Film: Heartland Film Festival: 2008

Heartland Film Festival 2008

Awards Gala 2008

Jeffery L. Sparks, Director/Writer Amin Matalqa (Captain Abu Raed), Executive Producer David Pritchard (Captain Abu Raed), Producer Abigail Disney (Pray the Devil Back to Hell), Producer/Director Charles Sommer (Victoria).

ET’s Carlos Diaz (left), the Awards Gala Master of Ceremonies, at the Filmmakers Brunch

Heartland Film Festival director Jeff Sparks (left) giving the Audience Choice Award to Donald Boggs, director-producer of A Ripple of Hope

About Heartland Truly Moving Pictures

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.

Organization at a Glance

Sixteen years ago, a group of visionaries united to create a unique film festival to honor beautifully made films that emphasize the best of the human spirit and to give filmmakers the things most needed to continue making those films – cash prizes and opportunities to showcase their work. The non-profit organization has expanded far beyond its regional founding in 1991.

As a result of its growth, a new parent organization – Heartland Truly Moving Pictures TM – was created in 2007. The change highlighted the organization’s industry award, the Truly Moving Picture Award, while at the same time redefining its commitment to filmmakers, studios and distributors whose projects address challenging subjects, yet provide meaningful storylines and resolution. Heartland also expanded its film festival programming, year-round marketing efforts and events and its rapidly growing “Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies” project (F.I.L.M.) in association with the National Collaboration for Youth.

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 $1.6 million to support filmmakers during the last 16 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 and Movies,” project.

For more information, visit www.TrulyMovingPictures.org.

Heartland Film Festival

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. The annual nine-day film festival in

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.

Official Heartland Film Festival Web site
www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org

Heartland Film Festival Index

Film Entertainment Magazine

Heartland Film Festival