Festivals
Heartland Film hosts both the annual Heartland International Film Festival -- the first and second week in October -- to honor the best in independent film and the Academy-Award® Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival -- the third weekend of July -- to showcase the outstanding craft of short film (40-minutes in length or less). These festivals are the driving forces for our non-profits arts organizations and stand as a testament to Heartland Film’s vision to be the pre-eminent destination for connecting audiences and filmmakers to experience transformative film.
Best of Fest Presented by Edward Jones
Heartland Film partners with the 100-year-old Historic Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, Indiana for a weekend in March to showcase fan-favorite films from the Heartland International Film Festival. This is your second chance to see some of the most talked about festival films!
Best of Fest has been running for 11 years, and previous screenings include "Parasite," "The Whale" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
The Historic Artcraft Theatre was built in 1922 and remains one of the most intact Art Deco movie houses in central Indiana. Every weekend, hundreds of people from communities near and far gather in the stunning one-screen theater for an unforgettable experience. We can't think of a better place to celebrate our annual Best of Fest event!
Merry Movie Nights Presented by Edward Jones
Merry Movie Nights Presented by Edward Jones will be returning in December of 2023!
Come out for our festive mini-movie series showcasing your favorite holiday classic films. More details will be announced in November.
Truly Moving Picture Award
Since 2010, Heartland Film has selected nearly 200 studio-released films to honor with the Truly Moving Picture Award (TMPA). The TMPA laurel is a symbol of curatorial standard to help moviegoers easily identify impactful studio-released films that do more than entertain. As films are released throughout the year, Heartland Film bestows this Award on a rolling basis.
Heartland Film staff and TMPA jury members screen each film that is submitted directly from studios and producers for consideration. The films are judged on their overall artistic and technical quality. Some TMPA-winning films may be shown at the Heartland International Film Festival, but the Award is not tied to the event.
Virtual Screenings
Experience the groundbreaking life and legacy of Carl Erskine, the last of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Boys of Summer, Jackie Robinson’s close friend and one of the great human-rights champions of our time.
2022 Heartland International Film Festival Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award Winner