Heartland Film elects Paul Babcock and Erin Schneider to join organization's Board of Directors.
Media Contact: Jessica Chapman
jchapman@heartlandfilm.org | 317.750.3902
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(June 11, 2025) Non-profit arts organization Heartland Film welcomed two new board members on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Heartland Film welcomes first-time Board Members:
- Paul Babcock, President and CEO of Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County
- Erin Schneider, Managing Director of Economic Development at Duke Energy Corporation
Paul Babcock is the president and CEO of Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, a municipal corporation with a greater than $2 billion budget that incorporates the Marion County Public Health Department and Eskenazi Health, among other public health institutions. Paul has spent his entire professional career in public service, with more than 15 years of experience at the Marion County Health Department and the City of Indianapolis, developing and implementing public health and safety policy.
Erin Schneider serves as managing director of economic development and leads the team responsible for growing the commercial and industrial customer base at Duke Energy Indiana and the Greater Cincinnati region served by Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Kentucky. Erin currently serves on the Indiana Economic Development Association Board (chair), the Indiana Chamber Foundation Board, the Indy Chamber Board and the Japan-America Society of Indiana Board.
“I’m thrilled to welcome our new board members,” said Michael Ault, President of Heartland Film. “Their fresh perspectives and valuable experience will undoubtedly help elevate our mission and strengthen our impact moving forward.”
2025 Heartland Film Board Officers
Board Chair
John Dewey, TQL Wealth Management
Vice Chair
David Wong, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Secretary
Jennifer Darby, Indiana Black Expo
Treasurer
Gabe Connell, Founder of HotBox Pizza LLC
Past Chair
Kim Dollin, CBIZ Somerset
2025 Heartland Film Board of Directors
- Paul Babcock, Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County
- Frank Basile, Retired
- Vicki Bohlsen, Bohlsen Group
- Charla Booth, Indianapolis Public Schools
- Jennifer Closshey, Vevue
- Daniel Cook, Daniel's Vineyard
- Tim Cook, Katz, Sapper & Miller
- Shon Harris, Indianapolis Public Schools
- Carolyn Hunt, Barnes & Thornburg LLC
- Michael Husain, Director, Writer & Producer
- Kristi Lee, The Bob & Tom Show
- Fred Lockett, DJ Lockstar
- Karen Mangia, The Engineered Innovation Group
- Seth Maxwell, Legacy Youth Leadership
- Yung Nguyen, Cook Medical
- Gregory Paul, Castle Rock Entertainment, Inc.
- Amy Pauszek, Producer, Publicist, Photographer & Journalist
- Erin Schneider, Duke Energy Corporation
- Ben Shine, American Lung Association Board Member & Tonic Ball Committee Member
- Stan Soderstrom, Retired
- Robert Spoonmore, Springboard
- Betty Stilwell, Retired
- Susie Townsend, Visit Indy
- Turner John (TJ) Woodard, Turner John Management
2025 Heartland Film Advisory Council
Council Chair
Katrina Canfield, IndyStar | LOCALiQ
Kelly Alexiou, Shamika Anderson, Penny Barrett, Chris Bertolini, Lisa Breall, Andrea Brummett, Ellen Butz, Gary Cohen, Sandra Daly, Maria Delgado, Claudia Dille, Leslie Donchetz, Michael Durr, Jenny Godby, Lynda Goeke, Arlene Grande, Tom Grande, Nikki Gray, Joe Hale, Dija Henry, Amy Howell, Lindsey Marie Kirkpatrick, David Klapper, Cori Korn, Larry Landis, Kristen Lappas, LeeAnn Law, Katie Lory, Luke Messer, Chris Phillips, Traci Prescott, Heather Richmund, Heather Ross, Suzanne Rothenberg, Susan Salsbery, Bob Schultz, Sarah Silcox, Neelu Sondhi, David Spencer, Chantel Stone, RC Thorne, Rocky Walls, Roberta Walton, Regina (Gigi) Wilkes and Amy Wright.

Heartland Film was founded in 1991 with the mission to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films. Both festivals were honored on MovieMaker Magazine's list of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World for 2023 and 2024. It was just announced that the festivals also made MovieMaker Magazine's 2025 list of 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry.
The film schedule and tickets for the 8th Annual Indy Shorts International Film Festival will be available on June 26. The festival runs with indoor, outdoor and virtual screenings from July 22 through 27 at Living Room Theaters and Newfields.
The 34th Heartland International Film Festival is scheduled for October 9 through 19. More information about the festivals can be found at HeartlandFilm.org.
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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