Entertainment Magazine: Film: Heartland Film Festival: 2009

Heartland Film Festival 2009

HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2009 AWARD WINNERS

Welcome Receives $100,000 Grand Prize for Best Dramatic Feature, P-Star Rising Receives $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature and Bicycle (Jitensha) Receives the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film

The 18th annual Heartland Film Festival came to a close with a screening of The Horse Boy and the naming of the 2009 Audience Choice Award winners. The Dramatic Feature Audience Choice Award winner was a tie between the Official Selection films, Like Dandelion Dust, by director Jon Gunn, and A Shine of Rainbows, by Director Vic Sarin. The Documentary Feature Audience Choice Award winner was After the Storm, by director Hilla Medalia. The Short Film Award winner was Grande Drip, by director Angelo Restaino.

The Heartland Film Festivalâ celebrated and honored some of the world’s most talented and inspiring independent filmmakers during the 18th annual Crystal Heart Awards Gala at The Murat Centre last night. Awards and $200,000 in cash prizes were presented to 17 films. Heartland announced Welcome by Director Philippe Lioret as the $100,000 Grand Prize Award Winner for Best Dramatic Feature; P-Star Rising by Director Gabriel Noble as the winner of the $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature and Bicycle (Jitensha) by Director Dean Yamada as the winner of the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film.
 
Award-winning Extra correspondent and Indianapolis-native Carlos Diaz emceed the glamorous awards ceremony. Special guests Greg Paul (Trustee of The Stewart Foundation and President of Castle Rock Entertainment) and Don Hahn (Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Waking Sleeping Beauty) presented awards. Co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, Dr. Ed Catmull, was honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award for his creative spirit in filmmaking and his contribution to Heartland’s mission.
 
“Really this award is over due,” said Jeffrey L. Sparks, President and CEO of Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. “Every feature film from Pixar has received a Truly Moving Picture Award from Heartland. No other studio has that kind of record with us. Dr. Catmull and the entire Pixar team are true pioneers in the world of filmmaking. Their films continue to inspire and entertain everyone who sees them, and we’re thrilled to honor him with this award.” 
 
During the program, Heartland honored 17 dramatic and documentary short and feature-length films. Two student films received Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Awards and 15 films were honored with Crystal Heart Awards. These films were selected from more than 600 international film submissions for best meeting Heartland’s mission and demonstrating excellence in filmmaking.
 
The filmmakers honored with Crystal Heart Awards were: After the Storm – Producer/Director Hilla Medalia; Bicycle (Jitensha) – Director Dean Yamada; Big John – Producer Dag Hoel and Director Håvard Bustnes; The Eagle Hunter’s Son – Director Renè Bo Hansen; Entre Nos – Directors/Writers Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza; The Final Inch – Producer/Director Irene Taylor Brodsky; For My Father – Producer Zvi Spielmann; Marbles With Thoreau – Producer/Director/Writer Melody George; P-Star Rising – Director Gabriel Noble; Rough Aunties – Executive Producer Debra Zimmerman; Sergio – Producer/Director Greg Barker; Seven Minutes in Heaven – Director/Writer Omri Givon; Side by Side – Director Christian Sønderby Jepsen; Small Collection – Producer/Director/Writer Jeremiah Crowell and Welcome – Director Philippe Lioret. The filmmakers honored with the Jimmy Steward Memorial Crystal Heart Award were Acholiland – Producer Daniel Harrich and Kavi – Producer/Director/Writer Gregg Helvey.
 
Additional highlights included Heartland recognizing recipients of the prestigious Truly Moving Picture Award, which is bestowed upon theatrically released films that uphold the values of Heartland. Also, three-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and producer of the Official Selection documentary feature, Kabul 24, Michael W. Smith was in attendance. Smith performed a song from his instrumental album and a brief medley of favorite movie scores. 
 
Additional special guests at this year’s Crystal Heart Awards Gala included: After the Storm – Executive Producer Ed Priddy and Executive Producer/Featured Individual James Lecesne; Big John – Featured Individual Ole Klemetsen; The Final Inch – Associate Producer Sophie Harris; Kavi – Editor Chris Witt; Marbles With Thoreau – Editor Robin George; P-Star Rising – Featured Individuals Jesse and Priscilla P-Star Diaz; The Perfect Game – Star Ryan Ochoa; Rough Aunties – Featured Individuals Eureka Olivier and Ladyfair Sdudla Sibiya; Seven Minutes in Heaven – Star Eldad Prives and Small Collection – Star Chris Stack.
 
Also, filmmakers and stars from the following Official Selection films were in attendance: A Shine of Rainbows, Americana, Another Harvest Moon, Beauty, Being Bucky, Facing Extinction: Christians in Iraq, Fifty Cents, JesusFreaks, Kabul 24, Like Dandelion Dust, Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, The Mighty Macs, My Name is Jerry, Pearl, Quest for Honor and She’s a Fox.
 
In addition to the total $200,000 awarded, winning filmmakers received a Crystal Heart Award designed by Mark Aronstam and Aronstam Fine Jewelers. The $100,000 Grand Prize Award for Best Dramatic Feature was underwritten by The Joshua Max Simon Charitable Foundation, the $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature was underwritten by Godby Family of Services and the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film was underwritten by KeyBank. To date, Heartland has awarded more than $2.2 million to support filmmakers in their quest to create uplifting and inspiring films.
  
Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, a non-profit organization, seeks to recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by expressing hope and emphasizing the best of the human spirit. 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 $200,000 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. (INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 18, 2008)

The Heartland Film Festival for 2009

The organization’s flagship event, the Heartland Film Festival, invites independent filmmakers from around the world to submit feature length and short films in dramatic, documentary and animation categories. The Festival awards $200,000 in cash prizes and presents its Crystal Heart Awards to the top-judged submissions.

This includes a $100,000 Grand Prize Award for Best Dramatic Feature, a $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature and a $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film.

October offers moviegoers a rare glimpse at these independent films and special events for film enthusiasts of all ages, including a black tie awards gala, a special family movie event, an education seminar featuring industry experts and much more. Festival attendance has increased the past six years with a record of more than 21,000 attendees in 2006.

2009 HFF films and Special Events

Heartland Film Festival Index