PRESS RELEASES
Heartland Film Festival Announces Complete Lineup
September 7, 2006
15th Annual Festival Offers Nine Days of National & International Film Screenings, Events and Special Guests
Indianapolis, IN – Heartland Film Festival® will once again showcase the best Truly Moving PicturesSM from around the world during the 15th annual Festival, October 19-27 in Indianapolis. Heartland President & CEO Jeffrey L. Sparks announced the complete film lineup at the annual Crystal Heart Awards Announcement Celebration on Thursday evening.
The 2006 Festival will bring nearly 40 films to Indianapolis – boasting a wide variety of dramatic, documentary and animated films, four World Premieres, two U.S. Premieres, three films with Indiana connections, six films associated with a previous Heartland award winner, a past Grand Prize Award winner sidebar and much more.
Seventeen (17) films have been selected as Crystal Heart Award winners from a record 647 submissions for best meeting Heartland’s mission. Heartland will award $200,000 in cash prizes to this year’s winners, including a $100,000 Grand Prize for Best Dramatic Feature, a $25,000 Prize for Best Documentary Feature and a $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film. The $100,000 Grand Prize Award is underwritten by the Max Simon Charitable Foundation and the Vision Award is underwritten by Vision Racing.
Five Crystal Heart Award-winning films will vie for the $100,000 Grand Prize for Best Dramatic Feature. The slate includes: Producer Ilkka Matila’s moving drama “Mother of Mine”; the World Premiere of former Heartland winners’ “Outlaw Trail” by Producer Adam Abel and Director Ryan Little; the U.S. Premiere of “Secret of the Cave” by Producer David George; Director Michael Caton-Jones’ extremely powerful “Shooting Dogs” starring John Hurt and Hugh Dancy; and Producer Rick Eldridge’s “The Ultimate Gift” which is based on the best-selling book by Jim Stovall and stars Drew Fuller, James Garner and Abigail Breslin.
Five Crystal Heart Award winners will also compete for the Festival’s new $25,000 prize for Best Documentary Feature. Among the films are the powerful yet controversial “Forgiving Dr. Mengele” by Co-producers and Co-directors Bob Hercules and Cheri Pugh; the amazing story of one woman’s bold vision to save South Africa’s Lost Generation in “Ithuteng {never stop learning}” by Producer Charlie Ebersol and Director Willie Ebersol; and the transformational story of “The Hip Hop Project” by Executive Producer Bruce Willis and Co-producers and Co-directors Matt Ruskin and Scott Rosenberg. Co-producers and Co-directors Brent Pierson and Scott Galloway’s World Premiere of the inspiring “A Man Named Pearl” and “The Cross and the Towers” by Jon and Andy Erwin, which combines unseen footage and interviews with Ground Zero chaplains, will also compete in this section.
In addition to the feature and documentary competitions, Heartland will present the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short to one of four Crystal Heart Award winners competing in its short category. This includes: “Emily’s Song” by Producer, Director and Writer Frank Kelly; “I Want to Be a Pilot” by Director Diego Quemada-Diez; “Shade” by Director and Writer Kimberly Williams-Paisley and “Window” by Director and Writer Varda Hardy.
Heartland also deemed three films to be the best student submissions. These filmmakers will receive a Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award and include: Director and Writer Anna Christopher for “Queen of Cactus Cove”; Director and Writer Cristine Spindler for “Sirah”; and Producer and Director Joel Nassan for “Wednesday,” which will have its World Premiere at Heartland.
Cash prizes and awards will be presented at Heartland’s annual Crystal Heart Awards Gala on Saturday, October 21 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The public will have an opportunity to view the winning films from October 20-26 at AMC Greenwood Park 14 on the southside, the Indiana History Center in the Frank and Katrina Basile Theater downtown and the new northside location at AMC Clearwater Crossing 12.
Heartland will showcase a few films in addition to this year’s awards winners, including an official selection program and a sidebar of past Grand Prize Winners. New this year, the “official selection” films were deemed moving by Festival organizers. These films are not in competition but are eligible for the Audience Choice Award. “Official Selection” films are “Expiration Date” by Director Rick Stevenson, “Fire Creek” by Producer Seth Packard, “Thanksgiving” by Producer, Director and Writer Todd Coleman, “Life After Tomorrow” by Producer and Director Julie Stevens, “Phoenix Dance” by Producer and Director Karina Epperlein, “Little Big Top” by Producer Jessica Petelle-Slagle, “Smile” by Producer, Director and Writer Chris Mais, “Mario’s Story” by Producer and Director Susan Koch, “Janie” by Producer, Director and Writer Christine Shin and Disney’s “The Little Matchgirl” by Producer Don Hahn and Director Roger Allers.
The sidebar of former Heartland Grand Prize Award winners will include: “End of the Spear,” “Love’s Brother,” “Saints and Soldiers,” “To End All Wars,” “The War Bride,” “The Rising Place” and “Wayward Son.”
Besides great films, this year’s Festival features an exciting program of events for everyone.
Opening the nine-day event on October 19 is the U.S. Premiere of Michael Apted's powerful "Amazing Grace" at the IMAX Theater. The Festival continues with the opening night of film screenings on October 20 and exclusive filmmaker Q&A sessions with audiences. Additional events include an opportunity to meet filmmakers and special guests at the Filmmakers’ Brunch; the World Premiere of "Air Buddies" at the Kids’ Movie Party; and an exclusive peek at film clips from the upcoming and much-anticipated New Line Cinema film “The Nativity Story” which includes a special Q&A with Director Catherine Hardwicke all on October 22. Plus, film fans can attend an all-day education seminar on October 23 featuring Steven Gaydos, Executive Editor, Features, “Variety” magazine for the morning session, and a panel of award-winning filmmakers for the afternoon session.
The Festival closes October 27 with Stephen Frears’ intimate portrait of “The Queen” at the Indiana History Center and the announcement of the 2006 Audience Choice Award winners.
Tickets for film screenings and Special Events go on sale September 8. For more information and to purchase tickets, call Heartland’s toll-free ticket line at 1-866-HFF-1010 or visit www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org. A $5 service fee will be added to all Web site and phone orders. Heartland preview guides can be obtained at select Indianapolis area Marsh Supermarkets and Indianapolis Marion-County Libraries.
About Heartland Film Festival
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 and presents cash prizes and Crystal Heart Awards to the Festival’s top entries. In 2006, Heartland will increase its total prize money to $200,000. This includes doubling its Grand Prize for Best Dramatic Feature to $100,000 and two new awards: a $25,000 cash prize for Best Documentary Feature and a $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film. The $100,000 Grand Prize Award is underwritten by the Max Simon Charitable Foundation and the Vision Award is underwritten by Vision Racing. The remaining $65,000 will be shared among the 2006 Crystal Heart and Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award winners. Including the 2006 prize money, Heartland will have awarded more than $1.6 million in 15 years to support filmmakers in their quest to create Truly Moving Pictures.
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