Now is the time for movie lovers to grab some popcorn and a seat at the nearest theater as filmmakers from all over the world showcase their talents and creativity at the 24th annual Heartland Film Festival. The power of film comes alive for 10 days across the city of Indianapolis as the festival shows selections from the more than 1,750 films — representing 95 countries — that were submitted.
“This is one of the most diverse film festivals we’ve had, which makes this a really exciting year for us,” said Tim Irwin, Heartland Film artistic director. “It was very difficult to narrow down the films to only 145 this year, but we have a great group of volunteers who help the process run smoothly.”
Not only does this year showcase films from Indiana, but also from places such as Iran, Australia, Pakistan, Kosovo and Bulgaria.
Following are just a handful of films being showcased at the film festival.
“Romeo is Bleeding”
Run time: 93 minutes
A fatal turf war between neighborhoods haunts the city of Richmond, California. Donté Clark transcends the violence in his hometown by writing poetry about his experiences. Using his voice to inspire those around him, he and the like-minded youth of the city mount an urban adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” with the hope of starting a real dialogue about violence in the city. Will Richmond force Donté to compromise his idealistic ambitions? Or will Donté end Richmond’s cycle of trauma?
“Embers”
Run time: 86 minutes
After a global neurological epidemic, those who remain search for meaning and connection in a world without memory. Five interwoven stories explore how we might learn, love and communicate in a future that has no past.
“Homeless”
Run time: 93 minutes
Filmed in a real shelter with real homeless people, “Homeless” tells the story of Gosh, a teenage boy lost in the bleak routine of life in a shelter. Every day, from sunup until sundown, Gosh is put out on the streets, unable to return to the shelter until 7 p.m. During the day, he seeks refuge from the cold in the downtown public library and a local coffee shop. He feels alone and anonymous in a seemingly connected world. But suddenly his circumstances change for the better, and he finds himself adapting to a new home and new friends, and looking forward to a future he hopes will last.
“Keep in Touch”
Run time: 105 minutes
After a life crisis, a man attempts to track down his long-lost childhood love, only to discover she was killed in a car accident many years prior. His online search leads him to her younger sister, an aspiring musician who bears a striking resemblance to the girl he used to love. Quickly becoming obsessed, he arranges a not-so-chance meeting, and a relationship blossoms between the two before he has a chance to disclose his true identity.
“Can You Dig This”
Run time: 82 minutes
South Los Angeles: gangs, drugs, liquor stores, abandoned buildings and vacant lots come to mind. The last thing you would expect to find is a beautiful garden sprouting up through the concrete, coloring the urban landscape. As part of an urban gardening movement taking root in South LA, people are planting to transform their neighborhoods and are changing their lives in the process. Calling for people to put down their guns and pick up their shovels, these “gangster gardeners” are creating an oasis in the middle of one of the most notoriously dangerous places in America.
“The 33”
Run time: 120 minutes
In 2010, the eyes of the world turned to Chile, where 33 miners were buried alive by the catastrophic explosion and collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. Over the next 69 days, an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped men as their families and friends, as well as millions of people globally, waited and watched anxiously for any sign of hope.
A story of resilience, personal transformation and triumph of the human spirit, the film takes the audience to the darkest depths, revealing the psyches of the men trapped in the mine and depicting the courage of the miners and their families who refused to give up hope.
Screening tickets purchased online and by phone are $9 and those purchased at the theater box office are $11.
For film show times or to purchase tickets, visit Heartlandfilmfest.org or call toll-free 1-866-HFF-1010.
Take part in special events
Opening night and screening after-party
Kick off the 24th Heartland Film Festival with a special event screening at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on Oct. 16 beginning at 7 p.m. Join fellow film lovers and filmmakers for the special presentation and Q&A, and end the night with music at the Jazz Kitchen after-party.
Tickets for the screening are $20 for non-Heartland Film Fest members and $17 for members. Tickets for the screening and after-party are priced at $35 for non-members and $29 per member.
Filmmakers’ Brunch
Discover the inspiration behind some of your favorite Heartland Film Festival movies by joining the filmmakers for an informal brunch Oct. 25 at the Omni Severin Hotel beginning at 11 a.m. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to speak one-on-one with storytellers.
Tickets are $25 for non Heartland Film Fest members and $21 for members.
For more information, visit Heartlandfilmfest.org.
Screening venues:
AMC Castleton Square 14, 6020 E. 82nd St.
AMC Showplace Traders Point 12, 5920 W. 86th St.
The theater at Wheeler Arts Community Center, 1035 Sanders St.
Event venues:
Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
Omni Severin Hotel, 40 W. Jackson Place
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
