HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL RANKED #1 BEST FILM FESTIVAL BY USA TODAY 10BEST READERS' CHOICE AWARDS

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

(MARCH 11, 2026) - The Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival received the number one ranking for the 2026 Best Film Festival by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. The award program's panel of experts nominated 20 film festivals from around the country. Readers were then asked to vote for these nominees from February 2 through March 2, and the top ten festivals were announced by rank on March 11. The Heartland Film Festival held the number one spot on the list for all 28 days of voting. View the article here.

"It is hard to put into words what it means for the Heartland Film Festival to be recognized as the #1 Best Film Festival by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards," said Michael Ault, President of Heartland Film. "This honor is especially meaningful because we received it thanks to the unwavering support of our community. For 35 years, we have felt their love, and now the entire country can see the dedication of the Heartland Film Festival community." 

This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the Heartland Film Festival hosted by the non-profit arts organization, Heartland Film. The October festival has grown from a five day event to an 11-day internationally-recognized film festival that annually showcases 200+ film screenings and welcomes 100+ independent filmmakers from all over the world. Over the years, Heartland Film has presented $4 million in cash prizes – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America.

The Heartland Film Festival is thrilled to add this honor to the list of recent accolades. For the last three years in a row, the Heartland Film Festival has also been included on MovieMaker Magazine's Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World and Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee lists.

Heartland Film's mission is to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films. The organization uplifts films that do more than entertain through the Indy Shorts Film Festival (July 21-26, 2026), the Heartland Film Festival (October 8-18, 2026) and other year-round community screenings and events. You can learn more about Heartland Film at www.HeartlandFilm.org. 

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 $4 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 9th Annual Indy Shorts International Film Festival is scheduled for July 21-26, 2026 and the 35th Heartland International Film Festival will run October 8-18, 2026. For more information, visit HeartlandFilm.org.

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