INDIANAPOLIS — Coming off its two best-attended years in 2013 and 2014, the Heartland Film Festival — Indiana’s largest and longest-running celebration of independent film — has positioned itself for additional growth in 2015 with an updated, attendee-friendly schedule and added hospitality features. The Festival gives its moviegoers access to more than 100 visiting independent filmmakers from all over the world, right in the heart of the Midwest, and will showcase 147 entertaining movies that do more than just entertain over 10 days of red carpet premieres and events, parties and hundreds of film screenings across Indianapolis. New this year is a competition category, Indiana Spotlight to highlight the very best in Hoosier filmmaking across the spectrum of both feature and short films. A cash prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the top film at the Oct. 24 Awards Ceremony.
The Heartland Film Festival has earned the special designation of being a qualifying festival for the Annual Academy Awards within the Live Action Short Subject category. This means that the winner of the Grand Prize for Best Narrative Short Film will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules. The Festival has seen three Academy Award winners come through Indianapolis in the past five years.
This year, there will be more parties and events, red carpet premieres and an added Sunday of award-winning film screenings headline changes announced for the 24th annual event, set to run Oct. 16-25. Opening night will be Oct. 16 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and will feature the film “Room” at 7 p.m. Closing night, featuring the film “Coming Through the Rye” will take place on Oct. 25 at AMC Showplace Traders Point 12.
The Festival will have an all-star pavilion located outside AMC Traders Point. This all-new heated party area will be host to opening weekend red carpet premiere screenings along with other events throughout the week, including trivia and live music performances.
The Festival’s first weekend will be highlighted by titles making their big screen debut in Indianapolis. Tickets for these special event screenings will give attendees access to the film plus a red carpet after-party with filmmakers and talent at the Premiere Pavilion at AMC Traders Point. The festival includes documentaries, shorts, animated films, and full length feature films throughout the ten days.
Some highlights in the 10 day line-up include the U.S. premier of “Victor” on Oct. 17 at 7:45 p.m. at AMC Traders Point Showplace, the world premiere of the documentary feature “Big Voice” on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. also at Traders Point, “I Saw the Light” biopic of Hank Williams on Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. at Castleton Square 14, “The 33” at Trader’s Point on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., and much more.
Regular screenings begin at the Festival’s third screening venue, the Theatre at the Wheeler Arts Community on Oct. 19. Films screening at the Wheeler include “Can You Dig This,” “Monty Python and the Meaning of Live” and “Fourth Man Out.”
Screening locations are AMC Castleton Square 14, 6020 E. 82nd St.; AMC Showplace Traders Point 12, 5920 W. 86th St.; and the Theatre at the Wheeler Arts Community, 1035 Sanders St. in Fountain Square.
Set to be held on Oct. 24 at the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, the crown jewel of the Festival will honor independent filmmakers from all over the world and bestow more than $120,000 in cash prizes. All prize categories, including grand prizes, audience choice, best premieres, Indiana Spotlight and more, will be announced at this event with an after party to follow. Award-winning films will be played again Oct. 25 at AMC Showplace Traders Point 12 capped off with a closing night screening and party at the Premiere Pavilion.
The complete 2015 Heartland Film Festival lineup, schedule of films and guide book will be available at heartlandfilmfestival.org. Regular screening tickets are $11 at the box office and $9 when purchased online. Discount 12-packs of ticket vouchers are available for $90 at select Indianapolis-area Marsh Supermarket locations.
