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 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
President
Executive Assistant
Director of Development
Development Manager
Senior Director of Strategic Planning
Director of Events
Community Outreach &
Special Events Coordinator
Artistic Director
Volunteer Coordinator
Director of Marketing & Communications
Creative Manager
Social Media Coordinator
Evan Vernon
Special Events &
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
Gabe Connell
Daniel Cook
Jennifer Darby
Carolyn Hunt
Michael Husain
Kristi Lee
Fred Lockett
Karen Mangia
Seth Maxwell
Yung Nguyen
Gregory M. Paul
Amy Pauszek
Patricia Payne
Ben Shine
Stan Soderstrom
Robert Spoonmore
Bill Stinson
Susie Townsend
Vernon Williams
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
LeeAnn Edmonston
Jenny Godby
Lynda Goeke
Arlene Grande
Tom Grande
Nikki Gray
Ted Green
Amy Howell
Lindsey Marie Kirkpatrick
David Klapper
Cori Korn
Larry Landis
Lisa LeCrone
Katie Lory
Charlie Morgan
Liza Najem
Alexis Odle
Sam Odle
Ken Pack
Chris Phillips
Heather Richmund
Michelle Roberts
Suzanne Rothenberg
Susan Salsbery
Todd Shock
Bob Schultz
Brian Southard
David Spencer
Chantel Stone
Roberta Walton
Dave Windisch
Amy Wright
