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 films that do more than 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 10 Oscar®-winning shorts. 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
Michael Ault
President
Adam Howell
Vice President
Sarah Donaldson
Executive Assistant
Heather Ross
Director of Development
Emily Chu
Development Manager
Bailey Britton
Director of Events
Abi Lindstedt
Community Outreach &
Education Manager
Evan Vernon
Film Programming Coordinator
Kate Powers
Special Events Coordinator
Greg Sorvig
Artistic Director
Julie Landrum
Film Programmer
Jessica Chapman
Director of Marketing & Communications
Angelo Auriemma
Creative Manager
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
John Dewey
Board Chair
David Wong
Vice Chair
Jennifer Darby
Secretary
Gabe Connell
Treasurer
Kim Dollin
Immediate Past Chair
Frank Basile
Vicki Bohlsen
Charla Booth
Jennifer Closshey
Daniel Cook
Tim Cook
Carolyn Hunt
Michael Husain
Phil Kenney
Kristi Lee
Fred Lockett
Karen Mangia
Seth Maxwell
Yung Nguyen
Gregory M. Paul
Amy Pauszek
Patricia Payne
Ben Shine
Stan Soderstrom
Robert Spoonmore
Betty Stilwell
Bill Stinson
Susie Townsend
Vernon Williams
TJ Woodard
Advisory Council
Kelly Alexiou
Mary Azar Callahan
Brooke Barnett
Alpha Blackburn
Lisa Breall
Mika Brown
Andrea Brummett
Ellen Butz
Katrina Canfield
Gary Cohen
Sandra Daly
Claudia Dille
Leslie Donchetz
Michael Durr
LeeAnn Edmonston
Jenny Godby
Lynda Goeke
Arlene Grande
Tom Grande
Nikki Gray
Ted Green
Dija Henry
Amy Howell
Lindsey Marie Kirkpatrick
David Klapper
Cori Korn
Larry Landis
Katie Lory
Luke Messer
Liza Najem
Alexis Odle
Sam Odle
Chris Phillips
Heather Richmund
Michelle Roberts
Suzanne Rothenberg
Susan Salsbery
Bob Schultz
Sarah Silcox
Neelu Sondhi
Brian Southard
David Spencer
Chantel Stone
Rocky Walls
Roberta Walton
Amy Wright
