Entertainment Magazine: Film: Heartland Film Festival: 2010

Heartland Film Festival 2010

Heartland Film Festival 2010Photo left: Heartland President & CEO Jeff Sparks (second from right) with the 2010 highest film honorees (from left to right): Rebekah and Joshua Weigel, The Butterfly Circus, Kristine and Travis Fine, The Space Between and Stanley Earl Nelson, Jr., Freedom Riders. © Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. Photo credit: Banayote Photography.


The Heartland Film Festival, held October 14-23, 2010, celebrated and honored some of the world’s most talented and inspiring independent filmmakers during the 19th annual 2010 Heartland Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Old National Centre.

Awards and $150,000 in cash prizes were presented to 17 films.

Heartland announced The Space Between by Travis and Kristine Fine as the $50,000 Grand Prize Award Winner for Best Dramatic Feature, Freedom Riders by Stanley Earl Nelson, Jr. as the winner of the $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature and The Butterfly Circus by Joshua and Rebekah Weigel as the winner of the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film.

Special celebrity guests at this year's Heartland Truly Moving Pictures Festival included Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Truman), Madeline Carroll (Flipped), Alex Etel (The Water Horse, Millions) and Don Most (Happy Days).

These stars, special guests and the filmmakers of this year’s 17 Heartland Film Festival Award-winning films attended the Friday, October 15, 2010 screenings at AMC Castleton Square where all Award-winning films were screened.

Heartland Film Festival 2010Photo left: Crystal Heart Award winners at the 2010 Heartland Film Festival Awards Ceremony. © Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. Photo credit: Banayote Photography.

Also, actors Bobby Coleman (Martian Child, The Last Song, Must Love Dogs) and Beverly Mitchell (7th Heaven, Saw II) attended the screening of their film, Snowmen, during the Opening Night Event on Thursday at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Corbin Bernsen (LA Law, General Hospital) and Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) presented awards during the Heartland Film Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 16, 2010.

Heartland awarded a total of $150,000 in cash prizes and winning filmmakers received a Crystal Heart Award designed by Marc Aronstam and Aronstam Fine Jewelers.

The $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature was underwritten by Indianapolis Volkswagen Dealers, the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film was underwritten by KeyBank, and the Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Awards were underwritten by The Stewart Foundation. To date, Heartland has awarded more than $2.3 million to support filmmakers in their quest to create uplifting and inspiring films.

Screening attendance for the 19th annual Heartland Film Festival grew by 10.4 percent from last year, resulting in 36 sold out screenings and a total screening attendance of 21,586 – a new record for the Festival.

The 2010 Heartland Film Festival kicked off with the screening of Snowmen on Thursday, Oct. 14 at the IMA, sponsored by Lacy Foundation and LDI, Ltd. Director/writer Rob Kirbyson, producers John Shepherd and Stephen McEveety, and actors Bobby Coleman (Martian Child, The Last Song, Must Love Dogs) and Beverly Mitchell (7th Heaven) were in attendance for the special event.

Heartland Film Festival 2010Photo left: Catt Sadler, emcee of the 2010 Heartland Film Festival Awards Ceremony alongside Heartland President & CEO Jeff Sparks. © Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. Photo credit: Banayote Photography.

Film screenings began the following evening as 17 Award-winning films opened at AMC Castleton Square 14.

These and the 69 Official Selection films of the 2010 Festival were selected from more than 832 international independent film submissions for best meeting Heartland’s mission and demonstrating excellence in filmmaking.
 
The festivities continued with all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood during the annual Heartland Film Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 at the Old National Centre in downtown Indianapolis.

Indiana native and Emmy® award-winning journalist Catt Sadler emceed as filmmakers and guests from across the globe gathered to honor the visionaries and films of the 2010 Heartland Film Festival. During the program awards and $150,000 in cash prizes were handed out.

The complete 2010 Heartland Film Festival lineup and additional Festival information can be found online at HeartlandFilmFestival.org



HFF 2010 Interviews and Film Profiles

World War II in Wisconsin

The film Fort McCoy is based on actual people and their wartime experiences at the real Fort McCoy, a World War II POW camp on American soil for German soldiers.  Until this enlightening movie, I did not know Nazi prisoners were shipped to the U.S. for confinement.  You learn something new every day.

Not Your Usual Rock Star: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Dreams of Duncan Christopher and Director Justin Monroe

Awkwardness.  Embarrassment.  Dreams.  Determination.  Throw in some love and it’s all worthwhile. Interview with director Justin Monroe, who also plays Duncan’s rock legend father, Arthur Christopher.

Nativity!Nativity! Interviews with Filmmakers Debbie Isitt and Nick Jones

This year’s Heartland Film Festival Family Movie Event was the British comedy Nativity!  (Exclamation point included.)  It was held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which turned out to be a great place for the Sunday afternoon event.  On hand were the film’s director, Debbie Isitt, and producer Nick Jones.  Two of the children in the film, Sydney Isitt-Ager and Alexandra Allen, were also there. Continue reading more about "Nativity!."

The Presence of Tom Provost- director interview

The Yankles – Not Your Average Baseball Team, Not Your Average Movie

Discovering Paradise Recovered

The film’s screening at Heartland was the world premiere, and we were lucky enough to talk to screenwriter Andie Redwine and director Storme Wood.  We also had a chance to meet the film’s three lead actors, Heather del Rio, Dane Seth Hurlburt, and Oliver Luke, who all did a great job.  Redwine and Wood did a great job creating this film and share with us below their experiences making Paradise Recovered.

Jared at Heartland: Alabama Moon, First Dog, The Presence

2010 Heartland Film Festival Winners

The Closing Night Event, held Saturday evening at the IMA, featured the screening of The Presence and the announcement of the Audience Choice Award winners.

Audience Choice Awards during the Closing Night Event at the Indianapolis Museum of Art winners are:

Audience Choice Award for Best Dramatic Feature: Ways to Live Forever, by director Gustavo Ron

Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature: For Once in My Life, by directors Jim Bigham and Mark Moormann

Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film: The Butterfly Circus, by director/producer/writer Joshua Weigel

Chosen from ballots cast by audience members, the Audience Choice Awards were given to those films that were most enjoyed by Festival attendees. All 17 Award-winning and 69 Official Selection films were eligible for the award in their respective category.

Heartland also honored 17 feature-length and short films. Three student films received Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Awards and 14 films were honored with Crystal Heart Awards. These films were selected from a record 832 independent film submissions for best meeting Heartland’s mission and demonstrating excellence in filmmaking.
 
The filmmakers honored with Crystal Heart Awards were: Bilal's Stand – Producer/Director/Writer Sultan Sharrief; The Butterfly Circus – Producer/Director/Writer Joshua Weigel and Producer/Writer Rebekah Weigel; Café – Producer Chris Wyatt; Freedom Riders – Director Stanley Earl Nelson, Jr.; Frog in the Well – Producer/Director/Writer Ken Ochiai; Jamaa – Producer Brian Bird; Lt. Dan Band: For the Common Good – Producer/Director Jonathan Flora and Producer Deborah Flora; Mister Rogers & Me – Producer/Director/Writer Benjamin Wagner and Director Christofer Wagner; The Space Between – Producer/Director/Writer Travis Fine and Producer Kristine Fine; Sun Come Up – Producer/Director Jennifer Redfearn; Thunder Soul – Producer/Director Mark Landsman; Waste Land – Producer Hank Levine; Ways to Live Forever – Director/Writer Gustavo Ron; The Yankles – Producer/Director/Writer David R. Brooks. The filmmakers honored with the Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award were: God of Love – Producer Stefanie Walmsley; The Road Home – Producer/Director Rahul Gandotra; Waiting for a Train: The Toshio Hirano Story – Producer/Director Oscar Bucher.
 
Additional special guests at this year’s Heartland Film Festival Awards Ceremony included: Bilal’s Stand – Executive Producer Terri Sarris, Associate Producer Micah Bartelme and star Sabrina Quinn; The Butterfly Circus – Producer Angie Alvarez, Editor Chris Witt and star Bob Yerkes; Freedom Riders – featured individual Genevieve Hughes Houghton; Lt. Dan Band: For the Common Good – featured individual Jason Hale; Mister Rogers & Me – author and featured individual Amy Hollingsworth and Executive Producer David Wagner; Sun Come Up – Producer Tim Metzger; Thunder Soul – featured individual Gaila Mitchell; Ways to Live Forever – star Alex Ettel and composer Cesar Benito and The Yankles – star Don Most.  

Heartland Film Festival 2010Photo left: Special guest Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) shared his experiences with attendees at the Filmmakers' Brunch. © Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. Photo credit: Banayote Photography.


Heartland's 2010 Sponsors

Heartland Truly Moving Pictures would like to thank its 60 sponsors for helping to make the 19th annual Heartland Film Festival possible.

The Festival’s sponsors are vital in allowing Heartland to continue to celebrate and honor beautifully made films that emphasize the best of the human spirit and to recognize the filmmakers that made them.
 
Among the 48 returning sponsors are Innovative, Printing Partners and WTHR. This year’s 12 new sponsors are: A Classic Party Rental Company; ARTBOX Gallery; Coby Palmer Designs; Finish Line; IHETS; Indianapolis Volkswagen Dealers; MacExperience; May Communications Group, LLC; Outside Source Design; Panera Bread; Republic Services; and Teachers Credit Union.
 
“It is only with the support of our devoted sponsors that we’re able to organize and execute such an enormous event, which spans 10 days,” said Grace Crowell, Director of Advancement for Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. “Over the past 19 years, the Heartland Film Festival has grown in size and stature, this year bringing a record 102 films to Indianapolis. We’re thankful that as we have grown our sponsors have grown with us, allowing Heartland to continue to honor independent filmmakers and connect the people of Central Indiana with their inspiring films.”

As a non-profit organization, Heartland receives support from corporate sponsors as well as from private foundations, non-profit associations, government agencies and individual donors.

These contributions help underwrite screenings of films during the annual film festival, as well as the annual Heartland Film Festival Awards Ceremony, where Heartland presents more than $100,000 in cash prizes to winning filmmakers. Through sponsor generosity, Heartland is able to provide essential programs and services such as distributing films not yet commercially viable and creating educational opportunities for filmmakers and the community.

In addition to funds that help support the many events and activities associated with the Festival, sponsors provide donated goods and services that help make the Festival a premier event in the Midwest. They also provide the financial support necessary to encourage and enrich the independent film community, allowing filmmakers to share their powerful stories of inspiration and hope.

The Heartland Truly Moving Pictures organization

Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, a national, independent, non-profit arts organization, was established in 1991 to recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.

Its flagship event, the Heartland Film Festival®, launched in 1991 and runs each October in Indianapolis, screening independent films from around the world. Each year, the Festival awards more than $100,000 in cash prizes and presents its Crystal Heart Awards to the top-judged submissions. Heartland has awarded more than $2.2 million to support filmmakers during the last 18 years.

The organization’s Truly Moving Picture Award was created to honor films released theatrically that align with Heartland’s mission. By bestowing a watermark to honored films, the award allows studios and distributors to inform audiences of a film’s uplifting message and appeal. Heartland is also dedicated to its relationship with the National Collaboration for Youth and its expanding F.I.L.M., “Finding Inspiration in Literature & Movies,” Project.  For more information, visit TrulyMovingPictures.org.

The 2010 Heartland Film Festival sponsors

Festival Sponsors: AMC Theatresâ; ExactTarget, Inc.; Indianapolis Volkswagen Dealers; Innovative; Printing Partners; three-sixty group; WTHR
 
Premier Sponsors: Aronstam Fine Jewelers; Baker & Daniels; The Canterbury Hotel Indianapolis; Lacy Foundation; LDI, Ltd; Outside Source Design; Starbucks Coffee Company
 
Producing Sponsors: 92.3 WTTS; Borders; Carey Indiana Limousines; Covenant Productions; DCG: Digital Color Graphics; Earshot Audio-Post; Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP; Moving Pictures magazine; NUVO; Omni Severin Hotel; Teachers Credit Union; WFYI Public Broadcasting
 
Feature Sponsors: Bright Ideas in Broad Ripple; Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Inc.; Fifth Third Bank, Central Indiana; Finish Line; Indianapolis Power & Light Company; IUPUI Campus Center; KeyBank; MacExperience; Marsh Supermarkets; OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc.; Sweet & Savory Catering; WQME
 
Supporting Sponsors: Coby Palmer Designs; Current in Carmel; IHETS; Indianapolis Monthly; Jim’s Formal Wear; Markey’s Rental & Staging; Mavris Arts and Event Center; Republic Services; THE GREAT FRAME UP of Central Indiana; The Jazz Kitchen; The Southside Times; Withoutabox, a division of IMDb.com
 
Contributing Sponsors: Christel DeHaan Family Foundation; MBP Distinctive Catering; Panera Bread
 
Participating Sponsors: A Classic Party Rental Company, ARTBOX Gallery; Aveda Fredric’s Institute; Film Indiana; Heartland Distillers; Just Pop In!; May Communications Group, LLC

Heartland Film Festival 2010

The actors and filmmakers of Snowmen participated in a Q&A after the Opening Night Event screening. © Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. Photo credit: Banayote Photography.

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