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PRESS
RELEASE 12th
October 2007 | Indianapolis,
Ind. -- Heartland Truly Moving PicturesTM announced today that actor Haley Joel
Osment ("The Sixth Sense", "Secondhand Lions") is among the
guests scheduled to attend the 2007 Heartland Film Festival®, which will take
place October 18-26 in Indianapolis. Among Osment’s many credits are two
films – "Home of the Giants" written and directed by Marion, Indiana-native
Rusty Gorman and “Pay It Forward” – that will be screened during
the 16th annual Festival. Osment along with Lisa Guerrero ("Inside Edition"
and Executive Producer, Actress in "A Plumm Summer") and Judy Stewart
will be award presenters at the 2007 Crystal Heart Awards Ceremony. Indianapolis-native
and "Extra" correspondent Carlos Diaz will emcee the event on Saturday,
October 20 at Conseco Fieldhouse. Guests can experience the glitz and glamour
of Hollywood at this black tie optional event for only $35. | 
Haley
Joel Osment in Home
of the Giants |
General
admission Gallery Seating includes the awards ceremony and Afterglow Party with
live music by Big Daddy Caddy, hors d'oeuvres and the chance to mingle with filmmakers
and stars. Heartland
also announced the panelists for their special collaborative screening of "Renewing
American Culture: The Pursuit of Happiness" with WFYI. The event on Tuesday,
October 23 will feature special introductions by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson,
Director Todd Gould and authors of the book Theodore Roosevelt Malloch and Scott
Massey. Following the 7 p.m. screening of the film at the Indiana History Center,
Gerry Dick from Inside Indiana Business will lead a panel discussion with Jo Ann
Gora, President of Ball State University; Ed Wheeler, President of Christian Theological
Seminary; and Former Lt. Governor John Mutz. Tickets are $10. Tickets
for Heartland events and film screenings are available online at www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org
or by calling toll-free 1-866-HFF-1010. A $5 service fee will be added to all
phone and Web site orders. The
2007 Festival will feature an exciting lineup of special events and screenings
for film aficionados of all ages. It will kick off Thursday, October 18 in Hollywood
style with a premiere event featuring Heartland’s Truly Moving Picture Award
recipient "August Rush" from Warner Bros. Pictures. Producer Richard
Barton Lewis "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", "Backdraft"”)
and Music Supervisor Anastasia Brown ("Nashville Star") are scheduled
to arrive on the red carpet and after the screening John Horn, staff writer for
the "Los Angeles Times," will host a question and answer session with
them. The Festival will close on Friday, October 26 with a sold-out screening
of “The Kite Runner” by DreamWorks Pictures, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
and Participant Productions. Screenwriter David Benioff ("Troy","Stay")
is scheduled to attend. Festivities
will also include: a special presentation with Mark Zoradi, President of Walt
Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group, giving moviegoers the inside scoop about
upcoming Disney films such as "Enchanted", "National Treasure:
Book of Secrets" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian;"
a premiere screening of "A Plumm Summer" with actors Chris J. Kelly
(Elliot Plumm), Owen Pearce (Rocky Plumm), Morgan Flynn (Haley Dubois), Lisa Guerrero
(Roxie Plumm and Executive Producer) and filmmakers Frank Antonelli (Writer, Producer),
Scott Erickson (Executive Producer) and Caroline Zelder (Writer, Producer, Director)
at the Family Movie Event; a special screening of “Invisible Children: Rough
Cut” with filmmakers Bobby Bailey, Laren Poole and Jason Russell, this year’s
Pioneering Spirit Honorees; an insightful education seminar with industry experts
Sterling Van Wagenen and David Weiss; and much more. For
16 years, the goal of Heartland has remained the same: to positively impact American
culture through film. That is why Heartland honors dramatically different films
and filmmakers that celebrate the best of the human spirit. In
total Heartland will welcome more than 100 guests to Indianapolis. These actors,
filmmakers and industry insiders connected to Festival films and events represent
some of the finest in filmmaking talent from around the world. Heartland
Truly Moving Pictures, a non-profit organization, seeks to recognize and honor
filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by expressing hope and emphasizing
the best of the human spirit. Its flagship event, the Heartland Film Festival,
launched in 1991 and runs each October in Indianapolis, screening independent
films from around the world. Each year, the Festival awards $200,000 in cash prizes
and presents its Crystal Heart Awards to the top-judged submissions. Heartland
has awarded more than $1.8 million to support filmmakers during the last 16 years.
The organization’s Truly Moving Picture Award was created to honor films
released theatrically that align with Heartland’s mission. By bestowing a
watermark to honored films, the award allows studios and distributors to inform
audiences of a film's uplifting message and appeal. Heartland is also dedicated
to its relationship with the National Collaboration for Youth and its expanding
F.I.L.M., "Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies," project. For
more information, visit www.TrulyMovingPictures.org. Source:
Heartland Truly Moving Pictures PRESS
RELEASE 6th
September 2007 Indianapolis,
IN – Heartland Truly Moving PicturesTM announced tonight at the annual Crystal
Heart Awards Announcement Celebration that a premiere event featuring Heartland’s
newest Truly Moving Picture Award winner, “August Rush” from Warner
Bros. Pictures, will open the 2007 Heartland Film Festival® while “The
Kite Runner” will close the 16th annual Festival. Directed
by Kirsten Sheridan, “August Rush” tells the story of a charismatic
young Irish guitarist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a sheltered young cellist (Keri
Russell) who have a chance encounter one magical night above New York’s Washington
Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush,
orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared
for by a mysterious stranger (Robin Williams), August (Freddie Highmore) uses
his remarkable talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.
Producer Richard Barton Lewis is scheduled to attend. An
unforgettable story of redemption, “The Kite Runner” tells an epic tale
of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from the final
days of Afghanistan’s monarchy to the atrocities of the Taliban reign. Golden
Globe-nominated director Marc Forster brings to life Khaled Hosseini’s bestseller
The Kite Runner with a globally diverse cast and crew. The result is a journey
into a new world – through a universal human story that speaks to anyone
who has ever yearned for a second chance to make a change and find forgiveness.
DreamWorks Pictures, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions present
“The Kite Runner,” a Sidney Kimmel Entertainment Production and Parkes/MacDonald
Production released by Paramount Classics. “Since
1991 it's been Heartland's mission to showcase films that bring out the best of
the human spirit," said Jeffery L. Sparks, president and CEO of Heartland
Truly Moving Pictures. "This year we are thrilled to return with a unique
and diverse collection of world class films and events that demonstrate Heartland's
continued commitment to honor films that uplift as well as entertain. Ranging
from powerful, inspiring documentaries to quirky comedies and romantic dramas,
the lineup offers an opportunity for everyone to be moved." Sparks
also announced that 16 films were selected from 619 international submissions
(representing 40 countries) to receive Crystal Heart and Jimmy Stewart Memorial
Crystal Heart Awards and $200,000 in cash prizes. The premier showcase for dramatically
different films, the Heartland Film Festival line-up provides audiences with opportunities
to be moved by stories of courage, integrity and hope from top independent filmmakers.
In total, the Festival will present nearly 50 films with two World Premieres,
three U.S. premieres, 19 official selections and a sidebar of films that inspire
change. The 2007 Heartland Film Festival runs October 18-26 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The complete list of films and special events is available at www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org. Five
Crystal Heart Award-winning films will compete for the $100,000 Grand Prize for
Best Dramatic Feature. The lineup includes: “Bella” produced by Sean
Wolfington; “Lars and the Real Girl,” a thought-provoking feature produced
by John Cameron, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring 2007 Academy Award®
Best Actor nominee Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider and Patricia Clarkson;
“Man in the Chair,” an inspiring drama starring Christopher Plummer
and produced, directed and written by Michael Schroeder; Mia Sarah” directed
and written by Gustavo Ron; and “Owl and the Sparrow,” a moving drama
from director and writer Stephane Gauger. Five
Crystal Heart Award-winning films will also compete for the $25,000 prize for
Best Documentary Feature. These films include: “Doubletime” executive
produced by Julie Goldman, produced by Andrea Meditch and directed by Stephanie
Johns; the deeply personal feature “Hear and Now” produced, directed
and written by Irene Taylor Brodsky; “Nanking,” a powerful film directed
and written by Academy Award® winner Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman; Director
Socheata Poeuv’s intimate “New Year Baby”; and the incredible “War/Dance”
executive produced by Susan MacLaury. Heartland
Film Festival will also present the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short. Crystal
Heart Award-winning films in competition are “Body & Soul: Diana &
Kathy” directed by Alice Elliott and “Validation” produced, directed
and written by Kurt Kuenne. Four
student films distinguished as outstanding among submissions will receive Jimmy
Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Awards and also compete for the $10,000 Vision
Award for Best Short. They include “The Little Gorilla” produced, directed
and written by Harry Kellerman; “Monsoon” produced, directed and written
by Shyam Balse; “Still Life,” directed and written by Mahesh Pailoor;
and “THE WINDFISHERMAN” directed and written by Anna McRoberts. All
cash prizes and awards will be presented at this year’s Crystal Heart Awards
Gala on Saturday, October 20 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The public
will have the opportunity to view this year’s films from October 19-25 at
AMC Theatres Clearwater Crossing 12 on the northside, AMC Theatres Greenwood Park
14 on the southside and this year’s new location, Regal Entertainment Group’s
UA Circle Centre 9 in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Heartland
will showcase several films in addition to this year’s award winners, including
an official selection program and a sidebar of films. The Official Selection films
are not in competition but are eligible for the Audience Choice Award. Official
Selections include “All About Us” produced, directed and written by
Michael and Christine Swanson; “Bonneville” produced by Robert May;
“CHRISTMAS IS HERE AGAIN!” produced by Jim Praytor and directed by Robert
Zappia; “Home of the Giants” directed and written by Rusty Gorman
and starring Haley Joel Osment; “Midnight Clear” produced and directed
by Dallas Jenkins; “Saving Angelo” directed and written by Dominic Scott
Kay; “Moondance Alexander” produced and directed by Michael and Janeen
Damian and starring Kay Panabaker, Lori Loughlin, Sasha Cohen and Don Johnson;
“The Better Hour: The Legacy of William Wilberforce” produced by Cullen
Schippe and directed by Phil Cooke; “A Senseless Act” produced, directed,
and written by David de Vos; “Compañeras” produced and directed
by Liz Massie; “Life Is Not the Same” produced, directed and written
by Oscar Torres; “Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life” produced and
directed by Logan Smalley; “Muse of Fire” directed by Lawrence Bridges;
“Heart to Heart” produced and written by Mark Condron and produced and
hosted by Patrick Dempsey; “Note by Note” produced and directed by Ben
Niles; “Our Race” produced and directed by Andrew and Sherry (Devanney)
MacVicar; “The Pact” produced and directed by Andrea Kalin; “TWISTED:
A Balloonamentary,” produced and directed by Naomi Greenfield and Sarah Taksler;
and “When I Grow Up” produced and directed by Michelle Meeker. Selected
by Indianapolis organizations, the 2007 sidebar films focus on the mission or
an important topic for each organization, and follows Heartland’s goal to
recognize films that impact and uplift. The sidebar films include “A Hero
for Daisy” selected by the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana; “Crash”
selected by Indy Hub, “Desk Set” selected by the Indianapolis-Marion
County Public Library; “Innocent Voices” selected by La Plaza; “Pay
it Forward” selected by the Indiana Youth Institute; and “To Kill A
Mockingbird” selected by Indiana Black Expo, Inc. In
addition to the year’s lineup of unique and inspiring films, the Festival
offers an exciting program of events for those of all ages to enjoy. Opening
the nine-day event on October 18 is “August Rush.” The Festival continues
on October 19 with the opening night of film screenings and exclusive Q&A
sessions with filmmakers. Additional events include an opportunity to meet filmmakers
and special guests at the Filmmakers’ Brunch; a special premiere screening
of “A Plumm Summer” at the Family Movie Event; a special presentation
of “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” with the filmmakers; an exclusive
screening of “Renewing American Culture: The Pursuit of Happiness” followed
by a discussion with the authors and prominent civic and business leaders from
Indianapolis; and A Conversation with Disney’s Mark Zoradi which features
an exclusive peek at a collection of clips from upcoming and much-anticipated
Walt Disney Pictures’ films, including “Enchanted,” and insights
from Zoradi, President, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group. Plus, an expanded
two-day educational seminar for aspiring filmmakers. The 2007 Heartland Film Festival
closes with “The Kite Runner.” Tickets
for all screenings and events go on sale September 6. For more information or
to purchase tickets visit www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org
or call 1-866-HFF-1010. A $5 service fee will be added to all Web site and phone
orders. Heartland preview guides can be obtained at select Indianapolis area Marsh
Supermarkets and Indianapolis-Marion County Public Libraries. About
Heartland Truly Moving Pictures Heartland
Truly Moving Pictures, a non-profit organization, seeks to recognize and honor
filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by expressing hope and emphasizing
the best of the human spirit. Its flagship event, the Heartland Film Festival,
launched in 1991 and runs each October in Indianapolis, screening independent
films from around the world. Each year, the Festival awards $200,000 in cash prizes
and presents its Crystal Heart Awards to the top-judged submissions. Heartland
has awarded more than $1.6 million to support filmmakers during the last 16 years.
The organization’s Truly Moving Picture Award was created to honor films
released theatrically that align with Heartland’s mission. By bestowing a
watermark to honored films, the award allows studios and distributors to inform
audiences of a film’s uplifting message and appeal. Heartland is also dedicated
to its relationship with the National Collaboration for Youth and its expanding
F.I.L.M., “Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies,” project. For
more information, visit www.TrulyMovingPictures.org. Source:
Heartland Truly Moving Pictures |
