34th Heartland International Film Festival to Feature Oscar®-Winning Actors with Hoosier Ties, Brendan Fraser in "Rental Family" to Open and Rami Malek in "Nuremberg" to Close

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

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Heartland Film has announced the lineup for the 34th Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) presented by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, taking place October 9-19. The 11-day festival, which was named on MovieMaker Magazine's Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World for 2023 & 2024, will showcase more than 100 independent films - 19 World/U.S. Premieres, 27 regional premieres, 17 Special Presentations from major distributors and 9 Indiana Spotlight films.

Opening Night (October 9), presented by The Klapper Family Foundation, showcases “Rental Family” from Searchlight Pictures. Academy Award® winner and Indianapolis-born Brendan Fraser plays an American actor in Tokyo who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese "rental family" agency. Centerpiece Screening (October 15), presented by IndyStar/LOCALiQ, features “Train Dreams” from Netflix, written and produced by 2024 HIFF Pioneering Spirit Award winner Greg Kwedar. Based on Denis Johnson's beloved novella, "Train Dreams" is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker (Joel Edgerton) who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th century. Closing Night (October 19), presented by The Klapper Family Foundation, features "Nuremberg" from Sony Pictures Classics. This special presentation stars another Oscar® winner with Hoosier ties, Rami Malek, who studied theater at the University of Evansville, playing a WWII psychiatrist who evaluates Nazi leaders for the Nuremberg trials and becomes obsessed with understanding evil, forming a disturbing bond with Hermann Göring, played by Russell Crowe. 

Another prominent Hoosier featured in a major event title is former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who cameos in Bradley Cooper's latest film from Searchlight Pictures, "Is This Thing On?", which will be playing as HIFF's Spotlight Screening. Fresh off its world premiere as the Closing Night Film at the New York Film Festival, the film is director Bradley Cooper's third feature and stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern alongside Andra Day and Cooper. 

Sydney Sweeney's transformative performance in "Christy" will be featured as the HIFF Showcase Screening on Monday, October 13. Directed by David Michôd ("Animal Kingdom", "The King", "The Rover"), the Black Bear biopic centers on Christy Martin's (Sweeney) journey from rural West Virginia to the top of the boxing world under the guidance of her manager-turned-husband, Jim (Ben Foster), before she nearly loses it all. HIFF will host the real-life Christy Martin at the Showcase Screening for a post-screening Q&A. Indianapolis-born Katy O'Brian ("Love Lies Bleeding", "The Mandalorian") plays Lisa Holewyne in the film and also stars in horror comedy "Queens of the Dead" playing at the Festival.

Additional event and special presentation titles with awards season buzz include: 

"Last year's Heartland International Film Festival extended our streak of featuring Oscar® winners in major event slots, highlighted by Kieran Culkin in 'A Real Pain' and Zoe Saldaña in 'Emilia Pérez',” said Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “This year's slate of major studio sneak previews gives Indianapolis one of the first opportunities to see surefire award nominees first in addition to a wide slate of true independent gems across the narrative and documentary spaces, from world premieres to major festival favorites.” 

The 2025 festival theme, "Connect to What Matters," was inspired by the early days of the World Wide Web and excitement around connecting people and stories from all over the world. Attendees are encouraged to connect to new places, people and perspectives as they browse through festival films at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, Indy Art Center, Kan-Kan Cinema, Living Room Theaters and Newfields. All film selections will have in-person screenings, and many of the films will also be available to view virtually (US restricted). Tickets and Fest Passes are available at HeartlandFilmFestival.org.    

The Awards Presentation for the 34th Heartland International Film Festival will be held on Saturday, October 18 at The Jazz Kitchen. More than $60,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to filmmakers, including $20,000 for the Narrative and Documentary Grand Prize-winning films. Since 1992, Heartland Film has presented $3.5 million in cash prizes – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America. 

Six films that premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in May will be showcased at Kan-Kan Cinema. The 'Cannes at the Kan-Kan' series includes the festival's 2025 Palme d'Or winning film, "It Was Just An Accident" from Neon, in addition to other award-winning titles, including:

Heartland Film is partnering with Hoodox to present Pitchox Main Event on Saturday, October 18 at the Kan-Kan Cinema. During this event, local filmmakers who are currently working on documentaries will pitch their projects for $10,000 towards their film. The audience, along with our esteemed jury, will vote for the winner. 

The festival will also host a free screening of the 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge's finalists and award-winning short films. The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge gives filmmakers — with and without disabilities — the opportunity to collaborate to tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms, inviting aspiring storytellers to creatively write, produce and complete short films. The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge has been a longtime partner of Heartland Film, and the founder, Nic Novicki, will be attending the free screening at 7 PM on Sunday, October 12 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Nic Novicki is also the Executive Producer of two feature films at the festival, "The Tallest Dwarf" and "Disposable Humanity."

Below is the complete film lineup, special events and more. Tickets and the schedule for the 34th Heartland International Film Festival can be found at HeartlandFilmFestival.org.

Tickets to HIFF can be purchased at HeartlandFilmFestival.org or at the theater. A Fest Pass gives access to any theater and virtual screening, excluding Premium Events (Opening, Centerpiece, Closing Night, Kick-Off and Awards). Heartland Film Members receive 20% off tickets and Fest Passes. A Duo VIP Fest Pass is the simplest way for two people to access and secure tickets to every in-person and virtual screening together. 

Thursday, October 9 at 6:30 PM | Newfields | $20 | "Rental Family" | #HIFF34 is powering on with the Opening Night screening of HIKARI's "Rental Family" from Searchlight Pictures. Starring Academy Award® winner Brendan Fraser, the film celebrates the joy of unexpected connection.

Friday, October 10 at 7 PM | Turntable (6281 N College Ave) | $15 | Spark film friendships and new networks over music and appetizers at our annual Kick-Off Party!

Sunday, October 12 at 7 PM | Alamo Drafthouse Cinema | Free (RSVP Required) | Celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge by exploring the power of creativity and inclusion with this year's theme of thriller and suspense films! Founder Nic Novicki is scheduled to be in attendance. Screening will have open captions.

Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30 PM | Newfields | $15 | "Train Dreams" | "Train Dreams" from Netflix is embedded in the middle of#HIFF34. This centerpiece film explores how the world is intricately stitched together and every thread we pull affects its design.

Various times and locations | AARP Indiana is dedicated to empowering Hoosiers 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. Join AARP staff and volunteers at each of the following film screenings to experience powerful stories and learn more about how you can get involved locally. The film series highlights the films "Mistura," "Pauline From 2 to 3" and "She Dances."

Saturday, October 18 | 4 PM | Kan-Kan Cinema | Free (RSVP Required) | Nine documentary film projects currently in production have been pre-selected to present pitches. The audience, along with our esteemed jury, will vote for their favorite, which will win a $10,000 award to put toward completing their film.

Saturday, October 18 | Doors at 7:30 PM | Awards Presentation at 8:30 PM | Music from 9:30-10 PM | The Jazz Kitchen | $15 | Get fired up at the 2025 Awards Party as we present more than $60,000 in cash awards! Celebrate these award-winning filmmakers over appetizers, live music and dancing! This event has a cash bar.

Sunday, October 19 at 5:30 PM | Newfields | $20 | "Nuremberg" | Sign out of the 34th Heartland International Film Festival with "Nuremberg" from Sony Pictures Classics starring Rami Malek, Michael Shannon and Russell Crowe.

Rental Family | HIKARI | Japan, United States ​

Set in modern-day Tokyo, "Rental Family" follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese "rental family" agency. Special presentation of Searchlight Pictures.

Train Dreams | Clint Bentley | United States 

Based on Denis Johnson's beloved novella, "Train Dreams" is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century. Special presentation of Netflix. Co-written by Bentley and Greg Kwedar, winner of the 2024 HIFF Pioneering Spirit Award. 

It Was Just an Accident | Jafar Panahi | Iran, France, Luxembourg 

A small mishap triggers a chain reaction of ever-growing problems. Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Special presentation of Neon.

Nuremberg | James Vanderbilt | United States

The Allies, led by the unyielding chief prosecutor Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), have the task of ensuring the Nazi regime answers for the unveiled horrors of the Holocaust while a U.S. Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with former Reichsmarschall Herman Göring (Russell Crowe). Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Is This Thing On? | Bradley Cooper | United States

Will Arnett and Laura Dern play a couple whose separation leads to unpredictable midlife self-reckonings, most dramatically in Alex’s wild career pivot to become a confessional stand-up comic. Director Bradley Cooper’s beautifully lived-in third feature is both lacerating and sweet-souled, funny and tender. Special presentation of Searchlight Pictures.

Christy | David Michôd | United States 

Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim (Ben Foster). Special presentation of Black Bear.

After the Hunt | Luca Guadagnino | United States, Italy

From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, "After the Hunt" is a gripping psychological drama about a college professor (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light. "After the Hunt" is written by Nora Garrett. Special presentation of Amazon MGM Studios.

A Private Life | Rebecca Zlotowski | France 

The renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster) mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Arco | Ugo Bienvenu | France 

"Arco" follows a 10-year-old boy from a peaceful, distant future who accidentally travels back to the year 2075 and discovers a world in peril. Special presentation of Neon.

Blue Moon | Richard Linklater | United States, Ireland

On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Good Fortune | Aziz Ansari | United States

In "Good Fortune", a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Aziz Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen). Special presentation of Lionsgate.

John Candy: I Like Me | Colin Hanks | United States 

The film explores the life and legacy of the iconic funnyman Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of 43. Special presentation of Prime Video.

Love+War | Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | United States

Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynsey Addario has risked her life to capture the stark realities of war—from the Middle East and Afghanistan to Ukraine. From National Geographic Documentary Films and Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin,  “Love+War”  chronicles Addario’s ascent in the male-dominated world of conflict photography. 

The Plague | Charlie Polinger | Australia, United Arab Emirates, United States

At an all-boys water polo camp, a socially anxious 12-year-old is pulled into a cruel tradition targeting an outcast with an illness they call “The Plague.” Special presentation of Independent Film Company starring Joel Edgerton.

Rebuilding | Max Walker-Silverman | United States

A gently humanist story of the American West from Max Walker-Silverman ("A Love Song"), Rebuilding follows Dusty (Josh O’Connor), a reserved, divorced father whose ranch has burned down in a devastating wildfire. Now living in a trailer community on a government-run campsite, Dusty finds solace with his new neighbors who have also lost everything, quietly reassembles his life, and starts reconnecting with his ex-wife Ruby (Meghann Fahy) and young daughter Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre). Filmed against the rapturous backdrop of southern Colorado, Rebuilding is a ruminative, moving portrait of resilience and human connection in the wake of loss. Special Presentation of Bleecker Street.

The Secret Agent | Kleber Mendonça Filho | Brazil, France, Netherlands, Germany

Brazil, 1977. Marcelo, a technology expert in his early 40s, is on the run. Hoping to reunite with his son, he travels to Recife during Carnival but soon realizes that the city is not the safe haven he was expecting. Winner of Best Actor and Best Director at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Special presentation of Neon.

Sirāt | Oliver Laxe | France, Spain

A father (Sergi López) and his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco. They’re searching for Mar—daughter and sister—who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. Surrounded by electronic music and a raw, unfamiliar sense of freedom, they hand out her photo again and again. Hope is fading but they push through and follow a group of ravers heading to one last party in the desert. As they venture deeper into the burning wilderness, the journey forces them to confront their own limits. Winner of the Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Special presentation of Neon.

25 Cats From Qatar | Mye Hoang | United States 

Qatar has a street cat population equal to the nation's human population – 
where disease is rampant and local adoption is rare. The film follows a 
network of multinational rescuers and an American cat cafe owner, all working to fly out 25 lucky cats to the US."

*À demain sur la Lune | Thomas Balmès | France | U.S. Premiere

In the palliative care unit of Calais Hospital, in northern France, a horse named Peyo visits the most fragile patients to soothe them in their final days. 

ALL GOD'S CHILDREN | Ondi Timoner  | United States | Midwest Premiere

In an unprecedented attempt to heal centuries of racism and anti-semitism and combat the rising tension in their Brooklyn communities, activist Rabbi Rachel Timoner teams up with Baptist Reverend Robert Waterman to unite their congregations. 

Among Neighbors | Yoav Potash | United States | Midwest Premiere 

Using hand-drawn animation to bring the past to life, Among Neighbors focuses on one of the last living Holocaust survivors from a small Polish town, and an eyewitness who saw Jewish people murdered there — six months after the Nazis were defeated. 

ASCO: Without Permission | Travis Gutiérrez Senger | United States

ASCO: Without Permission profiles the extraordinary, LA based, Chicano art group ASCO, and through a genre-defying approach, reimagines what is possible today in art and cinema while celebrating an iconoclastic group that was far ahead of its time. 

**Best Day Ever | Ben Knight, Berne Broudy | United States | World Premiere

Two mountain bikers find community in rural Vermont through a grassroots movement to build the world's first completely adaptive trail network in the world. 

Between Goodbyes | Jota Mun | United States, South Korea | Midwest Premiere 

When a queer Korean adoptee visits her original mother in Seoul, long-held regrets and cultural misunderstandings come to the surface alongside tenderness, humor, and tenacity. 

Comparsa | Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson | Guatemala, United States

In a Guatemalan barrio silenced by fear, teenage sisters lead a luminous rebellion —unleashing giant puppets, fire, and performance in a joyful fight for survival. They rally local youth, taking back the streets to expose and denounce violence against girls. 

Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution | Bill Haney | United States | Midwest Premiere

A groundbreaking look at Phil Sharp’s rise from being a rural Kentucky farm boy to Nobel Prize-winning scientist, "Cracking the Code" reveals how Sharp’s RNA discovery transformed biology and launched the biotechnology revolution leading to life-saving treatments for millions. 

The Dating Game | Violet Du Feng | United States, UK, Norway | Midwest Premiere

In a country where eligible men outnumber women by 30 million, three perpetual bachelors join an intensive seven-day dating camp led by one of China’s most sought-after dating coaches in a last-ditch effort to find a girl and love. 

Disposable Humanity | Cameron S. Mitchell | United States | Midwest Premiere

A family investigates the Nazi Aktion T4 program which targeted disabled people and catalyzed the Holocaust. 

Dream Boats | Zach Thompson | United States | Midwest Premiere

Dream Boats follows two friends, Ben Towill and Charlie Layton, as they attempt to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Battling storms, exhaustion, and extreme isolation, their story is an extraordinary test of friendship, endurance, and the unbreakable human spirit. 

The Eyes of Ghana | Ben Proudfoot | United States | Midwest Premiere

From Oscar®-winning director Ben Proudfoot (2023 Heartland Film Pioneering Spirit Award Winner), "The Eyes of Ghana" is a stunning feature documentary following 93-year-old documentarian Chris Hesse—personal cinematographer to forgotten African icon Kwame Nkrumah—as he races against blindness and time to rescue and repatriate a secret trove of over 1,300 films that captured the birth of African independence in the fifties and sixties. Yet unseen by the public, these films may not only rewrite Ghanaian and African history—but world history itself. 

Good Shot | Joris Debeij | United States | Midwest Premiere 

In the heart of Watts, a beloved neighborhood legend named Maxwell seeks redemption as a father after a lifetime of using basketball to mask his pain. 

Hanna: She is a Rebel | Laura Andrea López Estrada | Iceland, Mexico | U.S. Premiere 

Hanna retires after a lifetime of being a banker and enrolls in art school to become a painter. For this eighty-three year old Icelandic woman, it's never too late to start again! 

Her Shark Story | Ignacio Walker, Denis Arqueros | Chile, United States | Midwest Premiere

This is the story of Sofia, a young marine biologist from the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador who reconnects with her absent father through their shared passion for trying to save the biggest shark in the world, the Whale Shark. 

THE INN BETWEEN | Ondi Timoner  | United States | Midwest Premiere 

"THE INN BETWEEN", by award-winning director Ondi Timoner, will invite audiences inside the only hospice for homeless in America, which also provides  recuperative care—to discover the miracles that can happen when human beings regain their hope, dignity and feeling of belonging. Based in Salt Lake City, The INN Between is the only place between the hospital and the street, and between life and death. 

The Inquisitor | Angela Lynn Tucker | United States | Midwest Premiere 

As a young girl in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Barbara Jordan was taught to defy expectations. She understood that to succeed, she would need to forge her own path. With relentless determination and unyielding tenacity, Barbara Jordan made history as Texas’s first Black state senator and the first Southern Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In a world dominated by white men, she moved with deft skill, earning both their respect and their fear. At a time when the idea of a Black woman holding power seemed inconceivable, Barbara Jordan created a roadmap for change. The Inquisitor chronicles the life of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, whose electrifying voice and moral clarity during President Richard Nixon’s impeachment captivated the nation. Earning her the moniker “The Inquisitor.”   

Jimmy & The Demons | Cindy Meehl | United States | Midwest Premiere

A magical journey into the artistic life and inner mind of celebrated sculptor, James Grashow, who, at age 79, devotes four years to creating his magnum opus. 

Land With No Rider | Tamar Lando | United States

The last cowboys of New Mexico eke out a fragile survival in a world of isolation, memories and rugged beauty as an epic drought devastates the American West. 

Lost Wolves of Yellowstone  | Thomas Winston | United States 

The lost story of the first wolf pack to repatriate Yellowstone National Park, The Mollie’s Pack, and their namesake who led the historic and harrowing effort. 

Maintenance Artist | Toby Perl Freilich | United States | Midwest Premiere

“After the Revolution, who’s going to pick up the garbage on Monday morning?” challenged Mierle Laderman Ukeles. Blasting her way into the avant-garde, in 1977 Ukeles became the first artist-in-residence at New York City’s Sanitation Department.  

Natchez | Suzannah Herbert | United States 

"Natchez" captures an unsettling clash between history and memory through a small Mississippi town reliant on antebellum tourism to survive. Who gets to tell America’s story?" 

Out of Plain Sight | Daniel Straub, Rosanna Xia | United States

A haunting tip prompts a Los Angeles Times reporter to discover that as many as half a million barrels of toxic waste had been dumped into the ocean, just off the coast of Southern California.

**Pauline From 2 to 3 | Richard Rutkowski | United States | World Premiere

 A centenarian Super Ager, blessed with astounding physical and mental health, Pauline spends her 102nd and 103rd years on camera in this sensitive, humorous and uplifting documentary. With grit and optimism, she powerfully embodies the women of America's Greatest Generation. 

Remaining Native  | Paige Bethmann | United States

Remaining Native is a coming-of-age documentary told from the perspective of Kutoven (Ku) Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner, struggling to navigate his dream of becoming a collegiate athlete as the memory of his great-grandfather's escape from an Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present and future. 

**Sacred Wisdom Sacred Earth | Alejandro Miranda | United States | World Premiere

Filmed over three years, "Sacred Wisdom Sacred Earth" documents the interconnected stories of the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes, beginning with the Ho-Chunk Nation, and expanding outward to a global call for unity and environmental healing. 

Seeds | Brittany Shyne | United States 

A look into the lives of Black generational farmers, unveiling the challenges of maintaining legacy and the value of land ownership. 

She Walks a Line | Timothy Lovell | Nepal | Midwest Premiere

Shanta Sapkota, a courageous Nepali woman, leads an all-female team fighting to stop the trafficking of young women across the India-Nepal border. She Walks a Line reveals their raw struggles and triumphs against a global human trafficking crisis. 

Sun Ra: Do the Impossible | Christine Turner | United States | Midwest Premiere 

A kaleidoscopic portrait of the visionary jazz musician, composer and poet known as Sun Ra and the musical, historical and philosophical currents that shaped him.

The Tallest Dwarf | Julie Forrest Wyman | United States | Midwest Premiere 

A filmmaker’s exploration of her own dwarfism leads her into a community in flux - and a question: can we see beauty and power in disability? 

**Tight & Nerdy | Jeff Nucera, Jonathan Ruane | United States | World Premiere 

"Tight & Nerdy" is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of the world’s first burlesque troupe devoted to “Weird Al” Yankovic.   

The Invisible Half | Masaki Nishiyama | Japan | U.S. Premiere

Elena, a “half” Japanese high school girl, struggles with her identity. While constantly watched, she discovers she’s also being watched by something else—a monster that can only be seen through her smartphone and heard through her earphones. 

Queens of the Dead | Tina Romero | United States

Drag queens and club kids battle zombies craving brains during a zombie outbreak at their drag show in Brooklyn, putting personal conflicts aside to utilize their distinct abilities against the undead threat. 

Weekend at the End of the World | Gille Klabin | United States | Midwest Premiere

Two life-long friends who can't keep a relationship or a job, find themselves with an opportunity to get rich and turn their lives around. The only thing standing in their way, is the end of the world. 

**11:17  | AJ Koleszar | United States | World Premiere

When a high school senior finds herself in the wake of a traumatic accident, she must navigate a surreal inner limbo while stuck between escape and confrontation. Made by students and faculty at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

The Amateur Circus | Erik Thein | United States

Tucked away in northern Indiana, the city of Peru, Indiana is the circus capitol of the world. Thousands of visitors and townspeople come to this town for two weeks to see the annual amateur circus. Performed by only the local kids, fueled with the rich history and culture of the circus in Peru, this show is anything but amateur. 

**Ignite the Fire | Brian Hansen, Juan Guillen | United States | World Premiere

Ignite the Fire tells the story of the inaugural season of the Indy Ignite, Indiana's first ever professional women's volleyball team. The Ignite pursue success on and off the court as they navigate a new team, new league, new facility and more.

**Sincerely, Ric | Jesse Carfield | United States | World Premiere

A forgotten storage unit uncovers the rise and fall of Ric Routledge, a dog show icon who revolutionized the industry from Indiana. Now his story, told in his own words, comes to light. 

**Sweet Lorraine in Auschwitz | Philip Paluso | United States | World Premiere

Amid the Holocaust’s unimaginable cruelty, a young boy finds hope in music. Eighty years later, Frank Grunwald shares his true story of survival and resilience, intertwined with American jazz, offering a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit.

**The Tenderness Tour | Andie Redwine | United States | World Premiere

Richard Propes, a seasoned grassroots activist, struggles to keep his Tenderness Tour alive while managing new health realities and battling old demons. 

**The Village on the Prairie: 50 Years of Prairietown | Ryan Shank, Keith Harshbarger | United States | World Premiere 

Founded in 1974 by Eli Lilly, Prairietown at Conner Prairie immerses guests in 19th-century Indiana life through trades, foodways, music, and daily activities. In 2024, its 50-year legacy is celebrated with the documentary The Village on the Prairie: 50 Years of Prairietown. 

When Everyone Swims | Jerald Harkness | United States | World Premiere

When Everyone Swims is the catalyst for a movement that sheds light on the often-overlooked intersection of swimming, public safety and social inequality.  

**Winter Fantasy | Lauren Z Ray | United States | World Premiere

A 30-year-old searches for closure as she visits her hometown musical theatre program.

A Simple Machine | Mark Alan Hoffman | United States | Midwest Premiere

In order to get out of debt, an indecisive young man makes a series of radically frugal lifestyle choices without telling his girlfriend that he’s going to be homeless. 

Adult Children | Rich Newey | United States

Morgan (Ella Rubin) is a sheltered 17-year-old, struggling to define who she is in order to write her college entrance essay. When a crisis provides her the rare opportunity to spend time with her 3 significantly older half-siblings (Betsy Brandt, Thomas Sadoski, Aya Cash), she hopes they’ll be able to shed some light on what it means to be an adult, only to be disappointed when she discovers they’re all faking it. 

Bird Boy | Joel Soisson | United States, South Africa | Midwest Premiere

A troubled young orphan must risk everything to save his beloved ostrich from a meat farm. 

The Fisherman | Zoey Martinson | Ghana | Midwest Premiere ​

In Zoey Martinson’s Venice Film Festival winning comedy— aging Ghanaian Atta Oko sets his sights on finally having his own boat and becoming the envy of his village, he’ll just need help from a talking fish first. 

Happy Birthday | Sarah Goher | Egypt | Midwest Premiere ​

Eight-year-old maid Toha goes to great lengths to ensure that her best friend Nelly, the daughter of her wealthy employer, has a successful birthday party in this poignant debut feature exploring classism in modern-day Cairo. 

Hello Out There! | Otis Blum | United States

Minnie, a journalist, and Rex, her cousin and punk rock guitarist recently out of rehab, embark on a road trip to investigate Area 51 and uncover the truth about extraterrestrials. However, their journey unveils a deeper, personal motive. 

Horsegirls | Lauren Meyering | United States | Midwest Premiere

Living under the full-time care of her terminally ill mother, a twenty-six-year-old, socially awkward woman attempts to prove her independence by winning a hobbyhorse competition. 

*The House with No Address | Hatice Aşkın | Turkey, Greece | U.S. Premiere

Alper is a young and upcoming prosecutor in a land where anyone found guilty of a major crime is erased from society. But when his mother is convicted, Alper begins to question the rules he once fought to uphold. 

La Gloria | J.T. Walker | United States | Midwest Premiere

A Texas border rancher accidentally shoots a migrant woman and must decide whether to help her and risk discovery by his son, a Border Patrol agent.  

Magic Hour | Katie Aselton | United States

Erin and Charlie escape to the desert to navigate an unexpected and challenging new phase of their relationship. 

Matter Of Time | Jeremy Snead | United States | Midwest Premiere

A 29-year-old aspiring video game designer is given the opportunity of a lifetime with a time-stopping device given to him by his friend, an eccentric Toy shop owner named Gibbs. 

Mistura | Ricardo de Montreuil | Peru

In 1960’s Peru, a privileged French-Peruvian woman’s life unravels when her husband’s betrayal ostracizes her from elite society and leads her to embrace people from the very communities that she was raised to disregard.

Motherland | Evan Matthews | United States

In an alternate present society where the state frees parents from the burden of raising children, a rule enforcer learns a shocking truth that sparks her rebellion.

Omaha | Cole Webley | United States

After a family tragedy, siblings Ella and Charlie are unexpectedly woken up by their dad and taken on a journey across the country, experiencing a world they’ve never seen before. As their adventure unfolds, Ella begins to understand that things might not be what they seem.

Outerlands | Elena Oxman | United States

After a fling with co-worker Kalli, Cass becomes an unexpected caretaker for Ari, Kalli's 11-year-old daughter. As Kalli’s absence lingers on, Cass bonds with Ari, forced to confront painful memories from their own childhood. 

Premarital | Robert Ingraham | United States | World Premiere

A Midwestern pastor embarks on a hypocritical and hilarious campaign to convert his daughter’s fiancé to Christianity only days before they marry. 

**Shakti | Nani Sahra Walker | United States, Nepal | World Premiere

When a nine-year old suddenly catches a mysterious illness in Kathmandu, doctors are bewildered. Her strong-willed mother turns to a local shaman who reveals shared trauma that catapults mother and daughter into a fight for justice. 

She Dances | Rick Gomez | United States

A father and daughter attempt to repair their relationship and reconcile a shared tragedy against the backdrop of the "Young Miss Southeast Regional Dance Finals.” 

*Soft Leaves | Miwako Van Weyenberg | Belgium | U.S. Premiere

After her father ends up in the hospital, eleven year old Yuna’s world is turned upside down when she’s reconnected with her Japanese mother and half-sister. 

Tow | Stephanie Laing | United States | Midwest Premiere

Tow charts the true story of Amanda Ogle, a homeless Seattle woman who fought her way out of tow-company hell to reclaim her life and the car that held it all together after receiving a tow bill for $21,634. 

Transplant | Jason Park | United States

A motivated surgical resident pushes himself to extreme lengths while training under a legendary heart transplant surgeon obsessed with protecting his perfect reputation. 

The Travel Companion | Travis Wood, Alex Mallis | United States | Midwest Premiere

Simon, a struggling documentary filmmaker, enjoys free flights courtesy of his best friend and roommate, Bruce, who works for an airline. However, when Beatrice, a more successful filmmaker, enters the picture and starts dating Bruce, Simon risks flying too close to the sun. 

**TRUTH & TREASON | Matt Whitaker | United States | World Premiere

The true story of 16-year-old Helmuth Hübener, who courageously stood up to Hitler’s regime with only a typewriter and the truth—risking everything to expose Nazi lies and outwit one of history’s most ruthless secret police forces. 

Under The Lights | Miles Levin | United States

Sam, a boy with epilepsy, is so desperate to feel normal that he wants to go to prom knowing the lights will cause a seizure. 

A Private Life | Rebecca Zlotowski | France ​

The renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster) mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

After the Hunt | Luca Guadagnino | United States, Italy

From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, "After the Hunt" is a gripping psychological drama about a college professor (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light. "After the Hunt" is written by Nora Garrett. Special presentation of Amazon MGM Pictures.

Arco | Ugo Bienvenu | France

What if rainbows were actually time travelers flying across the sky? On his first flight through time, Arco (10) crash lands from the year 3000 into our near future. His fall is witnessed by a little girl, Iris, who helps him return home. Special presentation of Neon.

Blue Moon | Richard Linklater | United States, Ireland

On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Christy | David Michôd | United States

Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim (Ben Foster). Special presentation of Black Bear.

Good Fortune | Aziz Ansari | United States

In "Good Fortune", a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Aziz Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen). Special presentation of Lionsgate.

Is This Thing On? | Bradley Cooper | United States

Will Arnett and Laura Dern play a couple whose separation leads to unpredictable midlife self-reckonings, most dramatically in Alex’s wild career pivot to become a confessional stand-up comic. Director Bradley Cooper’s beautifully lived-in third feature is both lacerating and sweet-souled, funny and tender. Special presentation of Searchlight Pictures.

It Was Just an Accident | Jafar Panâhi | Iran, France, Luxembourg

A small mishap triggers a chain reaction of ever-growing problems. Special presentation of Neon.

John Candy: I Like Me | Colin Hanks | United States

The film explores the life and legacy of the iconic funnyman Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of 43. Special presentation of Prime Video.

Love+War | Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | United States

Oscar® winners Vasarhelyi and Chin follow photographer Lynsey Addario capturing the Ukraine war while reflecting on her Pulitzer-winning career. Special presentation of National Geographic Documentary Films. 

Nuremberg | James Vanderbilt | United States

The Allies, led by the unyielding chief prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), have the task of ensuring the Nazi regime answers for the unveiled horrors of the Holocaust while a US Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with former Reichsmarschall Herman Göring (Russell Crowe). Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

The Plague | Charlie Polinger | Australia, United Arab Emirates, United States

At an all-boys water polo camp, a socially anxious 12-year-old is pulled into a cruel tradition targeting an outcast with an illness they call “The Plague.” Special presentation of Independent Film Company.

Rebuilding | Max Walker-Silverman | United States 

A gently humanist story of the American West from Max Walker-Silverman (A Love Song), Rebuilding follows Dusty (Josh O’Connor), a reserved, divorced father whose ranch has burned down in a devastating wildfire. Special presentation of Bleecker Street.

Rental Family | HIKARI | Japan, United States

Set against modern-day Tokyo, "Rental Family" follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese "rental family" agency. Special presentation of Searchlight Pictures.

The Secret Agent | Kleber Mendonça Filho | Brazil, France, Netherlands, Germany

Brazil, 1977. Marcelo, a technology expert in his early 40s, is on the run. Hoping to reunite with his son, he travels to Recife during Carnival but soon realizes that the city is not the safe haven he was expecting. Special presentation of Neon.

Sirāt | Oliver Laxe | France, Spain

A father (Sergi López) and his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco. They’re searching for Mar—daughter and sister—who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. Surrounded by electronic music and a raw, unfamiliar sense of freedom, they hand out her photo again and again. Hope is fading but they push through and follow a group of ravers heading to one last party in the desert. As they venture deeper into the burning wilderness, the journey forces them to confront their own limits. Special presentation of Neon. 

Train Dreams | Clint Bentley | United States

Based on Denis Johnson's beloved novella, Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century. Special presentation of Netflix.

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge | Celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, where filmmakers, both with and without disabilities, collaborate in a five-day filmmaking contest to tell unique stories that embrace diverse forms of disability.  

Films: "20/80," "Banned," "Caught," "Day 21," "The Deadline," "Do No Harm," "Don’t Take This The Wrong Way," "Emergency Plan,"  "Erased," "Everhand," "Hypothetically, the End," "The Invalids," "Killed It," "Silent Control," "We’ll Meet Again". 

Indy Shorts Winners 1 | A selection of 2025 Indy Shorts award-winning films, including the Oscar®-Qualifying Grand Prize winners! 

This program includes: "Brothers" directed by Adrian Wong (High School Film Competition Summer White Lynch Memorial Grand Prize, Underwritten by Gary D, and Marlene Cohen), "Rise" directed by Jessica J. Rowlands (Children's Resilience Short Film Prize Presented by Shine Global), "A Friend of Dorothy" directed by Lee Knight (Directorial Debut Award), "Retirement Plan" directed by John Kelly (Comedy Award), "The Last Observers" directed by Maja K Mikkelsen (Oscar®-Qualifying Documentary Grand Prize), "Éiru" directed by Giovanna Ferrari (Oscar®-Qualifying Animated Grand Prize), and "The Singers" directed by Sam Davis (Oscar®-Qualifying Narrative Grand Prize and Narrative Audience Choice Award).

Indy Shorts Winners 2 | A selection of 2025 Indy Shorts award-winning films. 

This program includes: "The Audition" directed by Isaiah Henderson (High School Film Competition Indiana Spotlight Award), "Patient Zero" directed by Devin O'Connell (Indiana Spotlight Narrative Award), "The Littles" directed by Andrew Duplessie (Horror Award), "The 17%" directed by Aaron Johnson (Lens of Hope Award Presented by TDB Family Foundation and Documentary Audience Choice Award), "Lisa Dahl: Blessed by Grace" directed by Eric Wolfinger (Hoodox Indiana Spotlight Documentary Award and Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award), "Courage" directed by Eric Michael Hernandez (Jenni Berebitsky Legacy Award), and "Hoops, Hopes & Dreams" directed by Glenn Kaino (Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award).

Indy Shorts Winners 3 | A selection of 2025 Indy Shorts Audience Choice Award-winning films. 

This program includes: "The Singers" directed by Sam Davis (Oscar®-Qualifying Narrative Grand Prize and Narrative Audience Choice Award), "The 17%" directed by Aaron Johnson (Documentary Audience Choice Award), "Forevergreen" directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears (Animated Audience Choice Award), "Why Can’t We Just Be Ghosts?" directed by Patrick Jang (High School Film Competition Audience Choice Award), "The Pearl Comb" directed by Ali Cook (Horror Audience Choice Award), and "She Raised Me" directed by Ben Lewis (Comedy Audience Choice Award).

Spotlight: Oscar® Nominee Joshua Seftel  | United States  

Three short films from Oscar® Nominee and Heartland Film Alumnus Joshua Seftel. Titles include: "The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano" (2015 Heartland Film Festival Official Selection), "Stranger at the Gate" (2022 Indy Shorts Oscar-qualifying Grand Prize Documentary Award Winner, 2023 Academy Award Nominee), "All The Empty Rooms" (2025 Special Presentation, acquired by Netflix).

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 ran July 22-27, 2025 and the 34th Heartland International Film Festival is scheduled for October 9-19, 2025. For more information, www.HeartlandFilm.org.

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