MOVIES & TV

With eye on growth, Heartland film festival alters format

David Lindquist
david.lindquist@indystar.com
Robert Downey Jr., “The Judge” director David Dobkin and Heartland Film president Stuart Lowry answer audience questions following an Oct. 4, 2014, screening of “The Judge” at AMC Castleton 14.

The 24th annual Heartland Film Festival will shake up its traditions, including now giving out awards later in the event's 10-day run and hosting a new hospitality tent at a screening venue.

Scheduled Oct. 16 through 25, Heartland shifts from a Thursday-through-second-Saturday format to a Friday start and Sunday conclusion. The awards gala at Old National Centre will move from the festival's first Saturday to its second.

Heartland President Stuart Lowry said the festival is looking to add growth to an already successful era.

More than 23,000 seats were filled during Heartland screenings in 2014, a new record, while film submissions doubled from 800 to more than 1,600 between 2011 and 2014.

Lowry attributes Heartland's spike in film submissions to the event becoming an Oscar-qualifying festival for narrative short films in 2011. Heartland is one of about 30 U.S. festivals that move prize-winning films into the official pool of Academy Awards contenders.

"The Phone Call," this year's Oscar winner in the category of live action short film, was part of the 2014 Heartland lineup.

Prestige has never been higher for the festival that debuted in 1992 with a distinctive statement of purpose: "To recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."

A-list actor Robert Downey Jr. came to Indianapolis last October for Heartland's advance screening of "The Judge." Downey's co-star, Robert Duvall, earned an Oscar nomination in the category of best supporting actor.

Even with these positives, Lowry wants to push attendance figures higher.

"A lot of people know Heartland," he said. "They say, 'Oh, yeah, I know what you do. It's great that you're in the city.' But they haven't made that last stride into the setting yet."

Movie fans can sample the Heartland experience June 18-20, when 12 films will be screened as part of the second Heartland Film Festival Summer Rewind.

Opening night features a screening of 2014 documentary "An Honest Liar." Famed scientific skeptic James Randi, the subject of the film, will perform magic before the movie and participate in a Q&A afterward. Also known as "The Amazing Randi," he challenged the claims of psychic Uri Geller and the feats of televangelists during multiple appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in the 1980s.

Lowry said the presence of Randi and "An Honest Liar" directors Tyler Measom and Justin Weinstein give Heartland an advantage in an era of on-demand viewing on portable devices.

"You can't get that from Netflix or your phone," Lowry said.

Heartland artistic director Tim Irwin said screenings provide memorable moments for filmmakers and audience members.

"The filmmakers really want to see their film projected as they intended it, on a bigger screen," Irwin said. "And when they can look out at 150 to 300 faces that are all engaged at the same time, that's why film festivals exist."

Across 24 years, Heartland's prism for the "positive values of life" has evolved. Rugged narrative features and hard-hitting documentaries are now staples of the event.

The festival screened "Precious," the story of a 16-year-old girl overcoming abuse and neglect, in 2009. Last year's opening-night festivities featured "Men, Women & Children," a film that examined sexting, online pornography, bullying and anorexia.

"A 'Heartland film' doesn't mean that it's just a G-rated film," said Greg Sorvig, Heartland's director of marketing and public relations. "It's a film that can have some real tough subject matter. We honor quality filmmaking that expands the boundaries of what inspiration can be."

This year's Summer Rewind, made up of films previously screened at Heartland, brings back "Drunktown's Finest," a 2014 story of an American Indian reservation near Gallup, N.M. The primary characters represent religious, LGBT and aggressively masculine subsets of the community.

"That's a good example of one that maybe you wouldn't take your whole family to, but it will still resonate with you as a Heartland film," Irwin said.

Looking ahead to October's Heartland Film Festival, the Oct. 16 opening film will be screened at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Beginning on Oct. 17, AMC Showplace Traders Point 12, AMC Castleton Square 14 and Wheeler Arts Community will be the screening venues.

The Traders Point theater will be home to the new Premiere Pavilion, a heated tent where alcohol will be served.

Lowry said the tent will be a crucial social-engagement entry point for Heartland.

"That's creating the party atmosphere that we want to create," said Gary Cohen, chairman of the Heartland Film board of directors. "Every night will be an event in that tent."

Beyond Heartland's appeal as an Oscar-qualifying festival, filmmakers submit their work because Heartland is known as a strong cash-award event. Last year's best narrative feature, "Siddharth," won $45,000, the same amount given to best documentary feature "Happiness."

In 2015, Heartland will cross the $3 million mark for cash awarded to filmmakers since the event's 1992 debut.

For the nonprofit's financial health, Lowry said Heartland relies more on foundation grants and sponsorships than ticket sales.

A National Endowment of Arts "Art Works" grant of $20,000 was awarded to Heartland in December. It's the first NEA grant Heartland has received.

In another first, Heartland will present its announcement party for festival films on Sept. 17 at the Athenaeum, 407 E. Michigan St. Lowry said the event outgrew its previous home, the Indianapolis Artsgarden.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.

Heartland Film Festival Summer Rewind

WHEN: Various times June 18-20.

WHERE: Heartland Basile Theatre, 1043 Virginia Ave., Suite 2, and Wheeler Arts Community, 1035 Sanders St.

TICKETS: $8 per film, or $6 if purchased in advance. Heartland Film Members receive $2 discount. Admission to "An Honest Liar" event on opening night is $15, or $13 if bought in advance.

INFO: HeartlandFilm.org or (317) 464-9405.

Key dates for 2015 Heartland Film Festival

Sept. 17: Announcement of festival films, the Athenaeum.

Oct. 16: Opening night screening, Indianapolis Museum of Art. Party to follow at the Jazz Kitchen.

Oct. 24: Awards ceremony, Egyptian Room in Old National Centre.

Oct. 25: Closing night screening and party, AMC Traders Point.

Heartland on demand

A sampler of films from past Heartland festivals now streaming at Netflix.com:

"Siddharth" — Set in India, this 2014 Heartland best narrative feature winner is the story of a 12-year-old boy who disappears after his father sends him to work in a factory.

"Rising from Ashes" — This film, based on the Rwandan National Cycling Team and its journey to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, won the best documentary and audience choice awards at the 2012 edition of Heartland.

"Crime After Crime" — Based on a survivor of domestic violence who spent more than 25 years in prison, this film won the best documentary and audience choice awards at the 2011 edition of Heartland.

"Red Dog" — Set in Australia, this 2011 Heartland best narrative feature winner chronicles the true story of a dog that unites a community while roaming the outback in search of its master.

"Marmato" — This documentary screened during the 2014 edition of Heartland focuses on a Colombian mining town in the context of a modern gold rush.