Media Contacts:
Heartland Film | Jessica Chapman, Director of Marketing jchapman@heartlandfilm.org | 317.750.3902
Heartland Film | Jessica Chapman, Director of Marketing jchapman@heartlandfilm.org | 317.750.3902
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(March 3, 2025) - The 97th Academy Awards® took place on Sunday, March 2. Four films honored by Heartland Film won six Oscars®. Both Opening and Closing Night films of the 33rd Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) received Academy Awards®.
The HIFF Opening Night film and Humor & Humanity Award Winner, "A Real Pain" from Searchlight Pictures, received two nominations and took home the Oscar® for Supporting Actor. The HIFF Closing Night film, "Emilia Pérez" from Netflix, received the most Oscar® nominations at 13, and won for both Actress in a Supporting Role and Original Song.
"Over the past three years, the Heartland International Film Festival Opening and Closing Night films have featured performances that have gone on to win supporting or leading actor Oscars®. Congratulations to Kieran Culkin (Opening Night 'A Real Pain') and Zoe Saldaña (Closing Night 'Emilia Pérez') on their supporting actor and actress wins," said Artistic Director Greg Sorvig.
The full list of Academy Award® Winners can be found here.
Oscar® Winners Honored by Heartland Film in 2024
A REAL PAIN | Actor in a Supporting Role, Kieran Culkin
"A Real Pain” from Searchlight Pictures was the Opening Night film at the 2024 Heartland International Film Festival and won the Humor & Humanity Award Winner.
"Since seeing 'A Real Pain' at Sundance, I knew it would be the perfect Opening Night film for the Heartland International Film Festival," said Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. "Honored with the HIFF Humor and Humanity Award, the film's script is sharp, funny and emotionally resonant. It was no surprise that Kieran Culkin matched the script with his own depth, humor and humanity and took home the gold statuette!"
EMILIA PÉREZ | Actress in a Supporting Role, Zoe Saldaña | Original Song
“Emilia Pérez” from Netflix was the Closing Night film at the 2024 Heartland International Film Festival.
FLOW | Animated Feature Film
“FLOW” from Janus Films and Sideshow, played as a Special Presentation at the 2024 Heartland International Film Festival.
WICKED | Costume Design | Production Design
Heartland Film honored “Wicked” from Universal Pictures with a 2024 Truly Moving Picture Award.
About Heartland Film, Inc.
Heartland Film is a nonprofit arts organization that runs the 11-day Heartland International Film Festival in October, the Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival in July, the Truly Moving Picture Award and other year-round programs. Based in Indianapolis, Heartland Film was founded in 1991 with the mission to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films. Over the years, Heartland Film has presented $3.5 million in cash prizes – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America – presented 200+ studio films with the Truly Moving Picture Award, and showcased more than 2,000 feature and short films, including 10 Oscar®-winning short film titles. MovieMaker Magazine named both the Indy Shorts and Heartland International Film Festival on the top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World list for 2023 and 2024. The 8th Annual Indy Shorts International Film Festival is scheduled for July 22-27, 2025 and the 34th Heartland International Film Festival will run October 9-19, 2025. For more information, www.HeartlandFilm.org.
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