
About
Who we are and what we do
Who We Are
Heartland Film is a nonprofit arts organization that runs the 11-day Heartland International Film Festival in October, the Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival in July, the Truly Moving Picture Award and other year-round programs.
Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Heartland Film was founded in 1991 with the mission to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films from diverse perspectives. The films we select and exhibit – whether they inspire conversation, ignite imagination, or shift perspectives – all have one thing in common: they are entertaining films that do more than just entertain.


Films that do
more than
entertain.
Over the years, we presented $3.5 million in cash prize – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America – presented 200+ studio films with the Truly Moving Picture Award, and showcased more than 2,000 feature and short films, including eight Oscar®-winning titles. To view our past Festival guidebooks, pictures, films and more check out digital archives section here!
Vision: Heartland Film is the preeminent destination for connecting audiences and filmmakers to experience transformative film.
Programs
Staff
President
Director of Office Management
Director of Development
Development Coordinator
Senior Director of Strategic Planning
Production & Special Events Manager
Community Outreach &
Special Events Coordinator
Artistic Director
Senior Programmer
Volunteer Coordinator
Director of Marketing & Communications
Creative Manager
Social Media Coordinator
Hospitality Coordinator
Please do not email staff members about film submissions. Please visit our Filmmaker FAQ and email submissions@heartlandfilm.org if you have any questions.
Board of Directors
Kim Dollin
Board Chair
TJ Woodard
Vice Chair
David Wong
Secretary
John Dewey
Treasurer
Betty Stilwell
Immediate Past Chair
Frank Basile
Vicki Bohlsen
Jennifer Closshey
Daniel Cook
Gabe Connell
Jennifer Darby
Christina Hale
Carolyn Hunt
Michael Husain
Kristi Lee
Fred Lockett
Karen Mangia
Seth Maxwell
Gregory M. Paul
Yung Nguyen
Amy Pauszek
Patricia Payne
Ben Shine
Stan Soderstrom
Robert Spoonmore
Bill Stinson
Susie Townsend
Vernon Williams
Advisory Council
Mary Azar Callahan
Brooke Barnett
Alpha Blackburn
Vicki Bohlsen
Lisa Breall
Mika Brown
Andrea Brummett
Ellen Butz
Sandra Daly
Claudia Dille
Leslie Donchetz
LeeAnn Edmonston
Susan Frenzel
Arlene Grande
Jenny Godby
Lynda Goeke
Nikki Gray
Ted Green
Amy Howell
David Klapper
Larry Landis
Lisa LeCrone
Katie Lory
Charlie Morgan
Liza Najem
Alexis Odle
Sam Odle
Ken Pack
Amy Pauszek
Bob Schultz
Todd Shock
Brian Southard
David Spencer
Chantel Stone
Roberta Walton
Amy Wright

