Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts Announces 2025 Festival Lineup with Premieres starring Lena Headey, André Holland, Sophia Di Martino and Poppy

Indy Shorts International Film Festival to honor Doug Blush with Pioneering Spirit Award and feature 253 short films across 39 programs from July 22-27

Media Contact: Director of Marketing, Jessica Chapman
jchapman@heartlandfilm.org | 317.750.3902

*Please note: This press release can be downloaded as a PDF or a Word Document. Download option buttons are available at the end.

(JUNE 26, 2025) INDIANAPOLIS - Heartland Film has announced the lineup for the 8th Annual Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival (Indy Shorts) presented by F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., running July 22-27, 2025. The festival will showcase 253 short films with screenings at Living Room Theaters, Newfields (The Tobias Theater, The Amphitheater and The Beer Garden) and available to stream.

The festival will feature short films are from 36 countries and include 42 World Premieres, 18 U.S. Premieres and 112 Midwest Premieres. With more than 200 filmmakers expected to attend, nearly every program will have a filmmaker Q&A following the screening. The 2025 festival is embracing a building/construction theme that encourages attendees to dig into 253 groundbreaking short films that are curated into 39 themed programs. From comedy to horror, there's a shorts program for everyone. This year, there are also three Indiana Spotlight Programs made up of 19 films by filmmakers with Hoosier ties. Fest Pass and tickets are now on sale at www.IndyShorts.org.

“Indy Shorts has built an internationally-renowned grassroots reputation for strong thematic programming, top tier hospitality and creating a summer camp atmosphere where filmmakers become fast friends and long-lasting collaborators,” said Heartland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “Special thank you to our premiere titles who have entrusted us to launch their festival runs, many featuring familiar faces in audacious new roles.”

Indy Shorts is honored to have a total of 172 film premieres. Many of the premiering films have notable names including Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones,” “300,” “The Purge”) in “Long Pork”, André Holland (“Moonlight,” “Passing,” “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” “The Big Cigar”) in “A Love Letter to M”, Sophia Di Martino (“Loki,” “Flowers,” “Yesterday”) in “Undeletable” and Poppy (Grammy-nominated musician/Internet personality) in “The Most Perfect Perfect Person.”

Indy Shorts is an Academy Award®-Qualifying Film Festival in all three short film categories (Live Action, Documentary and Animated) - less than 60 film festivals in the world hold this designation. The three grand prize-winning films will receive their Oscar® Qualification in their designated category. With a track record of 39 nominations and 10 Oscar®-winning shorts in recent years, there's a good chance attendees will see the next Academy Award®-contending films first in Indianapolis. Indy Shorts is also a qualifying film festival for the BAFTA and Goya Awards.

Filmmakers are competing for more than $35,000 in cash prizes that will be awarded on Saturday, July 26. Selected award-winning films will be showcased at The Amphitheater (Newfields) for the Summer Nights: Award Winners Program. Before the films, attendees can enjoy free HotBox Pizza and summer activities.

Spotlight Programs

Ball State University (BSU) Radiance Cinema | On Wednesday, July 23, six short films from students in the BSU Radiance Cinema Program will World Premiere at Newfields. Radiance Cinema at Ball State University is an immersive approach to learning the art of filmmaking, offering Media, Theatre and Dance majors the opportunity to produce, write, direct, edit, crew, and act in an industry-style environment.
Children's Resilience with Shine Global | This program, on Saturday, July 26 at Living Room Theaters, features stories of incredible resilience and unwavering spirit of children as they overcome challenges and find strength in unexpected places.
MPI Original Films Short Film Lab | Indy Shorts is proud to debut the latest slate of films from the Moving Picture Institute Short Film Lab on Saturday, July 26 at Living Room Theaters.
The New Yorker | On Friday, July 25 at Living Room Theaters, a slate of short films from The New Yorker will play at Living Room Theaters. The New Yorker is known for showcasing short docs that offer uncommon perspectives on global issues via The New Yorker Documentary and fictional short films that spark curiosity via The Screening Room.
Oscar® Winner Doug Blush | Celebrate the 2025 Indy Shorts Pioneering Spirit Award honoree, Doug Blush, with a special screening of his newly-produced short documentaries on Saturday, July 26 at Living Room Theaters.

39 Indy Shorts Programs

Famous Faces

Actor | Film Title | Program | Premiere Status

André Holland (“Moonlight,” “Passing,” “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” “The Big Cigar”) and Phoebe Tonkin ("Boy Swallows Universe", "Babylon") | A Love Letter to M | Love, Romance & Dating | World Premiere
Sophia Di Martino (“Loki,” “Flowers,” “Yesterday”) | Undeletable | Conversations | World Premiere
Poppy, Actor/Writer (“Poppy,” Grammy-nominated musician) | The Most Perfect Perfect Person | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | World Premiere
Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake,” “Harry Potter,” “Shakespeare in Love”) and Leonie Benesch ("September 5", "Babylon Berlin", "The Teachers' Lounge") | The Most Powerful Human on Earth | The Unexpected | World Premiere
Andrew Duplessie, Director/Writer (“American Horror Stories”), Violet McGraw (“M3GAN,” “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Ready Player One”), Dominic Sherwood (“Shadowhunters,” “Vampire Academy”) and Janel Parrish (“Pretty Little Liars”) | The Littles | Horror 1 | World Premiere
Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones,” “300,” “The Purge”) and Marc Menchaca (“Ozark,” “Homeland,” “Inside Amy Schumer”) | Long Pork | Horror 2 | U.S. Premiere
Caroline Goodall (“Schindler’s List,” “Disclosure,” “Hook”) | The Second Time Around | Location, Location, Location | U.S. Premiere
Stephen Fry (“Gosford Park,” “V for Vendetta”) and Miriam Margolyes (“The Age of Innocence,” “Harry Potter”) | A Friend of Dorothy | The Human Spirit | U.S. Premiere
Ella-Rae Smith (“Into the Badlands,” “Sweetheart,” “The Stranger”) | Paranoia | Horror 1 | U.S. Premiere
Amy Sedaris (“Strangers with Candy,” “The Mandalorian,” “Elf,” “At Home with Amy Sedaris”) | Happy to Help You | Spotlight: The New Yorker | Midwest Premiere
Genevive O’Reilly (“Andor,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” “Ahsoka,” “The Young Victoria,” “The Legend of Tarzan”) | GOING | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Midwest Premiere
Sam Rockwell, Producer (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “White Lotus,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Vice,” “Fosse/Verdon”) and Joe Swanberg (“Drinking Buddies,” “Nights and Weekends,” “Easy”) | Chasing the Party | Let's Be Honest | Midwest Premiere
Hamish Linklater (“Midnight Mass,” “Legion,” “The Big Short”) and John Caroll Lynch (“Fargo,” “Zodiac,” “The Founder”) | CATTYWAMPUS | Conversations | Midwest Premiere
Wallace Shawn (“Young Sheldon,” “Marriage Story,” “The Princess Bride”) and CCH Pounder (“The Shield,” “Avatar,” “Orphan,” “Rustin,” “3 Body Problem”) | The Clock | Conversations | Midwest Premiere
Alex Lawther, Director (“Andor,” “Black Mirror,” “The End of the F***ing World), Emma D’Arcy (“House of the Dragon,” “Truth Seekers”) and Juliet Stevenson (“Bend It Like Beckham,” “Truly Madly Deeply,” “Mona Lisa Smile”) | Rhoda | Location, Location, Location | Midwest Premiere
Ben Proudfoot, Director (Oscar® Winner “The Queen of Basketball,” “The Last Repair Shop”) | Doc Albany | Care & Conviction | Midwest Premiere
Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons,” “227”, “El Camino,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Hughleys”) | Mildred 4 a Million | Better Together | Midwest Premiere
Diane Guerrero (“Orange is the New Black,” “Encanto,” “Doom Patrol,” “Jane the Virgin”) and Allyce Beasley (“Moonlighting,” “Legally Blonde,” “Stuart Little”) | Poreless | Comedy | Midwest Premiere
Samantha Robinson (“Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood,” “The Love Witch”) | Neuro| Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Midwest Premiere
Scott Cohen (“The Penguin,” “Billions,” “Gilmore Girls,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Amy Stiller (“Inside Amy Schumer,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The King of Queens”) | Fire At Will | Conversations | Midwest Premiere
Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Jumanji: Next Level”) and Jeff Perry (“Scandal,” “Nash Bridges,” “My So-Called Life”) | Randy as Himself | Dark Comedy 1 | Midwest Premiere
Beatie Edney (“Andor,” “Poldark,” “Highlander”) and Clara Paget (“Black Sails,” “Fast & Furious 6”) | The Pearl Comb | Horror 1 | Midwest Premiere
Patty Jenkins, Executive Producer (“Wonder Woman,” “WW84,” “Monster”) and Chris Pine, Executive Producer/Actor (“Star Trek,” “Wonder Woman,” “Poolman”) and Kimia Behpoornia (“Abbott Elementary,” “Atypical,” “Hacks,” “Reboot”) | What's the Deal With Birds? | Quirky Tales
Domhnall Gleeson (“The Revenant,” “Ex Machina,” “Star Wars Sequel Trilogy”) | Retirement Plan | Comedy
Martin Starr (“Party Down,” “Freaks & Geeks,” “Tulsa King,” Silicon Valley”) | Out for Delivery | Dark Comedy 1
Alicia Silverstone (“Clueless,” “Batman & Robin,” “Blast from the Past”) | Learning How to Drive | Comedy
Barack Obama, Featured Subject | Hoops, Hopes & Dreams | Sports
Milana Vayntrub, Director (“Silicon Valley,” “Werewolves Within,” “Pickled Herring”) | Bootie's | Let's Be Honest | Midwest Premiere and Actor in Centaur Baby | Episodic
Monica Raymund, Director (“Dexter,” “Hightown,” “Chicago Fire,” “The Good Wife,” “Lie To Me,” “Bros,” “FBI”) | Crazy As A Loon | Episodic
Rosie O’Donnell (“A League of Their Own,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “The Flintstones”) | She Raised Me | Dark Comedy 2 | Midwest Premiere
Annette Badland (“Ted Lasso,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Big Boys”) | Two Minutes | The Unexpected | Midwest Premiere
Miriam Silverman (“Friends and Neighbors,” “Motherland,” “Breaking,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) | Say As I Say | The Unexpected
Anna Camp (“Pitch Perfect,” “The Help,” “You,” “True Blood”) and Michael Mosley (“Ozark,” “Seven Seconds,” “Sirens,” “The Calling”) | Neo Dome | Episodic
Skyler Bible (“The Book of Boba Fett,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “The Wolf of Snow Hollow”) and Hayley Marie Norman (“Kenan,” “Dollface,” “A.P. Bio,” “Top Five”) | Endzgiving | Dark Comedy 1
Zar Amir Ebrahimi (“Holy Spider,” “Tatami,” "Shayda”), Luàna Bajrami (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” “Happening,” “A Difficult Year,” “Notre Monde”) and Vicky Krieps (“The Phantom Thread,” “Corsage,” “Bergman Island,” “The Dead Don’t Hurt”) | Two People Exchanging Saliva | Alternate Worlds

Jury Members

Narrative Jury | Cindy Lee, Jens Georg and Joey Moser
Documentary Jury | Nicholas Ma, Jenifer McShane and Julio Palacio
Animated Jury | Shelia Lynne Bolda, Rebecca Martin Fagerholm and Jamie-James Medina
Indiana Spotlight Jury | Alicia Kozma, Sam Miro and Deonna Watherly
High School Film Competition Jury | Mark Cabus, Grace Hanna and Gunnar Sizemore

Locations

Living Room Theaters | 745 E 9th St, Suite 810 | July 22-27
Newfields (The Tobias Theater, The Amphitheater & The Beer Garden at Garden Terrace) | 4000 N Michigan Rd | July 23-27

Fest Pass & Ticket Options

Tickets

Festival Parties | $10
In-Person Screenings | $13
Streaming | $15
Theater 5-Pack | $60

Fest Passes

*Streaming Fest | $100 | Access all streaming programs
**VIP Fest Pass | $135 | Access all streaming programs and one ticket to every theater program
**Duo VIP Fest Pass | $225 | Access all streaming programs and two tickets to every theater program

Heartland Film Members receive 20% off individual tickets & fest passes. Tickets can be purchased at IndyShorts.org.

*Not all films are available virtually.
**Allows access to all in-person and virtual film programs, exclude festival parties.

Outdoor Screenings

Bring out your lawn chairs, blankets and drop cloths for outdoor screenings at The Beer Garden and The Amphitheater. Come out early for free HotBox Pizza and activities!

The Beer Garden at Newfields

Dates | July 24 (Nature & Outdoors Program), July 25 (Around America Program), July 26 (The Human Spirit Program)
Time | Doors a 6 PM, Films at 7:15 PM
Location | The Beer Garden at Newfields (4000 N Michigan Rd)
Price | $13

The Amphitheater

Dates | July 25 (Oscar® Shorts Program) & July 26 (Indy Shorts Award Winners Program)
Time | Doors at 7 PM, Films around 9:30 PM
Location | The Amphitheater at Newfields (4000 N Michigan Rd)
Price | $13

Special Events

Backlot Bash

Presented by MovieMaker Magazine

Date | Thursday, July 24
Location | Pins Mechanical Co. (856 Carrollton Ave), 2nd Floor
Time | 7 - 9 PM
Price | General, $10 | Indy Shorts Filmmakers, free with RSVP
Details | Take a detour to the Backlot Bash! Pins Mechanical Co. is the perfect space to build new film friendships over drinks, snacks, backyard games and pinball! A ticket includes one drink ticket and complimentary appetizers.

Awards Presentation

Date | Saturday, July 26
Location | VisionLoft Mass Ave (235 N Delaware St)
Time | 10:30 AM Doors, 11:30 AM Awards
Price | General, $10 | Indy Shorts Filmmakers, free with RSVP
Details | Celebrate the short films that really nailed it at the 2025 Indy Shorts Awards Presentation where more than $35,000 will be awarded! Coffee and a breakfast bar will be provided.

Mimosa Mixer

Date | Sunday, July 27
Location | The Tobias Theater at Newfields
Time | 12:30 PM Mixer, 1:45 PM Films
Price | General, $10 | Indy Shorts Filmmakers, free with RSVP
Details | Get on our level and develop connections with filmmakers and film-focused organizations at the Mimosa Mixer! Pastries, mimosas and screwdrivers will be available! This event is followed by the Indiana Spotlight 1 Program at 1:45 PM, which requires a separate ticket.

2025 Indy Shorts Programs

**World Premiere
*US Premiere

ALTERNATIVE WORLDS

Gaze into different dimensions where reality is not what it seems.

Goodbye Sun | 2024 | France | Hakim Atoui | Midwest Premiere | Eleven-year-old Luna lives with her big brother, Julien, and her two adoptive fathers. It's the end of summer and the heat is stifling as they impatiently await the solar eclipse that everyone has been talking about. The sun disappears behind the moon but it does not reappear.

Strangers Like Us | 2024 | Austria | Felix Krisai, Pipi Frostl | Midwest Premiere | In their early 30s, Laura and Elias settle into a new suburban life by inviting another couple over for dinner. When the night gradually turns into an evening full of mysteriously surreal events, Laura feels like a stranger in her own life.

Skroll | 2024 | Netherlands | Marten Visser | Humans and some kind of gnomes have posted videos on social media platforms in their animated dimension. This film is a short compilation of these clips.

Two People Exchanging Saliva | 2024 | France, United States | Natalie Musteata, Alexandre Singh | In a farcical world where kissing is punishable by death, a personal shopper threatens the status quo.

*Worst. Experience. Ever. | 2024 | United Kingdom | Alex Boutell | U.S. Premiere | Maya's days working at a small shop take a surreal turn when her boss makes a bombshell revelation. As unsettling truths begin to surface, Maya discovers her supposedly ordinary life might be an elaborate fabrication. In this darkly comic tale, a simple confession spirals into an existential crisis.

AROUND AMERICA

Journey across the United States, from Yellowstone National Park to the southern border and beyond, in this captivating collection of documentaries.

Appalheads | 2024 | United States | Scott, Faris | Midwest Premiere | Decades after leaving Appalachia, a daughter returns to eastern Kentucky to excavate her father’s remarkable filmmaking legacy—as the founder of Appalshop—and reflect on the pull home still has on her.

Beneath the Same Sky | 2024 | United States | Christine Kane | Midwest Premiere | In El Paso’s borderlands, Fidel confronts life as a Border Patrol agent. Caught between two nations, he enforces the law while uncovering human stories of dreams pursued and lost, hopes carried and ultimately shattered.

Get Your Line In & Pray | 2025 | United States | Jackson Adams | Every January, 10,000 people descend on Brainerd, Minnesota to compete in the world’s largest charitable ice fishing competition. The event impacts nearly every aspect of life in the area for days on end, but perhaps none more than the local bait shop, owned and operated by self-described “crabby old lady” Sherree Wictor. With intimate knowledge of the culture, history, and eccentric clientele the competition brings, Sheree offers her personal opinion of what makes it special—and how to win it.

How the Land Remembers Us | 2024 | United States | Jared Wahkinney | Midwest Premiere | Amidst Yellowstone National Park's 150th anniversary, Indigenous artists gather to celebrate their connection with the place, revealing a story of how the land remembers them through past, present, and future generations.

This Land | 2024 | United States | Mike Bradley | The untold story of Ganienkeh, a Mohawk community fighting to regain its traditional culture.

AROUND THE WORLD

Stamp your passport as you travel alongside subjects of these international stories.

Butterfly | 2024 | France | Florence Miailhe | In the sea, a man swims.

Correct Me If I'm Wrong (如你所愿) | 2025 | Germany, United States, China | Hao Zhou | Caught in a struggle of love, legacy and belief, a Southwest Chinese family seeks to rid their queer heir of what they perceive as an unwanted entity.

Death Education | 2025 | China | Yuxuan Ethan Wu | Midwest Premiere | In China, a high school teacher has introduced a death education class for young students. On the traditional Tomb Sweeping Day, they bury unnamed ashes at a public cemetery where they contemplate and contextualize the meaning of death.

*Patience (Sabali) | 2024 | France, Senegal, Algeria | Valentin Guiod | U.S. Premiere | Sabali which means "patient" and "immortal," tells the story of Moudou’s exodus and the resilience of his migration. It follows his clandestine odyssey, struggle for love and above all, his patience.

Sarah Thankam Mathews: After All This | 2024 | United States, Oman | Andrew Nadkarni | Midwest Premiere | Following the success of her debut novel, "All This Could Be Different", author Sarah Thankam Mathews embarks on her second novel, drawing from her adolescence between India and Oman. As Sarah excavates lost place and time, she must contend with the weight of truthful representation and the contradictions within her childhood memories.

SUSANA | 2025 | Mexico, United States | Amandine Thomas & Gerardo Coello Escalante | A middle-aged American woman finds herself alone in Mexico City. When she encounters a group of young American tourists, she jumps at the opportunity for a little adventure.

BETTER TOGETHER

From prison inmates to puzzle enthusiasts, profound human connections are forged by unforeseen circumstances and unlikely places.

A Film in Another Language | 2024 | United States, United Kingdom | César Velasco | Midwest Premiere | An immigrant unable to speak the local language, Mya works as a dishwasher in a busy restaurant. After finding a homeless man in need of medical assistance, a miscommunication with a police officer leads to a series of strenuous situations.

Camp Widow | 2025 | United States | Laura Green, Anna Moot-Levin | Midwest Premiere | An immersion into a weekend gathering of “widows”–people of all ages, genders and orientations–this glimpse of a grieving community is by turns devastating and unexpectedly funny.

Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles | 2024 | United States | Emily Sheskin | A life-long hobby becomes a lifeline for an unexpected Twitch streamer.

Dream Car Wash | 2024 | United Kingdom | Edoardo Brighenti | Midwest Premiere | "Dream Car Wash" follows Sara, an Iranian-Italian immigrant in London, through her daily struggle at a car wash. Amidst mundane routines and fleeting encounters, Sara's inner dream of becoming a professional dancer yearns for expression.

Mildred 4 a Million | 2024 | United States | Kimmie P Callaway | Midwest Premiere | A gregarious great-grandmother who desperately wants to connect with her tablet-obsessed great-granddaughter sets out to get a million followers on TikTok. Starring TV legend Marla Gibbs, this poignant comedy explores human connection across generations in the age of tech addiction.

CARE & CONVICTION

Community, care, and advocacy are paramount in three documentaries featuring survivors changing the Troubled Teen Industry and doctors making a difference.

**The Business of Trouble | 2025 | United States | Kristi Jacobson | World Premiere | In The Business of Trouble, survivors, a former caregiver, and an investigator reveal systemic abuse and demand accountability from the private equity companies behind the multibillion-dollar Troubled Teen Industry that exploits vulnerable youth under the guise of care.

Country Doctor | 2025 | United States | Shari M Cookson, Nick E Doob | Midwest Premiere | "Country Doctor" follows Dr. James Graham, a physician in a struggling Oklahoma town, as he fights to save its bankrupt hospital. Filmed over three years, the documentary captures a rural community’s resilience amid crisis and uncertainty.

COMEDY

Get ready to laugh out loud in this wild collection of comedic shorts!

Crab Claw | 2024 | United States | Steve Sanders | A couple in therapy must face the source of their marital problems: the wife's crab claw.

Drop Off | 2025 | United States | Ric Serena | One couple’s unravelling as parenting takes its toll.

Eureka! | 2024 | Belgium | Kris Borghs | An extraterrestrial duo crosses the universe to share technological insights with less brilliant minds. On one peculiar planet, things don't quite go as planned.

Learning How To Drive | 2024 | United States | Tyler Cunningham | Midwest Premiere | Bettina, a recent LA transplant and struggling actress-turned-babysitter, must chauffeur precocious preteen Wynn, to a birthday party in Laurel Canyon. There’s just one problem: she barely knows how to drive a car.

Protagonist Gene | 2025 | United States | Kyle Leland Cullerton | A timid woman is medically diagnosed as a Supporting Character and must undergo a radical procedure in order to attain Main Character energy.

Retirement Plan | 2024 | Ireland | John Kelly | In the throes of his overstimulated, energy poor midlife, Ray (Domhnall Gleeson) fantasizes about everything he’d love to do in retirement, once he finally has the “time.”

Royal Foot Guards | 2025 | United States | Pranay Mathur | Midwest Premiere | Desperate to finally pass the test to become a Royal Foot Guard at Buckingham Palace, Chester Popplestone must surrender his delightfully cheery nature and embrace the world for what it is.

Sandra | 2025 | United States | Hannah Levy, Jen Chuck | Jane's predictable life with her boyfriend is upended when she finds out that a mysterious and erratic woman has been living in her basement.

Tacocunr | 2025 | United States | Erin Brown Thomas | One woman's valiant attempt to log into her email.

TEASER TRAILER | 2024 | United States | JJ Gibson | The ultimate trio of unlikely heroes battle an action movie teaser trailer that's out to kill them.

CONVERSATIONS

Interpersonal communication takes center stage in this mix of witty and revelatory dialogue-driven stories.

*Bye. | 2025 | Spain | Álvaro G. Company,Mario Hernández | U.S. Premiere | Is it possible to forgive ourselves for our mistakes? One afternoon in the park, Elena and Ángela will have to confront their inner demons as they try to heal the wounds of the past, with one sole purpose: Carmen's well-being.

The Clock | 2024 | United States | Cameo Wood | Midwest Premiere | "The Clock" is an intimate and thought-provoking film in the mystery, drama and thriller genres, centered around a resilient 75-year-old woman, Elle Rivers. During a break-in by a masked burglar, Elle engages in an unexpected conversation with the intruder, revealing her belief that her life will end at midnight, evidenced by a mysterious clock counting down in her dreams since childhood.

Fire At Will | 2025 | United States | Morgan Gruer | Midwest Premiere | When parents gather their four adult children over dinner to solidify the family will, the childrens’ self-absorbed agendas send the conversation careening into chaos, leading to a desperate battle of wills.

From You | 2024 | Poland | Jędrzej Gorski | A story of a father and son who, after the death of their famous journalist grandfather, come together for one night to discuss the deceased. Everything takes a turn when hidden family secrets come to light, reshaping the dynamics of their relationship.

*Hurricane | 2025 | Spain | Saúl Gallego | U.S. Premiere | When Clara enters a coffee shop and recognizes Fernando, a retired film director and one of her idols, she decides to invite him for a coffee. The young woman’s curiosity makes the man share with her the most important moments of his career, including the enigmatic reason that led him to retire 30 years ago.

PLAY HARD | 2024 | United States | Winter Dunn | Midwest Premiere | Nate, a workaholic drummer, spends all his time practicing, always striving for perfection. After he meets Yazmine, a like-minded, dedicated modern dancer, he realizes that the key to success isn't just to work hard–sometimes it requires you to play hard.

Strangers in the Same Shirt | 2024 | United States | Anthon Chase Johnson | Two estranged siblings reconnect at their father’s third wedding. But when the younger sister finds herself in need of some help, her older brother is there with oddly good advice. They both get a taste of what it means to be a sibling, even if they have no common history.

**Undeletable | 2024 | United Kingdom | Benjamin Blaine, Christopher Blaine | World Premiere | Emma has to inform her dad's recently confessed lover that he has died but the painful mistakes she makes whilst recording this answerphone message confronts her with a brutal truth about the remorseless forward nature of time.

DARK COMEDY 1

Behold, a collection of funky, eccentric and sometimes satirical offbeat comedies.

COO-RAGE | 2024 | Netherlands | Alina Milkina | Midwest Premiere | Urban pigeons are seen as pests, as rats of the sky. They are rudely chased away and their nests are removed. When a group of pigeons hears that the mayor promises housing for everyone, they decide to submit a petition at the town hall. But first, they have to get past the evil janitor.

Endzgiving | 2024 | United States | Tina Carbone | This is gonna be Will's last Friendsgiving.

Out for Delivery | 2025 | United States | Chelsea Christer | When terminally ill Joanna seeks end of life care through Death With Dignity, the systems in place to make her death peaceful become the opposite.

Randy As Himself | 2025 | United States | Margaret Miller | Midwest Premiere | A Hollywood production crew comes to West Texas to recreate the grisly murder of a local woman. Using locals to re-enact the crime, Reality TV meets Reality in this bizarre romantic comedy about the (show) business of murder.

Time Flies | 2024 | United States | LJ Burnett | With only one day to live, two flies scramble to make the most of their time before it runs out.

DARK COMEDY 2

Behold, yet another mercurial mix of absurd and sometimes-murderous dark comedies.

Gender Reveal | 2024 | Canada | Mo Matton | Midwest Premiere | Rhys, a dedicated people pleaser, winds up at their boss’ gender reveal party with their two partners. The trans throuple soon realizes that they are dealing with more than they were prepared for and their ability to survive the event comes into question.

*Keep your rubbish | 2024 | France | Laura Ghazal | U.S. Premiere | In the midst of a garbage strike, with mountains of trash cans around every corner, an influential TikTokeuse challenges her followers to reduce their waste by recycling and storing it at home. The #gardetespoubelles challenge goes viral, and for the influencer, it turns into an obsession.

Quota | 2024 | Netherlands | Studio Job, Joris & Marieke | When every global citizen is required to have their CO2 emissions tracked, it makes little impact…that is, until they discover the consequences of reaching their designated quota.

EPISODIC

New at Indy Shorts, a dedicated program showcasing episodic projects, including proof-of-concepts and pilots!

Chasers | 2025 | United States | Erin Brown Thomas | At a Los Angeles house party, an aspiring musician pursues her crush through a crowd of hopeful dreamers chasing empty promises.

Crazy As A Loon | 2024 | United States | Monica Raymund | Midwest Premiere | "Crazy As A Loon" is a short/proof of concept for the TV Series "Committed", set during the time of The Lavender Scare in 1953 Washington, D.C. A family's matriarch is hunted down by an underground government unit the night of her son's birthday party, exposing more than her perpetrators bargained for.

The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí | 2024 | United States, Nigeria | Abbesi Akhamie | Midwest Premiere | In the African retro-futuristic nation of Alkebulan, a brilliant scholar discovers her fiancé’s secret engagement and takes spectacular revenge, unexpectedly earning the recognition she always deserved.

Neo Dome | 2024 | United States | Bonnie Discepolo | A woman hitchhikes to a utopia on the horizon. When she negotiates a ride we learn: trust no one on the road to the Dome.

FAMILY TIES

Stories centered on intergenerational relationships, identity dynamics and seeing each other in fascinating new ways.

**A reflection of me | 2025 | Sweden | Stephane Mounkassa, Stefan Sundin | World Premiere | Mikael, born in Sweden, feels caught in in-betweenness. His grandfather visits for the first time from Congo Brazzaville and the two develop an unexpected bond when Mikael needs it the most.

Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites | 2025 | Cambodia/France/USA | Chheangkea | During her chaotic family’s Qingming visit, dead Grandma Nai sneaks away from her peaceful afterlife after overhearing that her queer grandson is about to get engaged to a woman.

Toots. | 2024 | United States | Chris Alan Evans | When her health declines due to Parkinson's, a devoted son grapples with his new responsibilities as his mother's caregiver. As he holds on tightly to childhood memories of her, she meanders through her own childhood memories. A revolving story of caring for one another emerges.

HIGH SCHOOL FILM COMPETITION

Support the creativity of young student filmmakers from around the world!

The Audition | 2025 | United States | Isaiah Henderson | Alex prepares to audition for Hamlet with the help of his friend, Max, but his script mysteriously disappears.

Foundation | 2024 | Australia | Jack Hinz | After experiencing the confronting realities of cow farming as a child, Anthony Walsgott abandons his life as a lawyer to purchase a pristine 120-acre block on Queensland’s Mary River—a place which is now home to Australia’s largest cow sanctuary.

I’m Fine | 2024 | United States | Aidan Sinconis | "I'm Fine" is a first-person tale of the struggle with teenage depression told through private journal entries. The film lifts the covers off the distorted perception of reality that comes from depression and gives a realistic view of improvement.

Keeper of the Night Sky | 2024 | Canada | Karina Loerchner | An adventurous little girl with an overactive imagination ventures into places she shouldn't ought to be, and wreaks havoc on a poor unsuspecting dragon.

Weathered | 2024 | United States | Patrick Jang | Midwest Premiere | Three teenagers openly share personal stories of struggle, resilience and growth in this exploratory documentary that highlights the incredible teenage ability to weather through tumultuous inner battles.

HORROR 1

Experience thrills, chills and kills in this fan-favorite collection of horror shorts.

The Beguiling | 2024 | United States | ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby | What seems to be a burgeoning romance between two Indigenous people takes a sinister turn as one grows suspicious of the other's Indigenous heritage. When confronted, deceit turns their romantic evening into a darkly comedic nightmare.

**The Littles | 2025 | United States | Andrew Duplessie | World Premiere | When 11-year-old Juliet stubs her toe on a loose floorboard, she unwittingly sets off a series of mysterious events. A faint noise and an unusual glow seeping through the cracks capture her curiosity. But as she investigates, Juliet finds herself pulled into a chilling, otherworldly encounter—one that will unravel the secrets of her home and alter her reality forever.

*Paranoia | 2024 | United Kingdom | Alina Bichieva | U.S. Premiere | Gila ignores her usual paranoia and lets her charming date sleep on the couch. After setting some boundaries she locks the bedroom door out of habit. Taylor wakes her in the middle of the night saying he's having an asthma attack, but she hesitates when something doesn't feel right.

Playing God | 2024 | Italy, France | Matteo Burani | A clay sculpture comes to life in the darkness of a workshop, surrounded by strange creatures.

*Sacra Lunaria | 2025 | Spain | Mey Montero | U.S. Premiere | In the 17th century, in the Aragonese Pyrenees, a family of women lives in the forest. One night, Gala, presumed dead, returns mutilated and claims to have escaped from the Inquisition. Her sisters must decide whether to trust her or not.

Triptych | 2024 | United Kingdom, Bulgaria | Sophia Ray | Provocative artist Margaux Kasser plans to destroy a Bosch masterpiece, claiming it's performance art. But the artwork conceals a dark secret from her past. A horrific reckoning is coming. Margaux must fight to escape her fate.

HORROR 2

Creature, body and psychological horror stories await, if you dare ...

The Angel | 2024 | United States | Barrett Burgin, Jessica Burgin | A Mormon pioneer folk horror. Two plural wives receive a mysterious visitation amidst the blood red stone of Southern Utah.

The Flacalta Effect | 2024 | United States | Rochée Jeffrey | After a drug with anti-aging properties has apocalyptic consequences, two Black sisters fight for their lives—and looks—in this satirical take on toxic beauty culture.

*Long Pork | 2024 | United States | Iris Dukatt | U.S. Premiere | In a Post-Roe America where theocracy reigns, a renowned butcher meets the political predator responsible for the killing of her daughter and exacts bloody revenge, setting the stage for a revolution.

SEEN | 2024 | United States, India | Dhwani Shah | "SEEN" is a psychological horror about Noori, a South Asian immigrant, haunted by a camera. As fear blurs into paranoia, the film explores the unsettling reality of surveillance, obsession and the quiet dread of being followed.

Stomach It | 2024 | United States | Peter Klausner | A crime scene cleaner struggles with emotionally detaching from the deceased’s personal possessions. While on a late night job, he convinces himself a monstrous presence is toying with him.

VHX | 2024 | United States, United Kingdom | Alisa Stern, Scott Ampleford | A collection of home movies languish on a shelf, longing to be watched again. Little do they know, there's a fate far worse than being forgotten.

THE HUMAN SPIRIT

Watch the indomitable strength of the human spirit across these extraordinary stories!

Malka | 2025 | United States | Stacey Maltin | Midwest Premiere | Malka, a Holocaust survivor, starts to see visions of her life at the camps during a present-day family seder. As time falls in on itself, Malka must find the hope in the present that she did in the past in order to survive.

Simple Machine | 2024 | United States | Sara Hendren | Midwest Premiere | "Simple Machine" follows an architect and father tinkering with classical mechanics in his garage wood-shop—and explores how his story taps the legacy of wartime technology, labor history, the mysteries of loss, chance, and adaptation, all in the inventive human body.

INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 1

Explore these captivating stories made by filmmakers with Indiana ties.

Building A Champion | 2025 | United States | Mike Woodall, Neal Woodall | Midwest Premiere | The Boston Crusaders reflect on their 85-year history, the relentless pursuit of a Drum Corps International World Championship, and what it truly means to succeed, win or lose.

Lisa Dahl: Blessed By Grace | 2025 | United States | Eric Wolfinger | Midwest Premiere | "Lisa Dahl: Blessed By Grace" is a moving portrait of a mother’s resilience and the healing power of food. After the tragic loss of her son Justin, chef Lisa Dahl found solace and purpose in Sedona, Arizona—where the stunning red rocks, long revered for their spiritual energy, became the backdrop for her transformation. What began as a tribute to their shared love of cooking has grown into a legacy of six beloved restaurants that helped shape the region’s culinary identity. This heartfelt film explores how one woman’s faith, strength, and devotion turned unimaginable loss into lasting beauty—and how every dish she creates and every guest she serves keeps her son's spirit alive.

**Remembering Indiana Avenue | 2025 | United States | Layla Absalon | World Premiere | "Remembering Indiana Avenue" is a documentary that blends personal stories with historical insight to honor the legacy of a once-vibrant Black community in Indianapolis, Indiana Avenue, celebrating its culture while acknowledging the forces that led to its decline.

You are Home | 2024 | United States | Thomas Larson, Micaela Kastor | Midwest Premiere | "You are Home" shares the powerful story behind Melissa Cook Stadium at Notre Dame. After a tragic loss, Melissa’s parents transformed grief into legacy—building a field where future athletes can compete, dream, and carry forward a name that means so much more.

ZANA: Women of the Little 500 | 2024 | United States | Grace Williams, Emily Segura-Maze | Four young women attempt to make history and three-peat in the historic Little 500 bike race at Indiana University. Through their experience racing for Zana, they examine what it means to be a woman in sport.

INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 2

Explore these captivating stories made by filmmakers with Indiana ties.

Calling the Wild | 2024 | United States | Brynn Smarrella | Ryan Talbot is a trainer at Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana, and trains the wolves using cooperative care. Ryan’s work shows us what is possible in how we can care for wild animals and how we can have relationships with them.

**Dan Thompson | 2025 | United States | Grant Michael | World Premiere | “Dan Thompson” is a short film exploring the ever-evolving creative journey of an artist whose work is woven into the fabric of Indianapolis. This film delves into his struggle with self-recognition, his passion for storytelling through art and his desire to spark wonder in those who encounter his work.

For Isaiah | 2024 | United States | Jack Fauser | After a tragic accident, an amateur MMA fighter continues his brother’s legacy both in and out of the cage.

From the Ashes | 2024 | United States | Jaden Mason | Kesha Kelly is the mother of Liam and Reece, brothers who were inseparable, ran cross country together and had a passion for aviation. After the boys tragically pass away in a plane crash, Kesha struggles to deal with the loss of her two sons. With the help of a supportive community, Kesha is able to persevere and gains the strength to rebuild her family from the ashes.

Hawkins Family Farm: A More Than Corn Story | 2025 | United States | Rocky Walls | "Hawkins Family Farm: A More Than Corn Story" is a heartfelt exploration of family, community, and the deep connection between land and legacy, featuring father and son duo Jeff and Zach Hawkins of Hawkins Family Farm in North Manchester, Indiana.

Making Magic | 2024 | United States | Devin Smith | Two magicians reveal the wonder of magic through their love of the craft and the amusement of their audience.

INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 3

Explore these captivating stories made by filmmakers with Indiana ties.

CUPS | 2025 | United States | Grant Rueff | Two awkward high school girls hatch a plan to get into a college party by bringing cups for beer. As things go wrong, they wonder if they’ll even make it past the front door.

Fairground | 2024 | United States | Jess Berry | Fed up with family criticism, a stifled farmer’s daughter distances herself from her parents as she navigates her self-identity at the forbidden county fair midway, discovering newfound independence and forming an unexpectedly deep connection.

Party Monster | 2025 | United States | Emeryn Sinclair | A young man must contend with his anxiety personified as he navigates the many difficulties that come with friendship, romance and a chaotic club atmosphere.

Sometimes I Imagine Your Funeral | 2024 | United States | Vince Dixon | As Max prepares to eulogize his sister Chloe just minutes before her funeral, he wrestles with the anger, frustration and grief of losing her to an overdose, attempting to understand who Chloe was.

KID'S PROGRAM

Embark on a fun journey of family-friendly films for all ages!

AMEN | 2024 | France | Orphée COUTIER, Bettina DEMARTY, Kimie MAINGONNAT, Laurène PEREGO, Louise POULAIN, Avril ZUNDEL | A group of pigs are raised peacefully in a monastery when, one day, one of them finds out the truth behind their existence. Thus he decides to free his friends.

Baking With Boris | 2024 | France, Switzerland, Croatia | Maša Avramović | Every morning, Boris the village baker makes a fresh batch of crusty bread and pastries for all his neighbours until…Achoo! He can’t stop sneezing. He has become allergic to flour. How will he manage to keep baking for everyone in the village?

Capybaras | 2024 | France, Chile, Uruguay | Alfredo Soderguit | Midwest Premiere | Hunting season has begun. A family of capybaras seek refuge in a chicken coop, but the hens don't trust them. The curiosity of the youngest members of the families will create a union with unexpected consequences.

The Piano | 2025 | United States | Avery Kroll | Midwest Premiere | A young girl sneaks out of bed one night to discover her dad bent over the piano, pouring his soul into the keys. The powerful bond they form through playing music together lasts a lifetime. After his passing, she honors his memory by playing their song and teaching it to her son, passing the musical bond to the next generation.

Pow! | 2025 | United States | Joey Clift | A Native American kid scrambles to charge his dying video game console at a bustling intertribal powwow.

Snow Bear | 2024 | United States | Aaron Blaise | Midwest Premiere | When a lonely polar bear can't find a friend...he makes one! Set in a rapidly changing world, "Snow Bear" tells the story of a polar bear in an unforgiving environment on his quest to find a friend.

Treasure Imagination | 2024 | United States | Scott Rice | Midwest Premiere | A city boy is distraught when his beloved tablet is taken away by his mom. But when he finds a mysterious fedora left on a park bench, his temptation to place it on his head leads to adventure.

LENS OF HOPE

Storytelling that spreads hope and kindness, including this yearʼs Lens of Hope Award Winner, presented by the TDB Family Foundation.

The 17% | 2024 | United States | Aaron Johnson | Midwest Premiere | A young woman with Down Syndrome was rejected from every job she applied to because of her disability. She now has her own company, hires other people with disabilities and changes the world, one cookie at a time.

Cycling Without Age | 2024 | United States | Isaac Seigel-Boettner | John uses his pedal-powered rickshaw to give adventures to people who have lost the ability to get outside themselves. This is a story about the power of feeling wind in your hair, no matter where you are on life’s journey.

The Power of Small | 2024 | United States | T.C. Johnstone | Midwest Premiere | In a world longing for compassion and human connection, imagine gathering a diverse group, endowing them with unexpected financial means, asking them to focus on a single mission: spread kindness. No rules, no supervision–just empathy as their guide.

LET'S BE HONEST

Embrace unfiltered honesty and perspectives across this thought-provoking collection.

Fox Chase Boy | 2024 | United States | Gerad Argeros, Kaya Dillon | Midwest Premiere | Gerad Argeros was an altar boy at St. Cecilia Church in Northeast Philadelphia when, at age 11, he became one of an untold number of child victims of prolific pedophile priest James Brzyski. Decades later, Argeros developed and performed the stage monologue “Fox Chase Boy” to confront deep personal and communal traumas of his close knit parish, employing comedy and nostalgia to speak directly to a crime cloaked in silence.

Your Opinion, Please | 2025 | United States | Marshall Granger | Midwest Premiere | As America enters the new millennium, listeners across Montana call into Yellowstone Public Radio to express their views on everything from state politics to the Iraq War, or the meaning of poetry.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Place plays the protagonist in these stories centered around one location.

Baggage | 2024 | Australia & United Kingdom | Lucy Davidson | Three girlfriends check in their baggage at the airport, but one is carrying a little more than the others. As they travel along the conveyor belt to security, can she hide what’s inside?

CHECK PLEASE | 2024 | United States | Shane Chung | Two headstrong Koreans can't agree on who's treating who to dinner, causing their casual restaurant outing to spiral into a martial arts deathmatch.

La Petite Ancêtre | 2024 | Canada | Alexa Tremblay-Francoeur | Midwest Premiere | An ancestral house comes to life, builds itself and unveils its long life of 150 years. Over the years, it leads us to feel the passage of time in the heart of a growing and buzzing city that will eventually bring its end.

My teenage blackout | 2024 | France | Basile Khatir | At a party, Tristan swallowed a caterpillar while downing a tequila shot. Ever since then, he's been in a coma, thoughts running through his head – about that girl at the party, the nurse smoking in his room, his overbearing mother, and the fact that he’ll never get to change his Facebook profile picture ever again. Basically, Tristan is just like any other teenager.

perfectly a strangeness | 2024 | Canada | Alison McAlpine | Midwest Premiere | In the dazzling incandescence of an unknown desert, three donkeys discover an abandoned astronomical observatory and the universe. A sensorial, cinematic exploration of what a story can be.

LOVE, ROMANCE & DATING

Witness loveʼs twists and turns in this program of missed and made connections.

**A Love Letter To M | 2025 | United States | Maria McIndoo | Sara McFarlane (Producer) | Tom Wilton (Writer) | World Premiere | Set in Brooklyn, “A Love Letter to M” paints a contemporary portrait of love on Max (André Holland) and Sasha's (Phoebe Tonkin) wedding day. Poetically exploring the idea that family and belonging are choices we make, this is a modern-day love story with a happy ending.

Chivalry | 2024 | United Kingdom | Charlotte Yang | Midwest Premiere | After her purse is stolen on a first date, Ava journeys through a chaotic London night, facing absurd encounters that force her to confront her identity, relationships and how to take control of her own story.

We Were | 2025 | Canada | Jonah Haber | As his latest relationship falls apart despite his best efforts, David turns to his memories for both solace and hope.

MAKING MOVIES

This meta mix goes behind the scenes highlighting everything from being an extra in "Apocalypse Now" to the "Wilhelm Scream."

Breaking Plates | 2024 | Australia, France | Karen Pearlman | A raucous documentary about the not-so-silent women of the silent film era, "Breaking Plates" defiantly asserts the principle that if we want to tell different stories, we have to tell stories differently.

The invulnerable | 2024 | France | Lucas Bacle | While caring for his ailing father, Marcus, 17, has only a few days left to submit the short film needed to apply for his dream film school. Lost between the guilt of leaving his father alone and the desire to live his own life, Marcus throws himself into his shoot. But soon, his father's illness brings him back to his role of caregiver.

We Were The Scenery | 2025 | United States, Canada | Christopher Radcliff | The story of Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che, who, in 1975, after fleeing the Vietnam War by boat and docking in the Philippines, were utilized as background extras in the filming of "Apocalypse Now".

The Wilhelm Scream | 2024 | United States | Anna Quinlan | Every moviegoer has heard a sound effect known as the “Wilhelm Scream," but where did it come from and why do people keep using it? This is the story of the most infamous inside joke in cinema history.

MUSIC

Music soars in these diverse stories centered on community, coping, roots and family.

Family Matter: John Driskell Hopkins | 2025 | United States | Alina Vission | Midwest Premiere | When Grammy-winning musician John Driskell Hopkins is diagnosed with ALS, he turns heartbreak into purpose—rallying his band, family, and fans in a fight for a cure, and leaving behind a legacy of love, music and hope.

Freeman Vines | 2025 | United States | Tim Kirkman, André Robert Lee | Midwest Premiere | Eighty-two-year-old artist Freeman Vines hand-carves guitars, some from wood of trees linked to the lynching of a young Black man, in a small eastern North Carolina town.

Guadalupe Maravilla's Mariposa Relámpago | 2025 | United States | César Martínez Barba | Artist Guadalupe Maravilla turned a school bus into a mobile site for remembrance titled “Mariposa Relámpago.” The bus’s journey intertwines with the artist’s journey to the U.S. as an unaccompanied, undocumented minor, inspiring a poetic reflection of trauma and healing.

The Singers | 2025 | United States | Sam Davis | A short film adaptation of a 19th century short story written by Ivan Turgenev, in which a lowly pub full of downtrodden patrons connect unexpectedly through an impromptu sing-off.

Songs of Black Folk | 2025 | United States | Justin Emeka, Haley Watson | Midwest Premiere | Leading Black musicians come together for a groundbreaking Juneteenth concert in the Pacific Northwest, creating a historic moment that paves the way for future generations of Black artists.

NATURE & OUTDOORS

A Brutal, Beautiful Life | 2024 | United States | Beau Gaughran | Midwest Premiere | In the vast, rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains and high desert, ranching women, their dogs, horses and cattle, share powerful connections that reveal nature’s quiet ways.

The Last Observers | 2024 | United States, Sweden | Maja K Mikkelsen | The heartwarming story of a Swedish couple's decades-long commitment to watching the skies.

Qotzuñi: People of the lake | 2024 | Argentina, United States | Gastón Zilberman, Michael Salama | Midwest Premiere | After drought and diversions led to the disappearance of Lake Poopó’s once-vast waters in 2016, the Uru-Murato communities must face the cultural and economic consequences of what it means to be Qotzuñis, or “People of the Lake,” when the lake ceases to exist.

Silent Panorama | 2024 | Belgium | Nicolas Piret | In this animated miniature a drawing gradually comes to life before our eyes, telling a story not only of a wild boar on the run, but also of the ways in which people occupy the places that used to belong to nature. Based on memories of a walk in the Belgian Ardennes. This film was drawn and animated alone on a single sheet of paper as a performance.

OSCAR® SHORTS

Watch a curated selection of recent Oscar®-recognized films under the stars!

Anuja | 2024 | India, United States | Adam J. Graves | When a precocious nine-year-old orphan who works in a back-alley garment factory is offered a rare chance to attend boarding school, she faces a choice that will determine the fate of her future and her family.

The Elephant Whisperers | 2022 | India | Kartiki Gonsalves | Bomman and Bellie, a couple in south India, devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other.

The Last Ranger | 2024 | South Africa, United States | Cindy Lee | When young Litha is introduced to the magic of a game reserve by the last remaining ranger, they are ambushed by poachers. In the ensuing battle to save the rhinos, Litha discovers a terrible secret.

QUIRKY TALES

Witness unusual stories and peculiar situations in this delightfully unconventional collection of shorts!

A Bear Remembers | 2024 | United Kingdom | Zhang + Knight | Midwest Premiere | Local boy, Peter, is trying to find the source of the metallic sound that haunts the village. When he shares his footage with an old woman it sparks memories of a bear that roamed the hills during her childhood.

Dormilón | 2025 | United States | Olivia Marie Valdez | Midwest Premiere | Dormilón lovingly cares for the abandoned cinema he’s made a home. Every night he records his dreams, in which he is the star performer of the theater, rather than its former-janitor. On a stormy night, Dormi’s carefully crafted life is challenged when his nightmares accumulate and confront him. Dormilón will have to overcome his fears and embrace his insecurities to be a more complete version of himself.

Hippopotami | 2025 | China, Hong Kong | Lin Jianjie (JJ) | Midwest Premiere | In the suburbs of a northern Chinese city undergoing urbanization, a quirky girl who wants to see animals in the zoo is taken for a ride which will forever change her perspective on life.

*THE KING OF FORKS | 2024 | France | Raphaël Lopez | U.S. Premiere | A humanitarian is tasked with transporting a mysterious box across a desert. When he becomes stranded, an enigmatic companion joins him. Together, their mission evolves into an epic quest, revealing an unexpected destiny.

The Sentry | 2025 | Cambodia, United States, Norway | Jake Wachtel | A cheeky dismantling of spy tropes and a love letter to Cambodia, "The Sentry" follows a suave Western agent who thinks he's about to make another routine kill. But some stories refuse to be footnotes - and this particular guard isn't finished talking.

Three Keenings | 2024 | United Kingdom, Ireland, United States | Oliver McGoldrick | Midwest Premiere | Ian is a struggling actor who finds himself in the unconventional role of a professional mourner. As he tours the Northern Irish countryside, his practised mask of apathy begins to slip amongst the humour and heartache of the local funeral circuit.

What's The Deal With Birds? | 2024 | United States | Taylor Bakken | A trailblazing young birder sets out to answer the age-old question: "What’s the deal with birds?" When a strange bird offers her answers, things begin to take flight.

SCI-FI & FANTASY

Dive into captivating domains with these mind-bending narratives, dystopian futures and fantastical creatures.

**Civil Service | 2025 | United States | Tiffany Kimmel | World Premiere | "Civil Service" follows a single man in charge of “family services” through a typical workday as he denies requests for government assistance while being confronted by his psyche in the form of his dead mother. It is a surrealist exploration of corporate bureaucracy and the kinds of men who choose to rise within government agencies only to dismantle what the public entrusts them to protect.

Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting | 2025 | United States | Alexander Thompson | A depression-era coming-of-age fable about mothers, daughters and the beasts they hunt. Starring Milly Shapiro ("Hereditary" ) and Pollanna McIntosh ("The Walking Dead").

Help Me Tom | 2024 | China | Jiahang Yang | Set in a small town in the future, a military robot is transformed into a human service robot Tom. But the war is still coming, and the robot Tom must make a choice.

The Inconvenience Store | 2024 | United States | Ifeanyi Ezieme | Midwest Premiere | In 2064, Earth is plagued by toxic air and extreme weather. At a remote gas station in Nowheresville, California, shopkeeper Hiro, stranded traveler Tonya and gruff trucker Ron clash in a heated altercation. When an emergency broadcast warns of extraterrestrial craft overhead, and a bleeding stranger stumbles in off the street—the group must decide whether to trust the approaching beings or prepare for a fight that could alter the fate of the universe.

**The Most Perfect Perfect Person | 2024 | United States | Paul Trillo | World Premiere | Under the pressures of fame and parasocial demands, pop star Poppy relinquishes control to Aura, an AI clone trained on her past content. As Aura begins dictating her every word and action, Poppy battles to reclaim her autonomy.

SPORTS

Celebrate the intersection of sports, community and identity.

**Breakaway: The Refugee World Cup | 2025 | United States | Jake Siam Solomon | World Premiere | "Breakaway: The Refugee World Cup" follows two refugees in America who rebuild their sense of identity and belonging through soccer—a powerful, unifying force that helps them find hope, connection, and community in a new world.

Courage | 2025 | United States | Eric Michael Hernandez | A young boy, burdened by self-doubt, finds unexpected strength when his uncle introduces him to a traditional dance that awakens his identity and resilience.

Hoops, Hopes & Dreams | 2025 | United States | Glenn Kaino | The untold story about how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and an all-star team of civil rights activists took to basketball courts to connect with young voters, and how their strategy echoed in contemporary politics through President Obama’s historic campaign.

Maybe It's Just the Rain | 2024 | United States, Philippines | Reina Bonta | Midwest Premiere | In their debut, an underdog, diasporic group of young women become the first Filipino team to win a football World Cup match. Reina, Fil-Am team center back, brings us on this turbulent journey, culminating in an intimate trip to her grandmother’s hometown in the Philippines.

Swimming with Butterflies | 2024 | United States | Karl Stelter | Midwest Premiere | After missing bronze by 1/100th of a second at Rio, para swimmer Lizzi Smith shares her intimate journey to redefine her identity and bring confidence to the next generation of female athletes.

Uncaged | 2024 | United States | Jay Richardson | Midwest Premiere | In a metaphorical therapy session, a young athlete confronts the mental toll of NIL deals. Struggling with survivor's guilt and the pressure to succeed, he must turn doubt into action before it consumes him.

SPOTLIGHT: BALL STATE RADIANCE CINEMA

Check out these brand-new shorts from the students of Ball State Universityʼs Radiance Cinema!

**In a Nutshell | 2025 | United States | Riley Nower | World Premiere | Wil and Colin Parks are two siblings in a family of assassins, when Wil discovers Colin killing his ex-boyfriend and a member of a rival family, Alex, she agrees to help him cover up the unauthorized murder before their mom finds out.

**Sizzle | 2025 | United States | Elizabeth Reed | World Premiere | When estranged childhood best friends, Emily and Luna, are reunited by their old imaginary friend Sizzle McHotPants, they must work together to send him back, and close old wounds along the way.

**Wanting | 2025 | United States | Luke Heitmann | World Premiere | Struggling to confront his crush during the last party of the year, Eddie discovers Harleen the Gene who grants him three wishes to assist him in obtaining what he desires before the turn of the New Year.

SPOTLIGHT: CHILDREN'S RESILIENCE WITH SHINE GLOBAL

Witness the incredible resilience and unwavering spirit of children as they overcome challenges and find strength in unexpected places.

*An Olive Branch | 2024 | Jordan, UK, Ireland | Sam Nutt, Shafiq Olabi | U.S. Premiere | In Amman, a Syrian refugee family faces hardship when the father falls ill. Eighteen-year-old Amal embarks on a desperate search for work, navigating the harsh realities of survival, hope and resilience amidst an uncertain future.

Blackmoll | 2024 | Germany, United States | Alessia Mandanici | A seven-year-old girl sets out to justify the mysterious world of her dementia-suffering grandmother.

Éiru | 2024 | Ireland | Giovanna Ferrari | When the water mysteriously disappears from the well in a warrior clan’s village, an intrepid child descends into the belly of the Earth to retrieve it.

*Les mousses | 2024 | France | Guillaume Schmitt-Bailer | U.S. Premiere | At elementary school, Ponge, a nine-year-old girl, tries her best to play soccer with the boys who won't pass her the ball. Annoyed, she isolates herself and comes face to face with a group of colorful young girls who are about to upset the established order in the playground. They call themselves: Les mousses!

Single Residence Occupancy | 2024 | United States | Omer Ben Shachar | Midwest Premiere | A Chinese immigrant living in a single residence occupancy apartment receives news that her family’s application for better housing is denied, and grapples with how to share the news with her children.

SPOTLIGHT: MPI SHORT FILM LAB

Indy Shorts is proud to debut the latest slate of films from the Moving Picture Institute Short Film Lab.

**The Art of Inflation | 2025 | United States, Columbia | Brett Wietecha | World Premiere | Fleeing Venezuela’s economic collapse, two brothers struggle for survival on a militia-operated coca farm. With their lives on the line, the younger brother gambles on a last ditch effort to rescue themselves and bring the girl he has fallen for.

Grind | 2025 | United States | Mark Apicella | Midwest Premiere | When John, an aspiring sneaker designer in East Los Angeles, gets the opportunity of his life to be featured in his idol’s pop-up shop, his best friend and business partner tries to pull him down his own divergent path as he promises John’s shoe design to a gang.

**Pocket Change | 2025 | United States | Tanner Mobley, Heston Roewe | World Premiere | When the power goes out at a roadside diner in the middle of nowhere, a mysterious drifter and his seemingly worthless quarter hold the key to saving everyone from a deadly threat.

SPOTLIGHT: OSCAR® WINNER DOUG BLUSH

Celebrate our 2025 Pioneering Spirit Award honoree in this collection of his newly-produced short documentaries.

**The Breakthrough Group | 2025 | United States | Ben Rekhi | World Premiere | With unprecedented access to a new behavioral community in Salt Lake City, "The Breakthrough Group" follows several formerly incarcerated students as they undertake peer-led interventions to break through their negative behaviors and become functioning members of society again.

Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner | 2024 | United States | Brad Bailey | Midwest Premiere | Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, spends years seeking justice over the death of her son. At home, surrounded by photos of lost loved ones, she draws strength from cherished memories to keep fighting. Filmed over six years, this documentary marks the 10-year anniversary of Eric’s death.

**Middleground | 2025 | United States | Alex Herz | World Premiere | This short documentary follows four young adults with intellectual disabilities in Fresno, California, as they start their professional careers, relying on a patchwork of family and community aid while navigating a fragmented system of state services.

OUT HERE | 2025 | United States | Lisa Klein | Midwest Premiere | "OUT HERE" is a story of redemption as social worker Mark, who has overcome his troubled past, works to house his Sacramento neighbors. As we see Mark “piecing shit together” it reveals the power of human connection and personal conviction.

SPOTLIGHT: THE NEW YORKER

Experience a collection of short films fromThe New Yorker. The short docs from The New Yorker Documentary offer uncommon perspectives on global issues, while the fictional short films from The Screening Room spark curiosity.

The Ban | 2024 | United Kingdom, Ireland | Roisin Agnew | Thirty years after the IRA ceasefire in Northern Ireland, this experimental archive film looks at Margaret Thatcher's farcical broadcasting ban that saw actors hired to dub those associated with terrorism.

Criminal | 2024 | United States | Robe Imbriano | Midwest Premiere | "Criminal" is an animated musical documentary short film that confronts the injustice of people held at the Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas. The vast majority are there because they can't afford due process and don't have enough cash to pay their way out while awaiting trial. Because they are poor, thousands are held for months or even shipped to jails out of state when they are supposed to be presumed innocent.

The Guy Who Got Cut Wrong | 2024 | United States | Dana Ben-Ari | Midwest Premiere | Bestselling novelist Gary Shteyngart's piece for The New Yorker about his botched circumcision went viral. In “The Guy Who Got Cut Wrong,” Shteyngart delves deeper into the trauma, ultimately proclaiming in his tragic-comic voice, “This country broke my penis, but it couldn't break my spirit."

THIS IS AWKWARD

Cringey, clumsy and uncomfortable short scenarios.

African Family Dinner | 2024 | Norway | Ibrahim Mursal | Midwest Premiere | Mona, a Norwegian blonde, meets her Ghanaian boyfriend's family for the first time. What starts as a simple dinner with both sides eager to impress each other, quickly escalates into the most awkward dinner in history!

Bootie's | 2025 | United States | Milana Vayntrub | Midwest Premiere | An overworked assistant who moonlights at a lap dance party is thrown when her day job boss comes into the club. As her worlds collide, the two are caught in a delightfully awkward game of social chicken and an unspoken power struggle that begs the question: who’s really in charge?

Montsouris | 2024 | France | Guil Sela | On a beautiful autumn day in Montsouris Park, Jacques and Nathan are on the lookout for interesting people to feature in their documentary. They stumble upon Pierre and Martin, two funny birds about to experience an unexpected moment.

Pirateland | 2025 | Greece, Norway, France | Stavros Petropoulos | As the winter season begins in Creta, an overly touristic Greek island, a family of locals, owners of a small struggling bed and breakfast, get an unexpected visit from a Nordic family of tourists looking into the piratic past of the area. The relationship between Manos, the Greek father and Tassos, his son, is being tested as they are struggling to meet the increasingly challenging demands of the tourists looking to live the authentic pirate experience.

THE UNEXPECTED

Expect the unexpected in these journeys of intrigue, surprise and revelations.

**The Most Powerful Human on Earth | 2024 | United Kingdom | Andrew Richardson | World Premiere | Seasoned psychotherapist Dr. Mary Motosko takes on the baffling case of Adam Mackie and his partner, Molly Freeburn. Alarmed by Adam’s sudden conviction that he’s a bona fide superhero, Molly seeks help to salvage their relationship and make sense of his unraveling mind. As reality blurs, Dr. Motosko must determine whether Adam suffers from a psychiatric disorder or if his condition defies all explanation.

MOTOS | 2024 | United States | Jesus Beltran | Two cousins scraping by as loggers in the post wildfire Santa Cruz mountains find something deep in the redwood forest that can bring them together or tear them apart.

**One in Fifty | 2025 | United States | Haley Watson | World Premiere | As a young girl, Renata receives mysterious letters and visits from well-dressed strangers, fueling her imagination of a prince searching for her. However, her world takes a turn when she uncovers that her identity has been stolen and used in crimes she never committed.

Say As I Say | 2024 | United States | Daniel Solé | At synagogue Beth Shalom, Raquel and her daughter Eva sort through donations for the winter food drive. When Raquel finds herself on the receiving end of a bomb threat, she bucks all protocol and makes a striking decision.

The Traveler | 2025 | United States | Matthew Scheffler | New York, 1887. In an isolated farmhouse, a reclusive widow is haunted by a supernatural presence she longs to be her late husband. As the spirit grows increasingly hostile, she questions whether something far more sinister is lurking.

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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Media Contacts:Heartland Film | Jessica Chapman, Director of Marketing jchapman@heartlandfilm.org | 317.750.3902