The 17th Annual Heartland Film Festival took place October 16-24, 2008, and screened 37 films at the AMC Theatres Castleton Square, AMC Theatres Greenwood, and Regal Entertainment Group UA Circle Centre. The theme for the festival was “What moves you about the movies?”

President of Picture House, Bob Berney, attended the Festival and was honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award. Other special guests include Mark Herman (Director, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) John Boyne (Author, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas), David Thewlis (Actor, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas), Daniel Battsek (President of Miramax, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) Abigail Disney (Producer, Pray the Devil Back to Hell), Daniel Barnz (Director, Phoebe in Wonderland), and Ralph Winter (Filmmaker).