35th Heartland Film Festival to Feature Event Titles "JIMMY," "Wild Horse Nine" and "The Debut"; Set to Honor Will Poulter with Pioneering Spirit Award

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

(September 17, 2026) INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Heartland Film has announced the lineup for the 35th Heartland Film Festival (HFF) presented by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, taking place October 8-18. The 11-day festival was recently voted the #1 Best Film Festival by USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. For the last three years, the festival has also remained on MovieMaker Magazine's list of Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals. The 35th edition of the Heartland Film Festival will showcase more than 100 independent films - 24 World/U.S. Premieres, 36 regional premieres, 24 Spotlight Screenings from major distributors and 8 Indiana Spotlight films. 

Beyond its wide slate of true independent titles, HFF will also feature a signature slate of Spotlight Screening award season sneak previews from studios and distributors. In recent years, many Oscar^® winners have been featured, including "The Whale" (2022 HFF Closing Night), "The Holdovers" (2023 HFF Closing Night), "A Real Pain" (2024 HFF Opening Night), "Emila Pérez" (2024 HFF Closing Night) and "Sentimental Value" (2025 HFF International Closing Night). This year's slate features "JIMMY" (Opening Night), "Wild Horse Nine" (Centerpiece), and "The Debut" (Closing Night) in addition to major narrative, documentary and animated feature contenders, including "A Talent for Murder", "All of a Sudden", "Bedford Park", "Bitter Christmas", "Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star Stuff", "Clarissa", "Elsinore", "Gentle Monster", "I Play Rocky", "In Waves", "Iron Boy", "La Bola Negra", "Love of Your Life", "Mouse", "Nuisance Bear", "Once Upon a Time in Harlem", "The Only Living Pickpocket in New York", "Possible Love", "Rehearsals for a Revolution", "Tangles", "Tender Loving Care" and "Union County".

Opening Night (October 8), presented by The Klapper Family Foundation, showcases the Festival World Premiere of "JIMMY" from Burns & Co. Entertainment. "JIMMY" is the untold true story of America’s most beloved actor and the iconic role that saved him, focusing on the most transformative season in Jimmy Stewart’s life. Jimmy Stewart's daughter and Executive Producer, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, will be in attendance. Many of the film team are also expected to attend the screening at the Scottish Rite Cathedral for the red carpet and Q&A, including Director/Producer Aaron Burns, as well as Actors KJ Apa (Jimmy Stewart), Max Casella (Frank Capra), Jen Lilley (Gloria Stewart), Kara Killmer (Lady Julia), Marc Malkin (Glenn Miller), Karolyn Grimes (Actress) and Sarah Drew (Hedda Hopper).

Centerpiece Screening (October 14), presented by IndyStar/LOCALiQ, features “Wild Horse Nine” from Martin McDonagh and Searchlight Pictures. John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Mariana Di Girolamo, Ailín Salas, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey star in this black comedy about CIA agents Chris and Lee who face a trust-testing mission from Santiago to Easter Island in 1973. McDonagh's "The Banshees of Inisherin" played the 2022 Heartland Film Festival.

Closing Night (October 18), presented by The Klapper Family Foundation, features "The Debut" from Jesse Eisenberg and A24. In this musical comedy starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, shy housewife Mona Friedman transforms into a zealous method actor after landing a small role in a community theater production, sparking a battle with the show's director. This film combines stars from both the Heartland Film Festival's 2024 Opening and Closing night films. Audiences may remember seeing  Jesse Eisenberg in "A Real Pain" (2024 Opening Night) and Paul Giamatti in "The Holdovers" (2024 Closing Night). 

Following the success of Indiana University's athletics, the Heartland Film Festival is also set to host a Festival Preview Screening of "First Five." This Indiana Spotlight documentary offers an intimate look at the five Midwestern young men who served as Coach Bob Knight's first recruiting class at IU. The World Premiere screening, presented by  Team Green Law and Craig Culver, takes place on Wednesday, October 7 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. All five IU seniors from the 1975 team will participate in a Q&A following the screening. 

The Awards Brunch for the 35th Heartland Film Festival will be held on Sunday, October 18 at Tinker House Events. 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 $4 million in cash prizes – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America. 

Will Poulter is being honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award at the Heartland Film Festival. The Pioneering Spirit Award celebrates an individual in the prime of their career who embodies Heartland Film's mission – someone whose work has inspired conversation, ignited imagination and shifted perspectives. Recent honorees have included Sam Davis, Greg Kwedar, Ben Proudfoot, Craig T. Nelson, Matthew Modine and Colman Domingo.

The Heartland Film Festival is showcasing a special presentation of "Union County" from Oscilloscope Laboratories. In this film, Will Poulter and Noah Centineo play brothers Cody and Jack Parsons who are navigating a court-mandated drug rehabilitation program in a pocket of rural Ohio hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Will Poulter is attending the screening on Saturday, October 17, as well as the Awards Brunch to accept this honor.

"As we celebrate the 35th Heartland Film Festival, I’m incredibly excited to share a lineup that reflects everything Heartland Film stands for: bold storytelling, unforgettable artistry, and films that do more than entertain,” said Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “This year’s festival features an extraordinary mix of premieres, major studio spotlights, acclaimed international cinema, powerful documentaries and inspiring Indiana-made stories, giving audiences the chance to discover both emerging voices and celebrated filmmakers.” 

The festival lineup includes 41 feature documentaries. Notable documentary World Premieres include:

The festival lineup includes 52 feature narrative films. Notable narrative World and U.S. Premieres include:

The 2026 festival theme "What We're Made Of" is inspired by our 35th anniversary, and the idea that the films we’ve watched together over the years have exposed us to new stories, altered our perspectives and ultimately become what we’re made of. Attendees can discover new transformative festival films at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, Indy Art Center, Kan-Kan Cinema, Living Room Theaters, Newfields and the Scottish Rite Cathedral. All film selections will have in-person screenings, and many of the films will also be available to view virtually (US restricted). 

Below is the complete film lineup, special events and more. Tickets and the schedule for the 35th Heartland Film Festival can be found at HeartlandFilmFestival.org.

Tickets to HFF 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 Night, Centerpiece, Closing Night, Kick-Off Party and Awards Brunch). 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. 

World Premiere of "First Five" | Wednesday, October 7 at 7 PM | Scottish Rite Cathedral |$25 ​

"First Five" takes an intimate look at the five young Midwestern men who served as Coach Bob Knight's first recruiting class at Indiana University. All five IU seniors from the 1975 team will participate in a Q&A following the screening.

Festival World Premiere of "JIMMY" | Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 PM | Scottish Rite Cathedral | Tickets start at $25

"JIMMY" is the untold true story of Jimmy Stewart. Many of the film team are expected to attend the red carpet and Q&A, including Director/Producer Aaron Burns, Jimmy Stewart's daughter and Executive Producer, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt,  as well as Lead Actor KJ Apa (Jimmy Stewart). 

Friday, October 9 at 8-11 PM | Living Room Theaters (2nd Floor) | $15

Bond with other film fans at the annual Kick-Off Party! Admission includes a drink ticket and appetizers. 

Monday, October 12 at 7:30 PM | Alamo Drafthouse Cinema | Free (RSVP Required) ​

Celebrate the 13th 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. This festival screening is presented by Kalogon, eliminating the stresses of sitting and improving health through novel seating solutions. The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge has been a longtime partner of Heartland Film, and the founder, Nic Novicki, will be attending the free screening. Nic also has a cameo in the Spotlight Screening "I Play Rocky" from Amazon MGM Studios.

"Wild Horse Nine" | Wednesday, October 14 at 7 PM | Newfields | $15 ​

From Searchlight Pictures, John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell star in this dark comedy about CIA agents who face a trust-testing mission from Santiago to Easter Island during 1973 in Chile. 

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema | Various Dates & Times ​

AARP Indiana is dedicated to empowering Hoosiers 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. Join the AARP team at these three films to experience powerful stories and learn more about getting involved. The film series highlights the films "Artists in Residence," "One Day in Sedona" and "Unspoken Bond."

Saturday, October 17 | 4 PM | Kan-Kan Cinema | $7 ​

Five documentary short film projects have been pre-selected to present pitches. The audience, along with our esteemed jury, will vote for their favorite, and a total of $40,000 will be awarded to the filmmakers. PitchDox is presented by Hoodox with financial support from the Herbert Simon Family Foundation.

Sunday October 18 | Breakfast at 10:30 AM | Ceremony at 11:30 AM | $15 ​

Be the first to celebrate the 2026 Heartland Film Festival award-winning filmmakers as they receive over $60,000 in cash prizes. The Awards Brunch includes breakfast, coffee and a drink ticket.

"The Debut" | Sunday, October 18 at 6 PM | Newfields | $20 ​

In Jesse Eisenberg's musical comedy "The Debut" from A24, shy housewife Mona Friedman (Julianne Moore) transforms into a zealous method actor after landing a small role in a community theater production, sparking a battle with the show's director (Paul Giamatti).

Opening Night, Centerpiece and Closing Night event titles in addition to Spotlight Screenings which feature major award season contenders from studios and distributors. Many of these films have garnered major accolades at festivals including Cannes, Venice, Telluride, TIFF, Sundance and more. 

JIMMY | Aaron Burns | United States | Festival World Premiere 

The untold true story of America’s most-beloved actor and the iconic role that saved him, "JIMMY" focuses on the most transformative season in Jimmy Stewart’s life—from winning the Academy Award® for Best Actor in "The Philadelphia Story" to enlisting and becoming a combat pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the beginning of World War II. He flew 20 missions over Europe, rising to the rank of colonel by the end of the war, only to return home broken and disheartened. Then George Bailey and "It’s a Wonderful Life" came calling.

Wild Horse Nine | Martin McDonagh | United States, United Kingdom, Chile

Shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, CIA agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) are dispatched from Santiago to Easter island by their bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi). Amongst the Island's iconic statues, and as the longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, Chris's newfound bond with a pair of rebellious students (Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas) threatens to send everyone’s trip to this remote paradise sideways. Special presentation of Searchlight Pictures.

The Debut | Jesse Eisenberg | United States

When Mona Friedman (Julianne Moore) is cast in a bit part at a small community theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role—even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director (Paul Giamatti). Special presentation of A24.

A Talent for Murder | Anton Corbijn | United Kingdom, Italy

The film follows a mysterious young man from a New York publisher (Alden Ehrenreich) who is sent to Switzerland to persuade the renowned writer Patricia Highsmith (Helen Mirren) to write one final installment of the Ripley anthology. Special presentation of Bleecker Street and LD Entertainment.

All of a Sudden | Ryûsuke Hamaguchi | France, Japan, Germany, Belgium

From Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Academy Award^®-winning film "Drive My Car". Director of a care facility for the elderly, Marie-Lou strives to introduce an innovative care philosophy based on listening and respecting residents’ dignity, despite resistance from part of her staff. Her encounter with Mari,a Japanese theater director battling cancer, will profoundly reshape herpath. By forming a deep, supportive friendship, the two women join forces in a shared struggle to “make the impossible possible." Winner of the Best Actress Prize at Cannes.  Special presentation of NEON.

Bedford Park | Stephanie Ahn | United States

Haunted by an abusive childhood, Audrey, a Korean American woman in her 30s, faces her emotional past. When her mother’s car accident brings her back to her parents’ home, she meets the man responsible for the accident. Their relationship builds, passions ignite, and they form a loving connection. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Bitter Christmas | Pedro Almodóvar | Spain

"Bitter Christmas" tells two alternating stories, one starring Elsa, an advertising director, in 2004, during a long weekend in December. The second takes place in 2026 and stars Raúl, a screenwriter and director who is writing a script that we soon discover is the story of Elsa, her boyfriend Bonifacio, and her friends Patricia and Natalia. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star Stuff | Nanette Burstein | United States

An intimate portrait of visionary astronomer, author and television star Carl Sagan, whose groundbreaking ideas transformed our understanding of the cosmos and human existence. Special presentation of National Geographic Documentary Films.

Clarissa | Arie Esiri, Chuko Esiri | Nigeria, United States

A modern reimagining of the Virginia Woolf novel "Mrs. Dalloway", "Clarissa" follows society woman Clarissa as she prepares to host a party at her home in Lagos, Nigeria, where she will unexpectedly encounter once-intimate friends from her youth. As the group reflects on their shared past over the course of a single night, memories of their intricate relationships, passionate love, hidden desires, and lost aspirations give rise to bittersweet reckoning. Special presentation of NEON.

Elsinore | Simon Stone | United Kingdom, Italy, United States

The deeply emotional and inspirational true story of Ian Charleson (Andrew Scott), a gifted actor whose greatest challenge becomes his greatest triumph. Facing his own mortality with unflinching honesty, wit, and grace, Charleson delivers a courageous performance that becomes a source of healing and inspiration for those around him. Special presentation of Focus Features.

Gentle Monster | Marie Kreutzer | Austria

When a police raid shatters her life, concert pianist Lucy (Léa Seydoux) must protect her son and confront how little she knows her husband after he is accused of an unspeakable crime in this tense thriller about trust and survival. Special presentation of Netflix.

I Play Rocky | Peter Farrelly | United States

The film is an electrifying true story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write "Rocky"—he was meant to be Rocky Balboa. Told “no” at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie. Special presentation of Amazon MGM Studios.

In Waves | Phuong Mai Nguyen | France, Belgium

In Los Angeles, AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen. She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean. Special presentation of Netflix.

Iron Boy | Louis Clichy | France, Belgium

The film follows 11-year-old Christophe in rural France, as he tries to live up to his rigid and distant father on the family farm. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

La Bola Negra | Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi | Spain, France

"La Bola Negra" is a bold, passionate triptych spanning nearly a century of Spanish history from the 30s to modern day. The film tells the story of three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and inheritance. Special presentation of Netflix.

Love of Your Life | Rachel Morrison | United States ​

Maya (Margaret Qualley), a smart, wry nurse, is swept up in an immersive love, that sets her life on a trajectory she never would have imagined. Special presentation of Amazon MGM Studios.

Mouse | Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson | United States

Callie and Minnie’s relationship is suddenly upended at the start of the summer before their senior year of high school. Left rudderless without her charismatic best friend, Minnie starts to form a complicated friendship with Callie’s mother. Special presentation of Independent Film Company.

Nuisance Bear | Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman | United States, Canada, United Kingdom

A polar bear is forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as its ancient migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is branded a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape. Special presentation of MUBI.

Once Upon a Time in Harlem | William Greaves, David Greaves | United States

Harlem, 1972. Living members of the Harlem Renaissance gather for a cocktail party at Duke Ellington’s townhouse after decades apart. Over the course of two days, they reminisce, debate, and discuss their lives, work, and the cultural movement that shaped them. Filmed and conceived by legendary filmmaker William Greaves and directed by David Greaves. Special presentation of NEON.

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York | Noah Segan | United States

Harry Lehman (John Turturro) is an aging pickpocket who plies his trade with ever-diminishing returns in a drastically changed New York. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Possible Love | Lee Chang-dong | South Korea

A story of two married couples—a laid-off worker and his spouse and a documentary filmmaker and her spouse—crossing paths to film a documentary and facing their different lives and hidden desires. Special presentation of Netflix.

Rehearsals for a Revolution | Pegah Ahangarani | Spain, Czechia, Iran

Through five portraits of relatives and mentors, five expressions of resistance, Ahangarani sketches her life story. Drawing from personal archives, home videos, street protests footage, newspapers, and recorded voices, she retraces more than 40 years of Iran’s history. From the early days of 1979, until the war that began in 2026, she pieces together intimate and collective memories, forming the portrait of a country shaped by political repression and in constant hope for a revolution. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Tangles | Leah Nelson | United States, Canada

A young woman is forced to return to the conservative small town where her bizarre family lives to take care of her mother, having to deal with the cruel reality of her mom's Alzheimer's disease and become the daughter they need. Special presentation of Independent Film Company.

Tender Loving Care | Mike Leigh | United Kingdom

Amy, a government child protection worker, moves back with her upbeat best friend Rosie, a social services officer facing daily anger and resentment. Amy's aging parents worry about her happiness while dealing with their own crisis. Special presentation of Bleecker Street.

Union County | Adam Meeks | United States

Will Poulter and Noah Centineo deliver pitch-perfect performances as brothers Cody and Jack Parsons, each navigating a court-mandated drug rehabilitation program in a pocket of rural Ohio hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Special presentation of Oscilloscope Laboratories.

*A Goodnight Kiss | Giedrė Žickytė | Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria | U.S. Premiere | Calls and birthday greetings pour in, carrying words of admiration. Irena Veisaitė is turning 92. A remarkable woman and leading voice in Lithuania’s culture, Irena lived through the horrors of two totalitarian regimes—and came out on the other side—with an unabating belief that life should be radiant.

**A Light in the Darkness | Ryan Patrick Killackey | United States | World Premiere | Venturing into intricate cave systems, the deep oceans, and subterranean aquifers where light barely reaches, "A Light in the Darkness" reveals fascinating adaptations of species that have evolved in perpetual darkness.

**A Long Way to Go | Carolyn Jones | United States | World Premiere | “A Long Way to Go” explores the human realities of immigration through the intertwined journeys of three women—nurses who leave their home countries, the Philippines, Ghana, and India, to join the healthcare workforce in the United States. Their stories illuminate the emotional, economic, and cultural complexities of migration, revealing what it means to live between worlds while sustaining deep ties to families and communities across continents.

**All American Girls | Christy Wegener | United States | World Premiere | "All American Girls" explores inclusivity in U.S. historical narratives through the famed American Girl brand, which was brought to life by legendary entrepreneur, Pleasant Rowland.

Artists in Residence | Katie Jacobs | United States | Purchasing a house together on the Bowery in the 1950s, three female artists defied societal norms and prioritized their art over traditional roles as wives and mothers. Through interviews with the women, now in their 90s, as well as their grown children, "Artists in Residence" explores the emotional complexities of being an artist and a parent. A heartfelt celebration of independence, creativity and the enduring strength of women artists.

Beyond | Asia Johnson, Michael Kleiman | United States | At Sing Sing prison, a group of incarcerated men organize and prepare for a TED-style event, featuring personal narratives and ideas for changing the prison system. With immersive access to Sing Sing, the film follows the speakers’ emotional journeys from first audition to their final climactic moments on stage.

Breaking the Code | Ben Rekhi, Swetlana | United States, India | A filmmaker retraces his father’s journey from Indian immigrant to tech pioneer, uncovering a powerful story of ambition, sacrifice and love.

Ceremony | Banchi Hanuse | Canada | When the Nuxalk trace their vanished ooligan alongside a land claim filed the day smallpox arrived, their radio station becomes courtroom, confessional and conjuring ground, where an older law insists: the fish and the people return together or not at all.

Cycles of Resilience: A Journey Through Austin's Black History | Ya'Ke Smith | United States | Hundreds of cyclists bike together through the streets of Austin, Texas, to learn undertold stories of Black history, highlighting the depths of community resilience and inspiration.

THE DRUG IN OUR POCKET | Anne Sundberg | United States | Pay attention to your attention. "THE DRUG IN OUR POCKET" examines how smartphones, designed to connect us, have radically reshaped childhood, adolescence and mental health. 

ESL: More Than a Language | J. William Barlow | United States | A group of immigrant families confront a fundamental need: the ability to communicate in their new English-speaking culture. Their journey to learn English through a family ESL program leads to something much deeper—lifelong friendships and a newfound sense of belonging.

**The Fish Don't Care When it Rains | Jennifer Msumba, Siobhan McDonnell | United States | World Premiere | After seven years inside an institution that used painful electric shocks as behavioral "treatment," autistic artist Jen Msumba escapes, fights back and transforms trauma into music and film.

Forever Home | Allison Argo | United States | In North Carolina, two dreamers are revolutionizing animal care through groundbreaking architecture. With wild creativity and compassion, their farm animal rescue invites us to rethink the meaning of “home,” sustainability and our relationship with society’s forgotten animals.

Fork in the Road | Vivian Sorenson, Jonathan Nastasi | United States | Featuring Nick Offerman, "Fork in the Road" is a documentary following small farmers, visionary chefs, and innovators working to heal the land, improve our food systems, and transition toward a regenerative future for both people and the planet.

Hold On To Your Music | Josh Aronson, Adam R. Wood | United States | A young pianist escapes Nazi-occupied Vienna on the Kindertransport, carrying nothing but her music and her mother’s final words. That act of love creates an artistic legacy that resonates across generations.

**Home from the Vietnam War | Mat Hames, Vietnam | United States | World Premiere | Filmmaker Mat Hames follows a decorated U.S. veteran and a friend who fled Vietnam as a child as they return over 50 years later, confronting former enemies on an emotional journey toward healing, reconciliation and peace.

I Got Bombed at Harvey's | Bryan Storkel, Amy Bandlien Storkel | United States | "I Got Bombed at Harvey's" wheels us into the outrageous events surrounding the biggest and most complicated homemade bomb ever encountered by the FBI and how the investigation and manhunt led them to a mad genius inventor who coerced his two teenage sons to be his unwilling accomplices.

Italian Wannabe | Steve Dabal | United States, Italy | A celebrated American chef loses everything and returns to the small Italian village that started it all.

Kikuyu Land | Andrew Brown, Bea Wangondu | United States, Kenya | In Kenya's tea highlands, one man's claim to his family's stolen land sets him on a path against a multinational giant.

Latin Clowns Evolution | Jacob Koestler, Michael McDermit | United States | At the annual Congreso in South Los Angeles, a group of Latine clowns come together to teach enthusiastic attendees the complex and joyful art of clowning. Their vibrant optimism is powerfully juxtaposed with their stories of resilience and sacrifice having immigrated to the U.S.–demonstrating how the arts, community and chosen family can forge a path to healing.

Los Lobos Native Sons | Doug Blush, Piero F. Giunti | United States | The epic 50-year story of Los Lobos, one of America’s most culturally significant bands, whose musical reinvention has helped expand Chicano visibility and representation. Featuring intimate interviews, rare performances, and reflections from friends, collaborators, and admirers, the documentary celebrates the band’s extraordinary legacy.

Loving Karma | Johnny Burke, Andrew Hinton | India | A former monk builds a Himalayan refuge where compassion and community help traumatized children heal.

The Man with the Big Hat | Austin Lee Sayre | United States | An excavation of long-buried archives resurrects obscure yet profoundly influential Texas singer-songwriter Steven Fromholz, revealing a soul-stirring journey of self-discovery and the true meaning of success.

Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers | John H. Cunnigham | United States | Journey through the 1970s and early 1980s with the original members of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band as they recount their contributions to iconic albums, life on tour, in the studio and the lasting impact they had in shaping a unique genre of legendary music.

*PHINDA | Will Clothier | United Kingdom | U.S. Premiere | In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, retired schoolteacher Mama Zikhali gathers her class for one final lesson: the extraordinary 40-year story of how a degraded landscape became one of Africa’s oldest and most celebrated rewilding successes.

PINBALL | Naveen Chaubal | United States | In a contemplative coming of age portrait, "PINBALL" follows Yosef, a spirited athlete, in Louisville, Kentucky, as he dives into the memories of his journey from Iraq to America and what it means to chase his dreams in the shadow of a war that displaced his family from their Iraqi homeland.

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage | Deborah Riley Draper | United States | In his lifelong fight to forge a Black identity—on and off the canvas—Romare Bearden, an artist, athlete, and activist, challenged cultural gatekeepers. "Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage" traces the unseen odyssey of one of America’s greatest artists—from Harlem to Paris, from Jim Crow to Civil Rights—as he used art, community, and collective memory to disrupt who holds the power to define American history and the value of Black creativity.

School For Defectors | Jeremy Workman | United States, South Korea | In an industrial area of Busan, South Korea sits the tiny Jangdaehyun School. It has just 20 students - all of whom are North Korean defectors. "School For Defectors" tells a joyful story of youth, inspiration and our shared humanity.

Seized | Sharon Liese | United States | Balancing the absurdity of small-town politics with the gravity of a constitutional crisis, the small town of Marion, Kansas, is thrust into the international spotlight after a police raid on the Marion County Record and the death of its 98-year-old co-owner.

TikTok Never Dies | Hao Wu | United States | When Congress passes a law to ban TikTok over national security concerns, three content creators join the platform in suing the U.S. government to defend their livelihoods and First Amendment rights. After a crushing Supreme Court defeat, their last hope lies ironically with Donald Trump – the very president who first attempted to ban the app in 2020.

Tough Old Broads | Stacey Tenenbaum | Canada | "Tough Old Broads" follows three trailblazing women who continue to fight for a better world. These feisty ladies broke barriers in their youth, and they’re still making waves in their old age. They’re living proof that it’s possible to follow your dreams and maybe even change the world in the process.

*Try! | Oisín Mistéil | Ireland | U.S. Premiere | Richie wasn't allowed to play the sport he loves because of his disability until Mixed Ability rugby came along. "Try!" follows four Irish players who defy all expectations on their journey to the most inclusive and competitive World Cup you've never seen.

Unspoken Bond | Don Hardy | United States | Not all love needs language. "Unspoken Bond" makes the case for the human-animal bond as its own profound relationship—not a substitute for human connection, but a vital one in its own right.

Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird) | Anna Fitch, Banker White | United States | Anna spends a decade obsessively building a detailed 1/3-scale version of her friend’s house after losing her. It’s just big enough for Anna to squeeze through the door, and inside lives a puppet of her friend Yo.

**First Five | Grant Guffin | United States | World Premiere | Five unheralded Indiana recruits place their faith in an uncompromising young coach named Bob Knight, transforming a struggling basketball program into a national powerhouse while chasing a championship that slips away by the narrowest of margins.

God I Want You | Zac Cooper | United States | After his ex-girlfriend gets engaged, a man struggles to see God’s plan for his life. He looks for answers in another lost soul.

**Method to the Madness | Eric Pascarelli | United States | World Premiere | After winning a chance to honor her late basketball star twin sister, an awkward woman unknowingly hires an actress posing as a basketball coach, forcing them both to discover confidence, purpose and healing through an impossible free throw.

**The Protectors | Jeremy Whitham | United States | World Premiere | Living on his own for the first time, a 55-year old artist with disability creates a comic book to honor the protectors in his life, including his late father.

Saving Ava | Maximus Peeples, Sümeyye Akgün | United States | A group of friends races across the Midwest in search of their missing friend.

Seniors | Lance Clark | United States | When a troubled teen performing community service at a retirement home is recruited for a treasure hunt by a stubborn veteran with unfinished business, the unlikely duo’s misadventure digs up friendship, purpose and a new sense of belonging.

Street Angel | Samuel Radford | United States | "'Street Angel" is a raw soulful drama about drugs, Jesus, love and redemption.

We Are Not Invisible: Doulas and the Work of Survival | Nicole Carey, Deonna Weatherly | United States | "We Are Not Invisible: Doulas and the Work of Survival" is a documentary that explores survival, maternal care and the voices of doulas, mothers and medical professionals who reveal what happens when people are heard, believed, and supported; and the cost when they are not.

A Woman's Work | A.R. Ephraim | United States | A young woman in rural Kentucky works as a coal miner to provide for her two younger sisters after losing her parents to the opioid epidemic.

California Scenario | James Takata | United States | Single parents Jacob Hara and Laura Acker live parallel lives, each needing to heal before they can find one another. A family secret throws everything into chaos, sending Jacob to his daughter Lexi's side to confront the past together.

*Caterpillar | Chelsie Preston Crayford | New Zealand | U.S. Premiere | In early 2000s New Zealand, three generations of women push against the metamorphosis of family dysfunction as their enmeshed identities evolve and separate.

**DISCONNECTED | Joanne Hock | United States | World Premiere | Follows a family as they navigate personal loss and online manipulation in a tech-reliant school system, where they and courageous students challenge a corrupt administration.

**Empress of the Badlands | Daniel Bielinski | United States | World Premiere | In 1883 Dakota Territory, the Marquis de Mores and wife Medora arrive to build a home, town and meat empire, facing hostility from ranchers, beef trusts and violent locals determined to drive them out.

*Faraway Home | Terry Loane | United Kingdom | U.S. Premiere | Based on the novel, "Faraway Home" is a story of two young Jewish children sent away by their parents from Nazi-occupied Austria during World War II, on the Kindertransport, where they end up at a Jewish refugee farm in Northern Ireland.

*Foreign Tongue | Boris Mojsovski | Canada | U.S. Premiere | After a freak accident leaves her speaking with a Bosnian accent, a North American woman is suddenly seen as a stranger by everyone around her—forcing her to live the immigrant experience she's never meant to have. Foreign Tongue is a gently absurd and emotionally rich exploration of identity, perception and belonging.

Genevieve's Garden | Katie Colosimo | United States | After being dumped and laid off in quick succession, Lily finds herself at a rising influencer’s new wellness retreat in the Hudson Valley. Looking for a distraction, she becomes obsessively infatuated with a fellow guest.

**HIGHER LOVE | A.W. 'Tony' Scott | United States | World Premiere | A man's wife faces a severe health crisis, forcing an impossible choice and leading him into caregiving, solitude and a surprising friendship that reshapes his views on love, family and faith.

In Spite of Ourselves | Josh Loeb | United States | Love comes easy — relationships don’t. When Hannah, a warm and determined Portland, Oregon, baker, crosses paths with Archie, an up-and-coming LA comedian with a habit of dodging commitment, their instant chemistry sparks a whirlwind romance neither expected. But after two blissful weeks together, real life pulls them back to separate cities, forcing them to confront distance, doubts, and their own hilariously messy insecurities.

Isle Child | Thomas Percy Kim | United States | When a Korean-American adoptee discovers a hidden letter revealing his birth mother is terminally ill in Korea, he must choose between maintaining his perfect American life or confronting the painful truth of his adoption.

Jackrabbit | Ballard C. Boyd | United States | An investigative journalist and struggling actress - who hate each other, but share a best friend - are reluctantly forced to team up when their shared friend mysteriously vanishes, only to discover that her disappearance is just the first of her secrets.

The Leader | Michael Gallagher | United States | In 1997, 39 members of the UFO cult known as "Heaven's Gate" committed the largest mass suicide to ever take place on American soil. This is their story.

The Lightkeeper | Vic Sarin | Ireland, Canada | A lighthouse keeper’s life of solitude and ritual is disrupted and ultimately transformed by a mysterious American war widow, a hard lined priest and his housekeeper.

*Love - Love | Thomas Leisten Schneider | United States | U.S. Premiere | After their grandmother’s death, two estranged brothers: Andy, who suffers from schizophrenia, and Jeff, an actor searching for meaning, set out on a road trip to find their father, a disgraced former professional tennis player living near the Salton Sea.

Loves Company | Jason Laurits | United States | Lonely Antoinette (Rachel Dratch) thinks she's been saved from misery when her favorite gameshow personality, Blake de Troy (Jack Plotnick), crashes in the Florida swamps near her home. But don't meet (or hold captive) your idols.

Lucy Schulman | Ellie Sachs | United States | After a crushing breakup, Lucy (Ellie Sachs) moves back in with her eccentric single dad (David Cross) and dives into bad dates, false starts, and growing pains.

Mallory’s Ghost | Arabella Oz (director), Nick Canellakis (co-director) | United States | A timid young woman follows her boyfriend on a creative retreat to coastal Maine, but soon becomes convinced that she’s being haunted by the ghost of his ex-lover and muse, forcing her to confront the deeper roots of her jealousy.

**Maybe We Should | AJ Tesler | United States | World Premiere | After Louie starts seeing strange visions, he and Laurie embark on a journey to build a therapy center on a farm where kids with disabilities can thrive, changing healthcare forever but testing their resolve in the process. Based on a true story.

**Mick Skylark: Mini Golf Prodigy | Sergio Rizzuto | United States | World Premiere | After a sudden tragedy, mini golf prodigy Mick Skylark quits the sport for good… or so he thought.

Nuclear Boy | Joren Molter | Netherlands | The lonely, 17-year-old chemistry fanatic AIKE, in his desperate urge to be seen, tries to build a nuclear reactor in his mother's shed, with all the radioactive and catastrophic consequences that entails.

*The Odyssey of Joy | Zgjim Terziqi | Kosovo, France | U.S. Premiere | At the dawn of the new millennium, 11-year-old Lis, displaced by the Kosovo war and haunted by a secret tied to his missing father, joins a troupe of French clowns traveling through the ravaged land to bring joy to its children.

**OH SEASON | Mateo Messina | United States | World Premiere | With his town’s Christmas tradition on the brink of collapse, a teenager recruits street musicians to wildly reinvent the traditional orchestral concert. Behind his impossible plan lies a secret desire that changes the meaning of the season for everyone.

On the End | Ari Selinger | United States | Based on a true story, "On the End" follows a Montauk mechanic fighting eviction from his home and auto shop, and the woman he loves, as they struggle to preserve their life together.

**One Day in Sedona | Monique Sorgen | United States | World Premiere | Two strangers in their 50's, both going through pivotal moments in their lives, meet on a hike and share a deep connection as they talk about life, love, legacy and the betterment of humankind.

The Peril at Pincer Point | Jake Kuhn & Noah Stratton-Twine | United Kingdom | On a quest to prove his competency, an inept sound recordist finds himself entangled in a nautical prophecy on the spectral island of Pincer Point.

Sender | Russell Goldman | United States | A woman in the early throes of sobriety (Britt Lower) is terrorized by an onslaught of packages she never ordered.

Take Me Home | Liz Sargent | United States | Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee, cares for her aging parents in a fragile balance of meeting each others’ needs. When a Florida heat wave shatters their family and Anna’s routine, her future is uncertain until she creates a world where she can thrive.

**Too Soon | Jeff Dickamore-Florence, Aurora Florence | United States | World Premiere | After meeting the day of their spouses’ funerals, a young widow and widower form a two-person, music therapy-style support group. But when they start to catch feelings, they are faced with the question everyone’s asking, is it too soon?

**Wake | Devon M. Schwartz | United States | World Premiere | Four semi-estranged siblings reunite on the day of their father's wake, navigating the clashing personalities of overbearing relatives, oblivious guests and a death-phobic funeral director as they fumble into their absurd new reality - one that maybe, just maybe, could bring them closer together.

A Talent for Murder | Anton Corbijn | United Kingdom | The film follows a mysterious young man from a New York publisher (Alden Ehrenreich) who is sent to Switzerland to persuade the renowned writer Patricia Highsmith (Helen Mirren) to write one final installment of the Ripley anthology. Special presentation of Bleecker Street and LD Entertainment.

All of a Sudden | Ryûsuke Hamaguchi | France | Two scholars exchange letters about chance and risk. As the philosopher falls ill, their academic correspondence evolves into intimate discussions about mortality and a deeper connection forms between them. Special presentation of NEON.

Bedford Park | Stephanie Ahn | United States | Haunted by an abusive childhood, Audrey, a Korean American woman in her 30s, faces her emotional past. When her mother’s car accident brings her back to her parents’ home, she meets the man responsible for the accident. Their relationship builds, passions ignite, and they form a loving connection. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Bitter Christmas | Pedro Almodóvar | Spain | "Bitter Christmas" tells two alternating stories, one starring Elsa, an advertising director, in 2004, during a long weekend in December. The second takes place in 2026 and stars Raúl, a screenwriter and director who is writing a script that we soon discover is the story of Elsa, her boyfriend Bonifacio, and her friends Patricia and Natalia. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star Stuff | Nanette Burstein | United States | An intimate portrait of visionary astronomer, author and television star Carl Sagan, whose groundbreaking ideas transformed our understanding of the cosmos and human existence. Special presentation of National Geographic Documentary Films.

Clarissa | Arie Esiri, Chuko Esiri | Nigeria | A modern reimagining of the Virginia Woolf novel "Mrs. Dalloway," "Clarissa" follows society woman Clarissa as she prepares to host a party at her home in Lagos, Nigeria, where she will unexpectedly encounter once-intimate friends from her youth. As the group reflects on their shared past over the course of a single night, memories of their intricate relationships, passionate love, hidden desires, and lost aspirations give rise to bittersweet reckoning. Special presentation of NEON.

The Debut | Jesse Eisenberg | United States | When Mona Friedman is cast in a bit part at a small community theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role—even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director. Special presentation of A24.

Elsinore | Simon Stone | United Kingdom, Italy, United States | The deeply emotional and inspirational true story of Ian Charleson (Andrew Scott), a gifted actor whose greatest challenge becomes his greatest triumph. Facing his own mortality with unflinching honesty, wit, and grace, Charleson delivers a courageous performance that becomes a source of healing and inspiration for those around him. Special presentation of Focus Features.

Gentle Monster | Marie Kreutzer | Austria | When a police raid shatters her life, concert pianist Lucy (Léa Seydoux) must protect her son and confront how little she knows her husband after he is accused of an unspeakable crime in this tense thriller about trust and survival. Special presentation of Netflix.

I Play Rocky | Peter Farrelly | United States | The film is an electrifying true story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write "Rocky"—he was meant to be Rocky Balboa. Told “no” at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie. Special presentation of Amazon MGM Studios.

In Waves | Phuong Mai Nguyen | France | In Los Angeles, AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen. She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean. Special presentation of Netflix.

Iron Boy | Louis Clichy | France | The film follows 11-year-old Christophe in rural France, as he tries to live up to his rigid and distant father on the family farm. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

**JIMMY | Aaron Burns | United States | Festival World Premiere | The untold true story of America’s most-beloved actor and the iconic role that saved him.

La Bola Negra | Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi | Spain | "La Bola Negra" is a bold, passionate triptych spanning nearly a century of Spanish history from the 30s to modern day. The film tells the story of three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and inheritance. Special presentation of Netflix.

Love of Your Life | Rachel Morrison | United States | Maya (Margaret Qualley), a smart, wry nurse, is swept up in an immersive love, that sets her life on a trajectory she never would have imagined. Special presentation of Amazon MGM Studios.

Mouse | Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson | United States | Callie and Minnie’s relationship is suddenly upended at the start of the summer before their senior year of high school. Left rudderless without her charismatic best friend, Minnie starts to form a complicated friendship with Callie’s mother. Special presentation of Independent Film Company.

Nuisance Bear | Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman | United States | A polar bear is forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as its ancient migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is branded a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape. Special presentation of MUBI.

Once Upon a Time in Harlem | William Greaves, David Greaves | United States | Harlem, 1972. Living members of the Harlem Renaissance gather for a cocktail party at Duke Ellington’s townhouse after decades apart. Over the course of two days, they reminisce, debate, and discuss their lives, work, and the cultural movement that shaped them. Filmed and conceived by legendary filmmaker William Greaves and directed by David Greaves. Special presentation of NEON.

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York | Noah Segan | United States | Harry Lehman (John Turturro) is an aging pickpocket who plies his trade with ever-diminishing returns in a drastically changed New York. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Possible Love | Lee Chang-dong | South Korea | A story of two married couples—a laid-off worker and his spouse and a documentary filmmaker and her spouse—crossing paths to film a documentary and facing their different lives and hidden desires. Special presentation of Netflix.

Rehearsals for a Revolution | Pegah Ahangarani | Spain | Through five portraits of relatives and mentors, five expressions of resistance, Ahangarani sketches her life story. Drawing from personal archives, home videos, street protests footage, newspapers, and recorded voices, she retraces more than 40 years of Iran’s history. From the early days of 1979, until the war that began in 2026, she pieces together intimate and collective memories, forming the portrait of a country shaped by political repression and in constant hope for a revolution. Special presentation of Sony Pictures Classics.

Tangles | Leah Nelson | United States | A young woman is forced to return to the conservative small town where her bizarre family lives to take care of her mother, having to deal with the cruel reality of her mom's Alzheimer's disease and become the daughter they need. Special presentation of Independent Film Company.

Tender Loving Care | Mike Leigh | United Kingdom | Amy, a government child protection worker, moves back with her upbeat best friend Rosie, a social services officer facing daily anger and resentment. Amy's aging parents worry about her happiness while dealing with their own crisis. Special presentation of Bleecker Street.

Union County | Adam Meeks | United States | Will Poulter and Noah Centineo deliver pitch-perfect performances as brothers Cody and Jack Parsons, each navigating a court-mandated drug rehabilitation program in a pocket of rural Ohio hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Special presentation of Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Wild Horse Nine | Martin McDonagh | United States | CIA agents Chris and Lee face a trust-testing mission from Santiago to Easter Island during 1973 in Chile. Special presentation of Searchlight Pictures.

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge | Celebrate the 13th 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.  

This program includes: "Amor Fati," "Interruptions," "ZIPTIED," "The Shoot," "NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH," "Before I Die," "Reclaiming," "I Will be Fine.", "Dead Wife Montage," "Be Right Out," "Don't Forget to Dance," "Crip Club," "Back to the Dark Ages," "The Ticket," and "VIVIAN PROBZ"

Indy Shorts Winners 1 | A selection of 2026 Indy Shorts award-winning films.

This program includes: "9 Million Colors," "La barrière," "Paving the Way," "Stalin Boys," and "The Second Life of Freddie Nole"

Indy Shorts Winners 2 | A selection of 2026 Indy Shorts award-winning films. 

This program includes: "Finding a Way: Revitalzing Nature in the Heartland," "JASON," "Lottie Baby," "Panther Pat," "Ruth," "The Ghost of the Embassy," and "The Baddest Speechwriter of All"

Indy Shorts Winners 3  | A selection of 2026 Indy Shorts Audience Choice Award-winning films.

This program includes: "A FAMILY WOMAN," "Constellations of the Sea," "Living with a Visionary," "Sylvia," "The Method," and "We Were Here"

Indy Shorts Winners 4 | Comedy and horror award-winning films from 2026 Indy Shorts

This program includes: "Daddy's Girl," "SUCKS TO SUCK," "Silver Anniversary," "The Human, Will," "The Taste of Your Scales," and "Uncle Artoo"

Heartland Film is a nonprofit arts organization that runs the 11-day Heartland Film Festival in October, the Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts 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 from diverse perspectives. 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 13 Oscar®-winning short film titles. MovieMaker Magazine named both the Indy Shorts and Heartland Film Festival on the top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World list for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Heartland Film Festival was ranked the #1 Best Film Festival by the USA TODAY 2026 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. The 9th Annual Indy Shorts Film Festival ran July 21-26, 2026 and the 35th Heartland Film Festival is scheduled for October 8-18, 2026. For more information visit, www.HeartlandFilm.org.

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