FESTIVAL HISTORY
The Backstory
Fifteen years ago, a group of visionaries united to create a unique film festival to honor beautifully made films that celebrate the positive aspects of life. In 1991, that festival was a small event in Indianapolis. Today, it's nine days of student and professional films, a variety of Special Events and a one-of-a-kind experience in one of the Midwest's most inviting cities.
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 independent films from around the world and presents $200,000 in cash prizes and Crystal Heart Awards to the Festival’s top entries. This includes a $100,000 Grand Prize for Best Dramatic Feature underwritten by the Max Simon Charitable Foundation, a $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature and a $10,000 Award for Best Short Film. The remaining $65,000 is shared among the Crystal Heart and Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award winners. Heartland will have awarded more than $1.6 million in 15 years to support filmmakers in their quest to create films that bring out the best of the human spirit.
Heartland President Jeffrey L. Sparks has been a part of the story since its beginning and remains a driving force behind the Festival's evolving direction. Through the combined efforts of a talented staff, dedicated board and reliable volunteers, the Festival has managed to morph and adapt to changing audiences and initiatives. Regardless of the exterior changes, Heartland's focus has always remained the same: to recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.
For example, in 2002, the Heartland Film Festival launched Heartland Film Festival Video, a video distribution initiative. The first movie to be released under the Heartland Film Festival video label was Best Man in Grass Creek, a romantic comedy and Crystal Heart Award Winner at the Heartland Film Festival. Heartland Film Festival Video provided a video outlet for promising independent films that otherwise may not gain wide distribution. Heartland has also released Diary of a City Priest and Final Solution under its distribution initiative. These film titles remain available for purchase at Amazon.com.
In 2000, Heartland created the Truly Moving Picture Award as a way to honor theatrically-released films that demonstrate the Heartland purpose with excellence, inspiring and enriching lives. Submissions are received directly from studios and producers for consideration. Since the industry decides a film’s success based on the opening weekend box office, Heartland encourages audiences to attend a Truly Moving Picture on its first weekend. Visit TRULY MOVING PICTURES for more information.
The Heartland Film Festival is in its second decade of honoring Truly Moving Pictures and the visionaries behind them. Please join us in achieving our mission by attending the Festival, viewing a Truly Moving Picture in the theater or at home and purchasing a Heartland Film Festival video.