Set to award more than $120,000 in cash prizes, the 2015 Heartland Film Festival (Oct. 16-25, 2015) has opened its call for entries period to independent filmmakers from around the world. Prize categories and awards include:- Best Narrative Feature ($45,000 total award)
- Best Documentary Feature ($45,000 total award)
- Best Narrative Short ($5,000 total award)*
- Best Documentary Short ($5,000 total award)
- Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award Winners ($2,000 each, $4,000 total award)
- High School Film Competition Grand Prize Winner ($3,000 total award)
- Best Premiere, Narrative Feature ($5,000 total award)
- Best Premiere, Documentary Feature ($5,000 total award)
- Indiana Spotlight Winner ($5,000 total award)
*The Heartland Film Festival is a qualifying festival for the Annual Academy Awards® within the Short Films Category. This means that the winner of the Grand Prize for Best Narrative Short Film will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
“Since 1991, Heartland Film has awarded $2.9 million in cash prizes—more than any other film festivalin the United States—to independent filmmakers at the annual Heartland Film Festival,” said Heartland Film’s Artistic Director Tim Irwin. “Indiana may have a small footprint on the film industry, but the Heartland Film Festival has had a great impact on the lives of independent filmmakers and moviegoers for over two decades.”
Spotlight on Indiana Filmmakers
New in 2015, the Heartland Film Festival will feature a cash prize for its Indiana Spotlight competition winner, with a total prize of $5,000.
Submissions from the Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short and Documentary Short categories that meet the eligibility requirements and hold their U.S. or World Premiere at the Festival will be in competition for the prize.
Films must meet two of the following three criteria for eligibility (proof is required):
- Director is a current Indiana resident or Indiana native
- Producer/executive producer/screenwriter is a current Indiana resident or Indiana native
- At least 65 percent of the film was shot in Indiana
Films competing for the Indiana Spotlight prize will remain in competition for other prizes, assuming all eligibility requirements are met.
Interested filmmakers can submit independent films now through the final May 29 deadline.
