About the Heartland Film Festival

In 1991, a group of visionaries united to create a unique film festival to honor beautifully made films that celebrate the positive aspects of life called the Heartland Film Festival.

The Heartland Film Festival started in 1992 as a small event in Indianapolis and has expanded over time to become one of the fastest growing film festivals in the country. Today, the annual film festival is a ten-day event full of independent films, a variety of special events for film enthusiasts of all ages and a one-of-a-kind experience in one of the Midwest’s most inviting cities.

Each October, the Heartland Film Festival screens independent films from around the world and presents more than $125,000 in cash prizes to the Festival’s top-judged submissions. Read more about the types of awards and films to see at the Heartland Film Festival!

	Crystal Heart Awards The Crystal Heart Award is given every year to a selected group of independent filmmakers for demonstrating excellence in filmmaking and for best meeting Heartland’s mission. Dramatic, documentary and animated films of any length are eligible for the Crystal Heart Award.
	Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Awards The Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award is given every year to a selected group of student filmmakers for demonstrating excellence in filmmaking and for best meeting Heartland’s mission. The Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Awards are underwritten by The Stewart Foundation.
	Grand Prize Award for Best Narrative Feature The Grand Prize Award for Best Narrative Feature recognizes the most outstanding narrative feature entry as determined by the judging panel.
	Best Documentary Feature Award The Best Documentary Feature Award recognizes the most outstanding documentary feature entry as determined by the judging panel.
	Best Short Film Award The Best Short Film Award is given to one film each year. The award is designed to recognize an emerging filmmaker who shows vision in filmmaking.
	Audience Choice Awards Introduced in 2005, the Audience Choice Awards are given every year to three films – one narrative feature, one documentary feature and one short – that screening audiences liked most as voted by a tabulated rating system.
	Pioneering Spirit Award The Pioneering Spirit Award is given each year to an individual(s) for their creative spirit in filmmaking and his or her contribution to Heartland’s mission.
	Truly Moving Picture Award Winners From time to time we will showcase Truly Moving Picture Award-winning films as special screenings at the Festival, providing you an opportunity to see a major motion picture before it hits theaters! Learn more.
	High School Film Competition Winners High School Film Competition short film submissions are judged on criteria similar to that of the Heartland Film Festival, including artistic excellence, technical merit and representation of Heartland’s organizational mission. Five films are chosen to receive cash prizes and more including some time on the big screen at the Festival! Learn more.