An Indianapolis family, Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and Dave Matthews have something in common: They’ll all be seen in Heartland Film Festival offerings Oct. 21-29 at various Indianapolis venues.
Crystal Heart Award winners, opening and closing films and other festival events were announced Thursday night at a gathering for members, sponsors and volunteers at the Indiana History Center.
“Because of Winn-Dixie,” the opening-night film Oct. 21, stars Matthews and Jeff Daniels; “Finding Neverland,” the closing-night film, stars Depp and Winslet. Crystal Heart Award-winner “Dear Frankie” stars Gerard Butler (“The Phantom of the Opera”). Another winner, “A Place Called Home: An Adoption Story,” documents the struggle of the Indianapolis family to keep nine siblings despite overwhelming odds.
The nonprofit annual film festival, founded in 1991, “recognizes and honors filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”
Crystal Heart Awards for 21 films, including features, shorts, animation and documentaries, and $100,000 in cash prizes will be given Oct. 23 in Conseco Fieldhouse, when the $50,000 grand prize winner and other cash awards will be revealed.
Winning features will be paired with one or two shorts in 11 programs during the festival.
Additional Crystal Heart winners include:
“Love’s Brother,” “Tackle Box,” “Chestnut,” “Les Choristes,” “Birthday Boy,” “Killer Diller,” “Miracle Mile,” “When Zachary Beaver Came to Town,” “Let Go,” “Burying the Past: Legacy of the Mountain Meadows Massacre,” “Breakfast With Mary & Chet,” “Full Circle,” “The Conscientious Objector,” “The Angel of Chilside Road,” “Casanova at Fifty,” “Alone Across Australia,” “Nellie: A Life Worth Living,” “Flyaway” and “Hardwood Dreams: Ten Years Later.” The original “Hardwood Dreams,” a 1993 winner, also will be shown.
Confirmed guests include “Winn-Dixie” director Wayne Wang (“Maid in Manhattan”); Richard M. Sherman, an Academy Award-winning songwriter (“Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”); Mike Rich, a screenwriter (“The Rookie,” “Radio”); film music editor Joseph DeBeasi (“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and “Winn-Dixie”); and Mike Tollin, a Crystal Heart winner and executive producer of “The Days” TV series. At least one filmmaker from each winning film will attend.
A Truly Moving Musicals program featuring seven classic musical films has been added to the festival, curated by Jack Everly, principal pops conductor with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
A filmmakers’ brunch, children’s movie party and education seminar also were announced.
Tickets will go on sale today at select Indianapolis Marsh Supermarkets; through Heartland’s toll-free ticket line at (866) 443-1010; or at www.heartland filmfestival.org.
Festival venues will be the IMAX Theater; Conseco Fieldhouse; Marriott Downtown; Indiana History Center Theater; 30 South Meridian St.; AMC Castleton Arts; and AMC Greenwood Park 14.