The Heartland International Film Festival will wrap up Oct. 17 with a big weekend of films that are getting early buzz for Oscar contention. The Friday, Oct. 15 showing of Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast is sold out; there may be few seats left for The Power of the Dog showing at the Kan-Kan on Friday, but it is likely to sell out based on the star power of cast (Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst) and director (Jane Campion). Still, there are some exciting movies and documentaries to be seen in the coming days.
This year’s festival is a hybrid event, and Heartland had to send out a caution to virtual customers that certain Apple devices — those with the latest iOS 15 update — cannot play the DRM streaming content on all platforms. This is an Apple glitch, and not in the control of festival organizers. Still, many will be able to enjoy the documentaries, narrative films and animated features from the comfort of their own homes. However, not all the films at the festival can be shown virtually, due to studio restrictions.
King Richard will be shown at the Gala Event on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Toby at Newfields. This Will Smith vehicle tells the story of the father of Venus and Serena Williams and his determination to launch his daughters into sports history. Also at the Toby, at 2:30 p.m., the animated feature Ron’s Gone Wrong, with a stellar voice cast; and Jagged, the music documentary at 5 p.m. about Alanis Morrissette and her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill. (Check for ticket availability. These special events generally sell out.)
Both the Kan-Kan in the Windsor Park neighborhood and the Living Room Theater at the Bottleworks will have two screens devoted to Heartland contenders. Saturday, the Kan-Kan will host Rope at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Jimmy Stewart Retrospective. This Hitchcock-directed suspense thriller is sometimes overlooked, and well worth seeing on a big screen. At the Living Room Theatre, check out Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres, a documentary about the legendary Rolling Stones editor and writer.
For the last day of the festival, check out a showing of Mayor Pete at the Toby, a documentary about Hoosier Pete Buttigieg’s run for President. The Living Room will devote three theaters to award shows and a few films.
This year’s schedule is packed with a rich selection of films from all over the world.