The 5th annual Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival returns July 19-24, 2022, featuring a lineup of 150 short films from 25 countries at Living Room Theaters (indoor), Newfields (indoor & amphitheater), Indianapolis Art Center (outdoor) and virtually. This year’s theme is “The Greatest Shorts on Earth” with a carnival focus.
Tony® Award nominee Colman Domingo (If Beale Street Could Talk, Lincoln, The Butler, Selma, Birth of a Nation, Candyman, Zola) will be honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award, which honors individuals who have embodied Heartland Film’s mission.
Domingo is in two short films in the 2022 Indy Shorts program. He directed, wrote, produced and stars in the animated short “New Moon” (featured in the “Coming of Age” program), as well as executive produced and stars in the live-action short “NORTH STAR” (featured in the “Devotion” program). Domingo will attend the post-screening Q&As for both the “Coming of Age” and “Devotion” programs and will receive the Pioneering Spirit Award in-person at the Awards Party.
Indy Shorts‘ juries are comprised of filmmakers and industry professionals. Narrative jurors include K.D. Dávila, Paul Sloop, Raquel Stecher, and Miles Warren. Documentary jurors include James Choi, Güzin Kar, Greg Rhem, and Poh Si Teng. Animated jurors include Kristian Mercado, Don Hahn, Juan J. Medina, and Ewa Smyk. Indiana Spotlight jurors include Torrie Hudson, Anne Laker, and Dave Windisch. High School Film Competition jurors include James Choi, Carol Nguyen, and Max Shoham.
2022 Indy Shorts Programs
Film Title | Year | Country | Director(s) | Premiere Status *Logline
A LITTLE ROMANCE PROGRAM
A LITTLE ROMANCE PROGRAM | Swipe right on these endearing stories of awkward dates, unexpected connections and declarations of feelings.
All I Ever Wanted | 2022 | USA | Erin Lau | Midwest Premiere *Rom-com obsessed teen Christine has always longed for the picture-perfect romance – but she’s soon confronted with the fact that her ideal prince charming might actually be a princess charming instead.
ADMIT ONE | 2022 | USA | Emma Aikman | Midwest Premiere *A hopeless romantic battles a Western shoot-out and an alien invasion in the lobby of a movie theater in order to ask out her “love at first sight” – the girl behind the snack counter.
Heart Land | 2021 | USA | Lauren Ciaravalli | Indiana Premiere *When a cynical New Yorker gets stuck on a layover in Kansas, she finds a romantic spark where she leasts expects it — a Red State.
Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) | 2021 | France | Arthur Cahn | Midwest Premiere *The factory where Romain and Adémar work has caught fire, so they decide to enjoy three days of idleness together in the mild summer.
Not the ’80s | 2022 | Germany | Marleen Valien | Indiana Premiere *Two people, one restaurant, some preconceptions and a bit of fish.
The Right Words (Haut Les Coeurs) | 2021 | France | Adrian Moyse Dullin | Indiana Premiere *A teenage girl puts her naive and romantic little brother to the test: to profess his love for a girl he loves but who does not know him.
ANIMALS PROGRAM
ANIMALS PROGRAM | Cows, salamanders, dogs and bears – oh, my!
Suitable for all ages.
Breaking Trail | 2021 | USA | Jesse Roesler | Indiana Premiere *Emily Ford sets out with Diggins, a borrowed Alaskan Husky sled dog, to become the first woman and person of color to thru-hike the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail in winter.
Dress A Cow | 2022 | USA | Dawn Luebbe | Not applicable *A documentary that spotlights a 38-year tradition, the “Dress A Cow” event at Ohio’s Canfield County Fair.
Hellbender in the Blue | 2021 | USA | Katelyn Calhoun | Not applicable *”Hellbender in the Blue” captures communities from all over Indiana working towards improving the environment for our slimy friend, the Eastern Hellbender Salamander, and ultimately the water for us all.
Nuisance Bear | 2021 | Canada | Jack Weisman, Gabriela Osio Vanden | Midwest Premiere *An unconventional and visually stunning study of the polar bears who draw tourists to Churchill, Manitoba.
ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM
ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM | Music, dance and art collide.
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather | 2022 | USA | Michael Shevloff | Midwest Premiere *In the 1940s, virtuoso tap dancers, the Nicholas Brothers, performed a dance routine so seminal, that it prefigured hip-hop dance by three decades. Contemporary dancers Les Twins, inspired by their story, bring this iconic routine out of the shadows, creating a modern incarnation of the groundbreaking original.
Shut Up And Paint | 2022 | USA | Alex Mallis, Titus Kaphar | Indiana Premiere *Painter Titus Kaphar looks to film as a medium in the face of an insatiable art market seeking to silence his activism.
TENDER | 2022 | USA | Jill Magid | U.S. Premiere *”Tender” captures the dispersal of a monumental, yet nearly invisible public artwork by artist Jill Magid – the circulation into the economy of 120,000 U.S pennies – equivalent to the first $1,200 stimulus check issued by the U.S. Treasury as part of The CARES Act – throughout New York City bodegas via cash-in-transit trucks.
Unspoken | 2021 | Botswana | William Armstrong | Indiana Premiere *A world-renowned ballet choreographer opens up the process to create a masterpiece for his late father.
Weckuwapok (The Approaching Dawn) | 2022 | USA | Jacob Bearchum, Taylor Hensel, Adam Mazo, Chris Newell, Roger Paul, Kavita Pillay, Tracy Rector, and Lauren Stevens | Indiana Premiere *Through song and stories, Waponahkik (the people of the dawn land) bring gratitude to the rising sun. Featuring Passamaquoddy citizens Christopher Newell, Roger Paul, and Lauren Stevens; and Yo-Yo Ma.
COMEDY PROGRAM
COMEDY PROGRAM | Get ready to laugh at this eclectic mix of comedic tales.
An Irish Goodbye | 2021 | Ireland | Tom Berkeley, Ross White | Midwest Premiere *In rural Northern Ireland, two estranged brothers are forced to reunite after the untimely death of their mother.
The Diamond | 2021 | Sweden | Vedran Rupic | Indiana Premiere *Stefan is lonely with a blinding ambition to make friends. One day he stumbles upon a diamond in the woods. Unable to reach it, the solution presents itself in the form of an even smaller man.
Meantal Health Girls | 2022 | USA | Tess Paras | Midwest Premiere *Trinity is the new girl at school and quickly discovers that run-ins with these popular girls aren’t what you’d expect.
Melons | 2022 | USA | Matt MacDonald | Indiana Premiere *A jolly, but meek, grocery store manager must learn to stand up for himself after a misunderstanding brands him as public enemy #1.
Night of the Living Dread | 2021 | UK | Ida Melum | Indiana Premiere *When a power cut ruins Ruby’s bedtime routine, she finds herself haunted by some unwanted guests. The only way for Ruby to get a peaceful night of sleep is to confront her visitors.
Tank Fairy | 2021 | Taiwan, USA | Erich Rettstadt | Indiana Premiere *Once upon a time, the magical Tank Fairy delivered tanks of gas (with plenty of sass) to the home of young Jojo, a lonely dreamer in need of a glittery godmother…
COMING OF AGE PROGRAM
COMING OF AGE PROGRAM | Rites of passage, teachable moments and nostalgia in these stories of growing up.
Americanized | 2021 | USA | Erica Eng | Indiana Premiere *A high school basketball player struggles to fit in, on and off the court.
Aysha | 2021 | Germany | Cengiz Akaygün | U.S. Premiere *Aysha, a small, rebellious girl wearing a full-body veil, and her sister are put to a religious test. However, the strong-headed Aysha is struggling with identity and secrets, and takes a stand.
Black Slide | 2021 | Israel, UK | Uri Lotan | Indiana Premiere *Eviah, a young and timid kid on the brink of puberty, and his best friend sneak into the Black Slide, the most terrifying ride in Aqua Fun. There, Eviah will gain insight to prepare him for events about to unfold at home.
Brownsville Bred | 2022 | USA | Elaine Del Valle | Midwest Premiere *Set in 1980s Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY–A spunky Latina must find her own path as she comes of age to face the grim realities of the musician father she once idolized and the deteriorating neighborhood she calls home.
Long Line of Ladies | 2022 | USA | Shaandiin Tome, Rayka Zehtabchi | Indiana Premiere *A girl and her community prepare for her Ihuk, the once-dormant coming of age ceremony of the Karuk tribes of Northern California.
New Moon | 2022 | USA, France | Jeremie Balais, Jeffig LeBars, Raul Domingo, Colman Domingo | U.S. Premiere *An imaginative surrealist journey of young Jay Jay and his mother Edie. Their inner city dreams are illuminated by the New Moon accompanied by magic of Aretha Franklin playing on a summer’s eve on a transistor radio in a backyard in West Philadelphia.
COMMUNITY PROGRAM
COMMUNITY PROGRAM | Stories of finding camaraderie, support and each other.
The Benevolents | 2021 | Canada | Sarah Baril Gaudet | Indiana Premiere *”The Benevolents” takes us into the world of Tel-Aide Montreal call center, as we follow a group of future volunteers. Through an intimate treatment, the film seeks to recall the importance of vigilant ears in a society of loneliness.
Hot Rod | 2022 | France | Juliette Gilot | U.S. Premiere *Summer 2031, 104°. Saadia, 16, is in mechanical school, although the car industry is in crisis and there are only a few electric cars in circulation. Her friends, Charly and Titi, throw a joke to cheer her up: what if the car of the future was a horse?
Ma’s House | 2022 | USA | Jeremy Dennis | Indiana Premiere *A Shinnecock photographer restores his family home by hand to create a gathering place for a new generation of artists.
My Disability Roadmap | 2022 | USA | Dan Habib, Samuel Habib | Indiana Premiere *Samuel Habib, 21, wants to date, leave home, go to college. But he drives a 350-pound wheelchair, uses a communication device, and can have a seizure at any moment. Determined to find his path forward, he seeks out guidance from America’s most rebellious disability activists.
The Originals | 2022 | USA, Canada | Cristina Costantini, Alfie Koetter | Indiana Premiere *Matty “Square” Ruggiero and his childhood friends, the Union Street Boys, tell their story of what it was like to grow up in South Brooklyn, where money was tight but friendships were tighter.
Ousmane | 2021 | Canada | Jorge Camarotti | Indiana Premiere *Ousmane, a newly-arrived immigrant living in Montreal, faces a challenging situation when he meets an elderly disoriented lady at the end of his workday.
CONNECTIONS PROGRAM
CONNECTIONS PROGRAM | Tales of embracing others and oneself.
Act of God | 2022 | USA | Spencer Cook, Parker Smith | Indiana Premiere *A stray $100 bill leads a disabled man on a chase that forces him to reconsider his toxic ideal of self-sufficiency.
Dress Up | 2021 | USA | Karina Dandashi | Midwest Premiere *On the eve of her sister’s wedding, Karina faces her queer anxieties.
El Carrito | 2021 | USA | Zahida Pirani | Indiana Premiere *After a harrowing event, an untrusting and isolated street vendor discovers the embrace of her community.
Frank & Emmet | 2021 | USA | Carlos F. Puertolas | Indiana Premiere *Two life-long friends sit together to have a much-needed conversation. Their friendly dialogue takes a turn when they address head-on the one thing they’ve never talked about: one of them is a puppet.
The Outing | 2022 | UK | Joanne Mitchell | U.S. Premiere *1970’s: A lonely divorcee, Nellie, meets widower Frank on a trip to the seaside. Nellie lets herself be swept away by the hope of connection. But as the seagulls circle overhead and Frank begins to ask too many questions, Nellie realises she will never be able to escape a monstrous family secret…
Reflection | 2021 | Netherlands | Sanna de Vries | Midwest Premiere *In a little house filled with mirrors, Fiep focuses on her physical imperfections so intensely that her distorted self-image grows out of proportion.
Troy | 2022 | USA | Mike Donahue | Midwest Premiere *Troy has loud sex 24-7. Troy shares a wall with Thea and Charlie. Troy is ruining their lives… or is he saving them? A darkly comedic tale of the unexpected consequences of unasked-for intimacy
DEVOTION PROGRAM
DEVOTION PROGRAM | Caregivers and their devotion to loved ones and strangers alike.
Blue Smoke | 2021 | New Zealand | Ivan Barge | World Premiere *When a rest-home caretaker is mistaken for the ex-husband of a wealthy resident, he decides to play along.
Daniel & Nate | 2022 | USA | Lauren Cater | Midwest Premiere *Daniel is a typical sarcastic teenager. But for most of his life, he’s assisted his family as a caregiving youth, providing essential care for his younger brother Nate.
Dot | 2021 | USA | Tiffany Frances | Midwest Premiere *On the day of her daughter’s seventh birthday party, a long-suffering caretaker finds herself in a dark and uninhibited situation.
The Passengers | 2021 | France | Bruno Pieretti | Midwest Premiere *In a small retirement home from the north of France, fourteen Alzheimer patients keep wandering, hours after hours, in search of a forgotten destination.
NORTH STAR | 2022 | USA | P.J. Palmer | Indiana Premiere *A rural rancher and his ailing husband are forced to make a heartbreaking decision to preserve the dignity of their marriage in the face of mounting pressures from relatives. Starring Colman Domingo and featuring a cameo from Kevin Bacon.
FAMILY FUN PROGRAM
FAMILY FUN PROGRAM | Animated shorts from around the world, for the whole family.
Suitable for all ages.
Autumn Leaves | 2021 | Poland | Wojciech Ostrycharz | Indiana Premiere *A short etude about intimacy and loss.
Blue Curry | 2021 | France | Magali Dunyach, Chien-Ju Hung, Jimin Jung, Vajra Pancharia, Léa Pietrzyk | Midwest Premiere *The greatest life lessons are learned through simplest of experiences. When your regular kitchen turns into your biggest classroom…and Mom just serves you a plate of wisdom.
Cat and Moth | 2021 | Canada, UK | India Barnardo | Indiana Premiere *A fluffy white cat wants nothing more than to find the most comfortable spot in the universe, but little does she know someone else has their eye on it, too.
Duet | 2021 | USA | Yadid Hirschtritt Licht | Midwest Premiere *A timid cat learns to play piano when adopted by an elderly pianist.
Laika & Nemo | 2022 | Germany | Jan Gadermann, Sebastian Gadow | Indiana Premiere *Nemo looks different. Nobody else wears a diving suit and such a huge helmet. But then he meets Laika, an astronaut.
Nounours | 2021 | Canada | Lou Rigoudy | Indiana Premiere *A story of a girl and her teddy bear as she grows up and they grow apart.
The Park Bench | 2022 | USA | Rob Edwards | Indiana Premiere *A young girl whose father is sick finds an injured duck at the park. She brings the duck home and cares for it, bringing laughter and joy back to her family.
Troll Girl | 2021 | South Africa | Kay Carmichael | Not applicable *A trollish child left to be raised in a hostile human village clashes with a town bully and runs away to the forest. When her adoptive mother is kidnapped by a forest beast, Troll Girl is forced to confront the danger and the town’s prejudice head-on.
GENERATIONS PROGRAM
GENERATIONS PROGRAM | Tales of embracing others and oneself.
A Work of Art | 2021 | USA | Kristoffer Polaha | Indiana Premiere *While her uncle works on his greatest masterpiece, a young girl battles depression – both unaware their unlikely family of two is running out of time.
Dear Mama… | 2021 | USA | Winter Dunn | Indiana Premiere *The death of Tupac draws different reactions from a father and his young daughter, forcing them to confront the emotional aftermath of their own tragedy.
Invisible Eyes | 2021 | South Korea | JUNG Seung-hee | Indiana Premiere *Three children chasing after squirrels encounter invisible eyes in the deep forest and suffer from a strange sense of guilt.
Love, Dad | 2021 | Czechia | Diana Cam Van Nguyen | Indiana Premiere *A daughter finds letters full of love her dad wrote her years ago.
Mama Has a Mustache | 2021 | USA | Sally Rubin | Indiana Premiere *MAMA HAS A MUSTACHE is a short animated documentary about identity and family outside of the traditional gender binary, as seen through children’s eyes.
Night Ride | 2021 | New Zealand | Todd Karehana | Midwest Premiere *A 66-year-old mother has an unusual ritual of returning to her old family home to care for stray cats. Worrying about the implications of her obsessive routine, her son wants to understand why.
She Dreams At Sunrise | 2021 | USA | Camrus Johnson | Indiana Premiere *In this heartwarming film, an elderly woman escapes her mundane reality through her dreams while her great-nephew helps reconnect her to what she’s really missing.
HIGH SCHOOL FILM COMPETITION PROGRAM
HIGH SCHOOL FILM COMPETITION PROGRAM | Shorts made by talented teens from around the world.
Suitable for most audiences.
A Prayer for My Mother: The Eva Brettler Story | 2021 | USA | Ruben Barrett, Raisa Effress, Sophia Evans, Lauren Fuchs, Katie Hadsock-Longarzo, Ian Kim, Eve Levy, Timothy Lim, Asher Meron, Marion Ochoa, Bella Rahi, Hank Schoen, Olivia Uzielli | Midwest Premiere *An animated film that chronicles the extraordinary saga of Holocaust survivor Eva Brettler – a child facing brutality and profound loss who finds sustenance in faith and her own dreams for the future.
A Ship Called Lili: The Lillian Trilling Story | 2021 | USA | Natasha Clement, Alexa Druyanoff, Ian Kim, Dovely King, Eve Levy, Idalis McZeal, Ella Moriarty, Gracie Sandman, Hank Schoen | Midwest Premiere *An animated film about Holocaust survivor and activist Lillian Trilling which chronicles her experience of escaping the Warsaw Ghetto, surviving a #MeToo experience, working as a nanny in a German castle, and her eventual liberation and journey to America.
Belated Wishes | 2021 | USA | Angela Kwak | Indiana Premiere *Coping with the grief of her mother’s death, a Korean-American daughter seeks out a wish tree for solace. As she reflects upon their relationship, she must decide between residing in regret or transforming her wishes into statements.
Bubba | 2022 | USA | Isaac Hobbs Littleton | World Premiere *In 2009 six-year-old Solomon Littleton contracted an illness, leaving him nonverbal with cognitive delays. The Littleton family recounts how Solomon’s illness has changed them forever.
The Cleansing Spirit | 2021 | USA | Cole Konstance | Midwest Premiere *A night shift custodian experiences supernatural phenomena in this eerie short.
GONE | 2021 | USA | Kyle Ward | Midwest Premiere *As development encroaches on a farming community, they struggle with the loss of their heritage and land.
Green | 2021 | Ukraine | Anastasiya Kolodiy | World Premiere *A day in the life of an elderly couple. A day that was special for the two of them.
Grizz | 2021 | USA | Cameron Staley, Shivnil Lal | Midwest Premiere *After a young boy’s father passes away, his gift to his son comforts and looks after him in his father’s absence.
Lemonade | 2021 | USA | Colette Samek | Midwest Premiere *A competitive, business-oriented teen meets his match in a six-year-old girl running a lemonade stand.
Pho | 2021 | USA | Ethan Chu | Indiana Premiere *After building a seemingly successful life, a man must come to terms with the melancholic truth that he has detached from his Vietnamese culture and subsequently his grandmother, both of which he once held a close relationship with.
The Summer Field | 2021 | USA | Jiayang Liu | Indiana Premiere *After being drafted to a pro track team, a Midwestern teen must decide between his future career and his dementia-ridden grandfather.
Think Like A Filmmaker | 2021 | USA | Eli Berliner | Midwest Premiere *Eli Berliner turns the camera on his father, Alan, a personal documentary filmmaker, whose new body of work approaches sculpture through the eyes of a filmmaker.
HORROR PROGRAM
HORROR PROGRAM | Prepare to be scared by this block of Horror shorts ranging from psychological to slasher.
Lucienne in a world without solitude | 2021 | France | Geordy Couturiau | Indiana Premiere *In a world without solitude, where everyone shares their life with their double, Lucienne has a relationship with Paul, a former lover who has lost his twin.
My Soul To Take | 2021 | Canada | Laura Vandervoort | Indiana Premiere *A young woman struggles as technology and societal pressures collide in her life.
The Night Watch | 2021 | France, Belgium | Julien Regnard | U.S. Premiere *A couple rushes out of a glamorous party. On their way home, an argument leads to a brutal car accident. When George regains consciousness, Christina has disappeared. He will then experience a real descent into hell.
One Minute | 2021 | Spain | Miguel Alcalde | U.S. Premiere *An unsettling Skype call turns a young couple’s morning into a nightmare that could alter their lives forever.
Skin & Bone | 2021 | USA | Eli Powers | Midwest Premiere *After taking a job on a farm run by a reclusive woman, a drifter begins suffering from visions of men trapped inside the bodies of animals.
The Tenant | 2021 | Spain | Lucas Paulino, Ángel Torres | Midwest Premiere *Mia wakes up one morning with a strange pain in her leg. Little by little the limp gets worse, until someone warns her that the pain is not what it seems.
Toast | 2021 | Australia | Oscar Axel Thorborg | U.S. Premiere *A malicious toaster threatens the sanctity of a young woman’s night in.
IMAGE PROGRAM
IMAGE PROGRAM | Stories of persona, reciprocity and reputation.
The Family Statement | 2022 | USA, UK | Grace Harper-Brighouse, Kate Stonehill | Indiana Premiere *A brief poignant meditation on corporate accountability, denial, and pain in the context of the opioid crisis, told through the Sackler Family’s WhatsApp messages.
Five Cents | 2022 | USA | Aaron Hughes | Indiana Premiere *A consumer finds himself in over his head after a string of purchases gets out of control. Drawn by hand on thousands of market data pages from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times with ink, white-out, gouache paint, gold leaf and other materials.
Happiness is £4 Million | 2022 | China, USA | Weixi Chen, Kai Wei | U.S. Premiere *An idealistic, young journalist in Beijing profiles China’s biggest real estate speculator. Their divergent life experiences and clashing values challenge the journalist’s worldview, revealing deep generational and societal changes happening in the country.
Love Me | 2021 | Canada | Romane Garant Chartrand | U.S. Premiere *Nearly seventeen years old, Laetitia navigates between her attachment disorder and her blatant need for love.
Party Poster | 2021 | India | Rishi Chandna | Midwest Premiere *In suburban Mumbai, science, religion and politics comically collide amidst a raging pandemic, when a group of laundrymen set out to design a poster celebrating a hugely popular annual festival worshipping the deity Ganesha.
Varken (Pig) | 2022 | Netherlands | Jorn Leeuwerink | U.S. Premiere *A group of animals makes itself dependent on a power grid, hooked onto the socket-shaped snout of a single sleeping pig.
INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 1 PROGRAM
INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 1 PROGRAM | Hoosier stories filmed in the state we call home.
Suitable for all ages.
Beyond the Line | 2022 | USA | Sam Mirpoorian | World Premiere *”Beyond the Line” tells the story of the city of Indianapolis’ bipartisan support for clean transportation headed by IndyGo.
Freebird | 2022 | USA, Canada | Michael Joseph McDonald, Joe Bluhm, Nicholas Herd (Creative Director) | Not applicable *Freebird tells the coming-of-age story of a boy with Down Syndrome who learns to navigate the world with a loving mother, an absent father, a classroom bully, and a life-long crush. In just five minutes, we watch 45 years of his life flash by.
Hellbender in the Blue | 2021 | USA | Katelyn Calhoun | Not applicable *”Hellbender in the Blue” captures communities from all over Indiana working towards improving the environment for our slimy friend, the Eastern Hellbender Salamander, and ultimately the water for us all.
In Bloom | 2021 | USA | Ashley Davidson | World Premiere *Off the beaten path and far from the global furniture capitals, two women have playfully built a high-end woodworking business and a life together, on their own terms, in the heart of Indiana. It is slow, unplanned, and ultimately magical.
Lizzi: Deeper Than Water | 2021 | USA | Gabriel Burch | Not applicable *As competitive swimmer Lizzi Smith competes in the Paralympic games, she must learn to deal with her mental battles despite the fierce competition.
Mare Among Sons | 2022 | USA | Sam Mirpoorian | World Premiere *Small-town Daleville, Indiana, welcomes the first woman in school history to head coach their boy’s varsity basketball team.
Toboggan ‘Bout Town | 2022 | USA | Rocky Walls | Not applicable *Four friends rally their hometown of Noblesville, Indiana to help them build a ten-foot toboggan and send them to race in the U.S. National Toboggan Championships in Camden, Maine.
Two Soles | 2022 | USA | André Guima | World Premiere *Lenny, the left sneaker, is tied down by his relationship with his right pair, but one day discovers individuality in a world where it doesn’t exist.
INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 2 PROGRAM
INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 2 PROGRAM | Hoosier stories filmed in the state we call home.
ADMIT ONE | 2022 | USA | Emma Aikman | Midwest Premiere *A hopeless romantic battles a Western shoot-out and an alien invasion in the lobby of a movie theater in order to ask out her “love at first sight” – the girl behind the snack counter.
Art On a Different Canvas | 2022 | USA | Sophia Eiler | Not applicable *Brayden Lee discusses the highs, lows, and responsibilities of being an Independent Wrestler.
Daughters | 2022 | USA | Jess Berry | World Premiere *Home for her birthday on the family farm, a career-driven daughter must come to terms with the heartbreaking differences she has with her beloved mother.
Epiphany | 2021 | USA | Matt Mays | World Premiere *Indianapolis-based dancers from Expressenz Dance Center illustrate themes of losing loved ones through the eyes of soldiers and a family member at home.
The Net Makers | 2021 | USA | Hannah Myers Lindgren | Not applicable *In rural Southern Indiana, two men carry on the tradition of hand-tying thousands of knots, creating intricate hoopnets. Both hope that the craft will be picked up by future generations before it disappears.
Safe Haven | 2021 | USA | Faith Marsh | World Premiere *Monica Kelsey turns the darkness of her past into purpose and creates a safe haven for abandoned babies.
Second Chances | 2022 | USA | Jonathan Williams | Not applicable *The rehabilitating convicts of the Second Chances college program are excited to welcome the newest member, Max, to the group. When student sponsor Vivian accidentally eats a laced brownie at the welcome party, the group must sober her up without the program advisor Ryan finding out.
The Supper Club | 2021 | USA | David Neidert | Not applicable *The menus were printed. The space was ready. The date was set. Then the world shut down. This is a story of heartbreak, adaptation, and great food.
Thin Place | 2022 | United States | Brenton Oechsle | World Premiere *Based on the true story of a mother who suffers the passing of her blind son and escapes to the rainforest of the pacific northwest to confront her guilt of his death.
INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 3 PROGRAM
INDIANA SPOTLIGHT 3 PROGRAM | Hoosier stories filmed in the state we call home.
Angela’s Tale | 2022 | USA | Deonna Weatherly | Not applicable *A woman navigates through her new life after an accident while dealing with memory loss, nightmares, and a strange feeling of being here before.
Conversations Between Shifts | 2022 | USA | Ben Basem | Midwest Premiere *Jeanette leads a double life as a nurse and mother, and finds herself fighting labor injustices and processing personal loss during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stranger at the Gate | 2022 | USA | Joshua Seftel | Midwest Premiere *A U.S. Marine plots a terrorist attack on a small-town American mosque, but his plan takes an unexpected turn when he comes face to face with the people he sets out to kill.
TAPEHEAD | 2021 | USA | Jason Zink | Indiana Premiere *A horror-obsessed VHS collector puts himself in dangerous situations to find his holy grail tapes, as a documentary crew films his descent.
Teacher of Patience | 2022 | USA | Carmen Vincent | World Premiere *Over 20 years after Emily Felter is diagnosed with Down syndrome, paramedic (and Emily’s father) Tom develops a presentation to share her story with other first responders. As the Felters work to raise disability awareness, they come face-to-face with the struggles and joys of their daily lives.
LET’S EAT! PROGRAM
LET’S EAT! PROGRAM | Shorts that explore our relationship with food and the ways it brings us together.
Alice Waters: How To Start A Food Revolution | 2021 | USA | Nani Sahra Walker | Midwest Premiere *Alice Waters started a food revolution in the early 1970s that is thriving today.
Bacon ‘N’ Laces | 2021 | USA | Stephen Michael Simon | Midwest Premiere *A single dad of three boys manages a diner. But, there’s more to John than meets the eye.
Bus Girl | 2021 | UK | Jessica Henwick | Midwest Premiere *An aspiring young female chef navigates the cut-throat world of high-end cooking.
Kasama | 2022 | USA | Nick Cavalier | Indiana Premiere *A documentary character portrait of husband and wife culinary duo, Genie Kwon and Tim Flores, as they open their first Chicago restaurant, “Kasama,” during a global pandemic.
Meal on the Plate | 2021 | USA, China | Chenglin Xie | Indiana Premiere *In a world where people start to look like the thing they eat the most of, this can be taken quite literally. When a newcomer prefers different eating habits, the visible consequences turn the world upside down.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE PROGRAM
MAKING A DIFFERENCE PROGRAM | Powerful documentary portraits of agents of change.
BOURN KIND | 2022 | USA | Rachel Myers | Midwest Premiere *A Black-Jewish street artist confronts the fear and isolation of the moment through art and creates a street mural project to celebrates kindness and connection in his community.
Founders | 2021 | USA | Meg Griffiths, Scott Faris | Indiana Premiere *Under the leadership of its first and only president, Sinte Gleska University on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation has been a model for Indian-controlled education for 50 years, paving the way for other tribal colleges with a series of historic accomplishments and an eye towards continued innovation.
If You Have | 2022 | USA, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala | Ben Proudfoot | Midwest Premiere *Oscar®-winning director Ben Proudfoot brings the inspiring untold story of UNICEF to life through first-person interviews and UNICEF’s never-before-seen archive. Discover this story of optimism as UNICEF celebrates 75 years of defending the rights of the world’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens.
John Leguizamo Live At Rikers | 2022 | USA | Elena Francesca Engel | Midwest Premiere *The award-winning actor, writer, producer, filmmaker and activist John Leguizamo performs his hit one-man Broadway show “Ghetto Klown” at Rikers Island Correctional Facility for an audience of justice-involved young men. Following the performance, he leads group discussions with participants awaiting trial or sentencing.
Lalito 10 | 2022 | Produced in USA (Filmed in Guatemala) | Jordan Matthew Horowitz | Midwest Premiere *When COVID-19 forced his school to close and remote learning proved impossible, a teacher in Guatemala built a classroom on wheels to bring education directly to his students.
The Sentence of Michael Thompson | 2021 | USA | Kyle Thrash, Haley Elizabeth Anderson | Indiana Premiere *In 1994, Michael Thompson was arrested for selling three pounds of cannabis and was sentenced to 42 to 60 years in prison. He is the longest serving non-violent offender in the history of Michigan and he is finally up for clemency.
OSCAR® SHORTS PROGRAM
OSCAR® SHORTS PROGRAM | A celebration of five Indy Shorts 2020 & 2021 alumni that went on to be winners and nominees at the Oscars®.
Feeling Through | 2019 | United States | Doug Roland | Not applicable *Tereek, a kind but guarded teen wandering the streets of New York, desperate for a place to crash, encounters Artie, a DeafBlind man needing help getting home.
If Anything Happens I Love You | 2020 | United States | Will McCormack, Michael Govier | Not applicable *A man and woman struggle to come to terms with a devastating loss. An elegy on grief.
Please Hold | 2020 | United States | KD Dávila | Not applicable *In the near future, a young working-class Latino is wrongfully arrested.
The Present | 2019 | Palestine | Farah Nabulsi | Not applicable *On his wedding anniversary, Yusef and his young daughter set out in the West Bank to buy his wife a gift.
The Queen of Basketball | 2021 | United States | Ben Proudfoot | Not applicable *She is one of the greatest living women’s basketball player.
SMALL TOWNS PROGRAM
SMALL TOWNS PROGRAM | Rural America from four engaging perspectives.
Groundhog Town | 2022 | USA | David Zucker | Midwest Premiere *In the lead-up to the first canceled Groundhog Day in 134 years, residents of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania confront the uncertainty of their collective future.
Last Days of August | 2022 | USA | Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck, Robert Machoian | Indiana Premiere *Does a town still exist if nearly everyone has died or left? Using the photobook aesthetic, filmmakers Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck and Robert Machoian explore some nearly abandoned prairie towns of Nebraska and meditate on the blurred lines between still photography and cinema.
Monumental Divide | 2022 | USA | Brian Olliver | Midwest Premiere *When a couple moves to Escalante, Utah hoping to be an active part of this small community, they are forced to come to terms with a complicated cultural divide.
When It’s Good, It’s Good | 2022 | USA | Alejandra Vasquez | Midwest Premiere *When she returns to rural West Texas to document the effects of the boom-and-bust nature of the oil industry on her hometown, filmmaker Alejandra Vasquez unexpectedly captures the political transformation that takes place in her family over five years and two election cycles.
SPOTLIGHT: EASTERSEALS DISABILITY FILM CHALLENGE PROGRAM
SPOTLIGHT: EASTERSEALS DISABILITY FILM CHALLENGE PROGRAM | Shorts that celebrate the Eastersealsʼ mission to tell stories that present disability in its many forms.
Act of God | 2022 | USA | Spencer Cook, Parker Smith | Indiana Premiere *A stray $100 bill leads a disabled man on a chase that forces him to reconsider his toxic ideal of self-sufficiency.
Bacon ‘N’ Laces | 2021 | USA | Stephen Michael Simon | Midwest Premiere *A single dad of three boys manages a diner. But, there’s more to John than meets the eye.
Freebird | 2022 | USA, Canada | Michael Joseph McDonald, Joe Bluhm, Nicholas Herd (Creative Director) | Not applicable *Freebird tells the coming-of-age story of a boy with Down Syndrome who learns to navigate the world with a loving mother, an absent father, a classroom bully, and a life-long crush. In just five minutes, we watch 45 years of his life flash by.
I.L.Y. | 2022 | USA | Chrissy Marshall | Not applicable *An autistic women finds safety in her community.
Mac & Cheese | 2022 | USA | Amanda Pinto | Midwest Premiere *An everyday hero grapples with friendship, responsibility, and the decision to eat (or not to eat) his roommate’s mac & cheese.
My Disability Roadmap | 2022 | USA | Dan Habib, Samuel Habib | Indiana Premiere *Samuel Habib, 21, wants to date, leave home, go to college. But he drives a 350-pound wheelchair, uses a communication device, and can have a seizure at any moment. Determined to find his path forward, he seeks out guidance from America’s most rebellious disability activists.
Seven | 2022 | USA | Marie A. Rodriguez | Midwest Premiere *A 19-year-old girl comes face to face with a secret reveal about her destiny.
Superhero, Inc. | 2022 | Canada | Liz Whitmere | Midwest Premiere *A telekinetic job hunter encounters an immovable hiring manager.
SPOTLIGHT: L.A. TIMES SHORT DOCS PROGRAM
SPOTLIGHT: L.A. TIMES SHORT DOCS PROGRAM | Showcase of documentary shorts curated from L.A. Times Short Docs.
After Skid Row | 2021 | USA | Lindsey Hagen | Midwest Premiere *”After Skid Row” documents the journey of Barbie Carter as she navigates the transition to housed life following the brutal reality of a decade on the streets.
innocence. | 2021 | USA | Goran Zaneti, Skyler Glover | Midwest Premiere *A group of Black and Latin women activists in San José, California, drive a grassroots movement to remove police from their children’s schools.
NASIR | 2021 | USA | Nasir Bailey, Jackson Kroopf | Midwest Premiere *Nasir, a transgender musician, comes out to several family members over the phone, as he recounts the steps towards his decision to transition, and composes a song to himself.
Nice To Meet You All | 2021 | UK | Guen Murroni | Indiana Premiere *A celebration of a woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder who has survived human trafficking rings in the US.
The Picture Taking Experiment | 2021 | USA | Patrick Shen | Midwest Premiere *An elderly man living in obscurity in the suburbs of Los Angeles tells the story of when he inadvertently produced the world’s first up-close image of another planet in the summer of 1965.
Sentinels | 2022 | USA | Derek Knowles, Lawrence Lerew | Midwest Premiere *”Sentinels” is an immersive observational film that follows a group of young radical environmental activists who undertake a tree-sitting campaign to stop a large logging company from clear-cutting a forest in Northern California.
We Are Like Waves | 2021 | USA | Jordyn Romero | Midwest Premiere *An intimate look into how surfing changes the life of a young woman named Sanu, documenting the struggles and breakthroughs of becoming one of the first female Sri Lankan surfers.
ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) | 2022 | USA | Brit Hensel | Indiana Premiere *Expressions of reciprocity in the Cherokee world as conveyed in a story told by an elder and first language speaker.
SPOTLIGHT: MTV DOCUMENTARY FILMS PROGRAM
SPOTLIGHT: MTV DOCUMENTARY FILMS PROGRAM | Two new shorts, followed by Sheila Nevins, head of MTV Documentary Films, in conversation (Via livestream, in-person screening only).
Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices From A Plantation Prison | 2022 | USA | Cinque Northern | *The story of playwright Liza Jessie Peterson’s shutdown 2020 performance of her acclaimed play “The Peculiar Patriot” at Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, America’s largest prison-plantation. The documentary examines what led to the shutdown of the performance, the material that confronted a system, and how the impact of Peterson’s visit rippled through Angola long after the record of her visit was erased by prison authorities.
THANK YOU, MS. MARAVEL from Rosie’s Theater Kids | 2022 | USA | Steven Cantor | World Premiere *Ten years ago, inspired by the teacher who inspired her, actor-comedian Rosie O’Donnell established a school, giving public school kids access to dance, music, and drama. This film follows five kids as they pursue their stage and screen goals, learning to believe in themselves.
TOGETHER AGAIN PROGRAM
TOGETHER AGAIN PROGRAM | Reunions, second chances and escapes.
Fanmi | 2021 | Canada | Carmine Pierre-Dufour /Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers | Midwest Premiere *Absorbed by her recent break-up, Martine doesn’t notice her mother is hiding the true reason behind her visit to Montreal.
Finding Dad | 2021 | UK | Alana Hutton-Shaw | Indiana Premiere *It’s Christmas, and Anita’s mom just died unexpectedly. With nothing left, she and her BFF descend on the East End to find the father she’s never met.
Goodbye, Jérôme!| 2021 | France | Adam Sillard, Gabrielle Selnet, Chloé Farr | Midwest Premiere *Having just arrived in paradise, Jerome sets out to find his wife Maryline. In the course of his search, he sinks into a surreal and colourful world in which no one seems to be able to help him.
More Than I Remember | 2022 | USA, Chile | Amy Bench | Midwest Premiere *Fourteen-year-old Mugeni awakes to the sounds of bombs. As her family scatters to the surrounding forests to save themselves, Mugeni finds herself completely alone. She sets out on a remarkable solo journey across the globe, determined to reunite with her lost loved ones and lift up the Banyamulenge people.
The Out | 2021 | UK | Harry Brandrick | World Premiere *A recovering heroin addict looks after his young daughter for the first time since being out of prison and getting clean.
This is He | 2021 | USA | Thea Brooks | Midwest Premiere *Two brothers discover each other’s existence after their father passes.
Video Visit | 2021 | USA | Malika Zouhali-Worrall | Midwest Premiere *Each week, scores of people visit the Brooklyn Public Library to see their incarcerated loved ones via a free video call. “Video Visit” tells the story of two mothers and their sons, and the librarians who negotiate daily to keep the families connected.