canal and Our Curse. The $2,500 Winner of the High School Film Competition went to Chris. These are films that may be contenders at the Oscars and Golden Globes.
With just a few scant days left to see these, and many other films, potential film-goers should go online to www.heartlandfilm.org at download a program or schedule. Smartphone users can download the app at the iTunes store, which provides ticket information and show times for the movies. Those who are tech-challenged might want to go to the theatres early and pick up a paper copy of the schedules. The participating theaters are the AMC Castleton Square 14 at 6020 E. 82nd St., Trader’s Point Showplace 12 at 5920 W. 86th St. and the Theatre at Wheeler Arts Community at 1035 Sanders St., #111 in Fountain Square. Tickets are $9 each, except for special events, such as the closing show at the IMA on the 25th.
You can go to as many shows as you like, paying as you go, or buy a pass or packet of tickets good for a number of shows. There are films at the festival from every part of the world, and on all sorts of topics (the gay rodeo circuit, the North Dakota oil boom, incurable diseases, the story of Forrest Lucas of Lucas Oil fame). The Heartland Film Festival is for audiences who love good storytelling that doesn’t rely on special effects, big stars prancing around in their birthday suits, and a big PR budget.
