MORE THAN 500 VOLUNTEERS AND NEARLY 50 SPONSOR ORGANIZATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE 2005 HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL

Each year hundreds of volunteers, contributors and sponsors donate their time, money and resources to help bring some of the best Truly Moving PicturesSM in cinema – films that enrich and inspire – to Indiana through the Heartland Film Festival®. This year more than 500 volunteers and nearly 50 sponsor organizations contributed to the success of the 2005 Festival.

 

“All of our volunteers are very dedicated to Heartland’s mission,” said Diana Davis, director of volunteers for Heartland Film Festival. “We could not put on this film festival without the support from the community and the hundreds of volunteers who give many hours to help plan and make the Festival happen.”

 

Heartland recognized the invaluable support of sponsors and contributors as well as the countless hours committed by volunteers at the annual Thank You luncheon on Thursday, December 1 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Several volunteers received special recognition for their work.

 

John Blankenship was honored with the 2005 Paul and Marie Sparks Volunteer Hours Award for serving the most hours this year. Blankenship has been a long-time supporter of Heartland, greeting filmmakers and special guests at the airport since the beginning of the Festival 14 years ago. As head of the committee for Airport Hospitality this year, Blankenship spent numerous hours training committee members, waiting on arrivals, confirming schedules and greeting guests with "Hoosier hospitality." Additionally, Blankenship served as a member of the Gala production team and helped backstage with the awards and honorees during Crystal Heart Awards ceremony.

 

Julie Husselman received the President’s Volunteer Award, which recognizes the volunteer who has committed his/her leadership and extraordinary talents to raise Heartland to a new level. Husselman has served on the Crystal Heart Awards Gala committee for several years, including co-chairing the event the past two years. She was nominated by Heartland staff, Board members and volunteers for her leadership, creativity, organization and professionalism.

 

Heartland also presented the Spirit Award to the Gallery Seating committee who helped increase gallery seating attendance at the Crystal Heart Awards ceremony by nearly 60 percent. Established in 2004, the Spirit Award honors a group of three or more who have shown unusual spirit and energy in serving as volunteers for the Festival. Gallery Seating Committee Members included: Robin and Joel Singer, Co-Chairs; Diane and Steve Matthews, Vice Co-Chairs; Mauvene Borton; Melissa Langan; Mike Pisano; Malia Savarino; and Janet Schwind.

 

“Each year our volunteer base grows, not only in size, but also in leadership and creativity,” said Jeffrey L. Sparks, president of Heartland Film Festival. “Each one of this year's recipients embodies these important traits, providing Heartland with the strongest of foundations on which to build a successful event.”

 

Heartland Film Festival Volunteer Awards

 

Additionally, Heartland presented the Heartland Persistence of Vision Award to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for their creativity and excellence in the advancement of the Heartland Film Festival mission and Truly Moving Pictures.

 

Based on the retention of an image on the human eye after its disappearance, Persistence of Vision is the phenomenon that allows people to view motion pictures. It is this same sort of lasting impact that sponsors have on the advancement of Heartland. Heartland Film Festival Board members and staff select the Persistence of Vision Award recipient. Honorees receive a sculpture designed by local artists David Kirby Bellamy and Emily Wildes Kennerk.

 

Heartland Film Festival, a non-profit 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. Each October, Heartland screens Truly Moving Pictures from around the world, ranging from dramas to documentaries to animation. Heartland awards more than $100,000 in cash prizes and Crystal Heart Awards to the Festival's top entries, including a $50,000 grand prize for best dramatic feature. The Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award winners for the best student films and the Crystal Heart Award winners share the remaining money. The Crystal Heart Award cash prizes are given in honor of Max Simon by his parents, Melvin and Bren Simon, through the Max Simon Charitable Foundation. In 14 years, Heartland has awarded more than $1.4 million to support filmmakers in their quest to create Truly Moving Pictures.

 

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National Public Relations

Lynda Dorf / Alfred Hopton
B|W|R Public Relations

Los Angeles, California
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Local/Regional Public Relations
Lisa Dudeck
three-sixty group
Indianapolis, Indiana
(317) 633-1456
lisa@360grouponline.com