Free Samples is easily one of the funniest films playing in this year’s festival. It’s the story of Jillian, who is stuck performing a thankless humiliating job while running into some of the weirdos of Los Angeles and avoiding what’s really bothering her. We were able to talk to the director of this great film, Jay Gammill to figure out what it was like filming with the ice cream truck and what makes Jillian tick.
Kipp Normand is a local legend around Indianapolis. He is a quaint man who creates wonderful pieces of art from objects that were thrown away or disguarded. Filmmaker Jonathan Frey created a personal short film about this artist, entitled “Kipp Normand” and it is one of the Festival Award-winning short films. We talked with Jonathan about his relationship with Kipp and the art that really speaks to him.
One of the shorts in our “Interesting Individuals” program follows a man named Ali who is trapped in an Australian refugee prison. He keeps himself fit by endlessly running. “Ali 707” is a very charming short film about the strength of the human spirit and we were able to talk with writer/director Hannah Moore about being a first time director and what it was like to film such a physically demanding short.
Many people just need a break, a few days to cool off and readjust your life. That’s what actress Nikki Gold realized on the brink of a career scandal so she stays in a small New Hampshire town longer than she expected in 3 Days of Normal. This film is one of our most delightful narratives we’re playing this year and we’re thrilled we were able to talk with director Ishai Setton about creating the right tone for this type of romantic comedy and how it’s possible to make a town a character in the film.
Recently we chatted with Afarin Eghbal, director of 2011 Jimmy Stewart Crystal Heart award-winning short, Abuelas. We discussed her film’s journey over the last year, and what her involvement with Heartland has meant to her personally and as a filmmaker. It’s such a reward to hear from filmmakers throughout the world who embrace our organization and its impact on film and culture with unbridled enthusiasm.
OSCAR®-winning director Ron Howard was in town this weekend to lead the Brickyard 400 field as the event’s official pace car driver. Heartland President & CEO Jeff Sparks and Board Secretary Laura George (wife of former Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. President and CEO Tony George) met with Ron at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to present the acclaimed filmmaker with a Truly Moving Picture Award.
Great films matter. Their impact on society is real–and desperately needed. We believe in the power of movies because we’ve seen what they can do. Thank you, NUVO readers, for voting us Indy’s best film festival for the 13th consecutive year!
Margot Eccles cared deeply and passionately about this city, the arts, but most of all people. It was Margot’s love of film brought her into my life over 20 years ago. A mutual friend and Heartland Board member, Chet Browne, introduced us and I will be eternally grateful to him for making the connection.
A new extension of the Heartland Film Festival High School Film Competition, the inaugural Team High School Film Competition challenged five teams of students from local high schools to create a three-minute film aligning with a theme (“passion vs. apathy”) that meets Heartland’s mission to promote positive change in people’s lives through the transformative power of film.
On Saturday, May 19, we had our first ever pilot program for the Team High School Competition. The winning film, Rotating Clock, was submitted by Carmel High School. The film, about an unmotivated student and a guidance counselor, shows that history does not have to repeat itself.