INDIANAPOLIS — The Heartland Film Festival will celebrate its 25th Anniversary Oct. 20-30 with appearances by Jessica Biel, Dr. Kent Brantly, John Rhys-Davies, Rory Feek, and Alan Thicke.
Since its first event in 1992, Heartland has awarded $3 million in prize money to independent filmmakers — more than any other film festival in North America. The Academy Award-qualifying Festival will once again give its moviegoers access to more than 100 visiting independent filmmakers from all over the world, and will showcase 138 films over 11 days of red carpet premieres and events, parties, and hundreds of film screenings across Indianapolis. There are two venues for films — AMC Castleton Square (6020 E. 82nd St.) and AMC Showplace Traders Point 12 (592 W. 86th St.). To download a full schedule, visit heartlandfilm.org
Basic ticket pricing is $12 per show for nonmembers ($9 for members), a $90 10-pack voucher(available at the box office), and festival pass pricing of $100 for a Matinee pass, $225 Cinephile pass, or All-Access pass for $375, which includes special events passes and more. To get tickets, visit the Web site, or call 1-866-HFF-1010 or download the Heartland Film Festival app. Vouchers are also available at select Indianapolis area Marsh Supermarkets.
Highlights of the festival include the Opening Night Screening and After Party – “The Book of Love” on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at Scottish Rite Cathedral, 7 p.m. Scheduled appearances by actress Jessica Biel, producer Michelle Purple, and actor Richard Robichaux. After party to feature live music from Jon McLaughlin.
The 25th Anniversary Celebration will be Oct. 21 Premiere Pavilion at AMC Castleton Square 14, 5:30 p.m. VIP, 6:30 p.m. Celebrating the 25-year legacy of Heartland Film, actor Brian Dennehy scheduled to appear to receive the Pioneering Spirit: Lifetime Achievement Award from Heartland Film.
On Oct. 29 at the Premiere Pavilion at AMC Castleton Square 14 at 7 p.m., Heartland Film Festival will unveil all its winners and bestow $129,000 in cash prizes to independent filmmakers with music by Tonos Triad.
Don’t miss the Filmmakers’ Brunch on Oct. 30 at the Sheraton Indianapolis at Keystone at the Crossing, 11 a.m. This is a unique opportunity to speak one-on-one with storytellers and to hear different perspectives on all aspects of the filmmaking process.
The Closing Night Screening and After Party will feature the film “Josephine” on Oct. 30 at AMC Castleton Square 14, 7 p.m., and director/writer Rory Feek will be on hand to talk about the film.
Several world premieres will happen at Heartland Film Festival, including High School 9-1-1”(Fri., Oct. 21, 12:15 p.m.), “Winter Thaw” (Sat., Oct. 22, 3:30 p.m.), “The JJ Project” (Sat., Oct. 22, 5:45 p.m.) and many more documentaries and narrative features.
Six films have been highlighted to encompass the full range of Heartland Film Festival selections and current trends in cinema. From documentaries about Indianapolis to a virtual reality experience about Swaziland, these films show audiences the world through a wide range of perspectives. All screenings will be hosted at AMC Castleton Square 14. The films include “Attucks: The School That Opened a City,” “Facing Darkness,” “Lion,” “Matsanjeni (The Bones) – A Thirst Project VR Film,” “The Ultimate Legacy,” and “USS Indianapolis: The Legacy.”
For the past 25 years, the Heartland Film Festival has been inspiring filmmakers and audiences through the transformative power of film. For its silver anniversary, encore screenings of past Festival favorites are being brought back to the big screen. Titles include “Rudy” (1993) , “The Ultimate Gift” (2006), “Lars and the Real Girl” (2007), “Second Hand Wedding” (2008), “Red Dog” (2011), “Rising from Ashes” (2012), “No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie” (2013), and “Where Hope Grows” (2014).
