
About
This is 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.


Entertaining
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
Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Development
Development Coordinator
Director of Production & Events
Production & Special Events Manager
Artistic Director
Senior Programmer
Volunteer Coordinator
Director of Marketing & Communications
Creative Manager
Social Media Coordinator
Evan Vernon
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
Gary Cohen
Daniel Cook
Jennifer Darby
Arlene Grande
Christina Hale
Carolyn Hunt
Michael Husain
David Klapper
Robert Massie
Seth Maxwell
Charlie Morgan
Gregory M. Paul
Yung Nguyen
Patricia Payne
Heather Richmund
Ben Shine
Stan Soderstrom
Robert Spoonmore
Bill Stinson
Vernon Williams
Advisory Council
Mary Azar Callahan
Brooke Barnett
Alpha Blackburn
Vicki Bohlsen
Lisa Breall
Mika Brown
Andrea Brummett
Ellen Butz
Sandra Daly
Leslie Donchetz
LeeAnn Edmonston
Susan Frenzel
Jenny Godby
Lynda Goeke
Nikki Gray
Ted Green
Amy Howell
Larry Landis
Lisa LeCrone
Katie Lory
Liza Najem
Alexis Odle
Sam Odle
Ken Pack
Amy Pauszek
Bob Schultz
Todd Shock
Brian Southard
David Spencer
Chantel Stone
Roberta Walton
Amy Wright
