The 6th Annual Heartland Film Festival took place November 5-9, 1997, and screened 9 films at Hilbert Circle Theatre, IMAX3D White River State Park, and United Artists Theatre Circle Centre. More than $100,000 was awarded at the Crystal Heart Awards Gala to the filmmakers behind the film screened at the Festival. 

Judy Stewart-Merrill attended the Festival and accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of her father, Jimmy Stewart. Other special guests include Roger Courts, Allison Elliot and Marcia Gay Harden (Actors, The Spitfire Grill, TMPA), Ron Clements and John Musker (Directors/Writers, The Little Mermaid), Jodi Benson (Actor, The Little Mermaid), Ralph Winter (Producer, X-Men movies), Shelly Duvall (Actor, Alone), Janet and Lee Batchler (Writer, Batman Forever and Spittin Image), Bill Cobbs (Actor), and Diane and Cindy Clark.