The 33rd Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) taking place October 10-20 in Indianapolis, Indiana, will showcase more than 110 feature films under theme “Expand Your Universe.”
Opening Night showcases “A Real Pain” directed, written by and starring Jesse Eisenberg. The film follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) as they reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother.
Centerpiece Screening features “Small Things Like These” starring Oscar winner Cillian Murphy playing a coal merchant who discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent. Director Tim Mielants is scheduled to attend and participate in a post-screening discussion.
Closing Night spotlights “Emilia Pérez” directed by Jacques Audiard. “Emilia Pérez” stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, who shared the Best Actress Award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
“Sing Sing” director/writer and HIFF alumnus (“Rising from Ashes” 2012, “Jockey” 2021) Greg Kwedar will be honored with the 2024 Pioneering Spirit Award and is also scheduled to attend a special “Awards Season Encore” screening of “Sing Sing” and participate in a post-screening Q&A.
Craig T. Nelson, star of world premiere feature “Green and Gold,” is scheduled to attend the film’s premiere screening on October 18 and will be honored with the 2024 Pioneering Spirit: Lifetime Achievement Award at the HIFF Awards Celebration.
For its third year, the Kan-Kan Cinema will host four films that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May: “All We Imagine as Light”; “Armand” from IFC Films; “FLOW” and “The Seed of a Sacred Fig”
EVENT & SPECIAL PRESENTATION TITLES
OPENING NIGHT | “A REAL PAIN”
A Real Pain | Jesse Eisenberg | USA, Poland | Searchlight Pictures
Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
CENTERPIECE | “SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE”
Small Things Like These | Tim Mielants | Ireland, Belgium, USA | Lionsgate
Oscar® winner Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as devoted father Bill Furlong in this film based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Claire Keegan. While working as a coal merchant to support his family, he discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent — and uncovers truths of his own — forcing him to confront his past and the complicit silence of a small Irish town controlled by the Catholic Church. Emily Watson won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for her portrayal of Sister Mary at the Berlin International Film Festival. Director Tim Mielants scheduled to attend.
CLOSING NIGHT | “EMILIA PÉREZ”
Emilia Pérez | Jacques Audiard | France, USA | Netflix
From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes “Emilia Pérez,” an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations. Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. The fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self. Written and directed by Audiard (“Rust and Bone,” “A Prophet”), the double Cannes-winning film also stars Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Édgar Ramírez.
All We Imagine as Light | Payal Kapadia | France, India, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy
In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. Special Presentation from Janus Films and Sideshow.
Armand | Halfdan Ullmann Tondel | Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden
Armand, a six-year-old boy, is accused of crossing boundaries against his best friend at elementary school. Special Presentation from IFC Films.
Blink | Edmund Stenson, Daniel Roher | Canada, USA
After three of their children are diagnosed with an incurable eye condition, one family embarks on an epic journey to show them the beauty of the world before it vanishes for good. Special Presentation from National Geographic Documentary Films.
Bob Trevino Likes It | Tracie Laymon | USA
“Bob Trevino Likes It” is inspired by the true friendship that writer/director Tracie Laymon found with a stranger when looking for her father online. Special Presentation from Roadside Attractions.
Daughters | Natalie Rae, Angela Patton | USA | Awards Season Encore
A moving portrait of empathy and forgiveness, “Daughters” traces an eight-year documentary journey by filmmaker Natalie Rae and social change advocate Angela Patton. The film intimately follows Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and Ja’Ana as they prepare for a momentous Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. Special Presentation from Netflix.
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found | Raoul Peck | USA
Follows Ernest Cole’s journey as the first Black freelance photographer in apartheid South Africa. Special Presentation from Magnolia Pictures.
FLOW | Gints Zilbalodis | France, Latvia, Belgium
The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world. Special presentation from Janus Films and Sideshow.
Leap of Faith | Nicholas Ma | United States | World Premiere
Twelve diverse Christian leaders find hope and fellowship at a series of boundary-breaking retreats in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brought together by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum, five women and seven men struggle with some of today’s most contentious issues. The divisions between them become apparent and test both their common belief in the universal importance of love and kindness and the bonds they build over the course of a year. Inspiring and provocative, “Leap of Faith” explores whether we can disagree and still belong to each other in a divided world. Produced by Academy Award® winner Morgan Neville. Special presentation from Picturehouse.
Memoir of a Snail | Adam Elliot | Australia
From Academy Award®-winning animator Adam Elliot comes this bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel – a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea-pigs. Special Presentation from IFC Films.
Nightbitch | Marielle Heller | USA
A woman (Amy Adams) pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom, but soon her new domesticity takes a surreal turn. Special Presentation from Searchlight Pictures.
The Seed of a Sacred Fig | Mohammad Rasoulof | Iran, France, Germany
Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble. Special Presentation from Neon.
Sing Sing | Greg Kwedar | USA | Awards Season Encore
Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men. Special Presentation from A24. Director/writer Greg Kwedar is scheduled to attend the encore screening on October 19 and will receive the Pioneering Spirit Award later that evening at the HIFF Awards Presentation.
Sugarcane | Julian Brave Noisecat, Emily Kassie | USA | Awards Season Encore
A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, “Sugarcane,” the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Special presentation from National Geographic Documentary Films.
Superboys of Malegaon | Reema Kagti | India
“Superboys of Malegaon” is a film based on the life of Nasir Shaikh, an amateur filmmaker from the town of Malegaon. Special presentation from Prime Video.
Unstoppable | William Goldenberg | USA
Born with one leg, Anthony Robles defies expectations to become a champion wrestler in college, competing against the very school that rejected him. Starring Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Anthony Robles, Don Cheadle, and Jennifer Lopez. Special Presentation from Prime Video.
The World According to Allee Willis | Alexis Spraic | United States
Allee Willis, best known for writing the “Friends” theme song, Earth Wind & Fire’s “September” and “The Color Purple” musical, began filming her life in 1950s Detroit and never stopped. Struggling against gender and sexual norms, she pursued creative expression at all costs. Special presentation from Magnolia Pictures.
Will & Harper | Josh Greenbaum | USA | Awards Season Encore
When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship, transition, and America. Special Presentation from Netflix.
33rd Heartland International Film Festival Lineup
Film Title | Director(s) | Country | Premiere Status
***World Premiere, **North American Premiere, *U.S. Premiere
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
A School Grows in Watts | Ryan S. Porush | United States | Midwest Premiere
“A School Grows in Watts” tells the story of an innovative charter school in South Los Angeles fighting for a reimagined future through a community-based approach to education.
All American | Mark Andrew Altschul | United States | Midwest Premiere
In this modern, coming of age documentary, Naomi, Jojo and Arham grapple with economic divides, gender roles, and family dynamics while competing in the fastest growing high school sport in the country: women’s wrestling.
American Delivery | Carolyn Jones | United States | Indiana Premiere
Amid a growing maternal health crises in the U.S. — especially for women of color — nurses are at the core of systemic efforts to catch new mothers before they fall through the broken maternal health safety net.
April in France | David Boaretto | France | Indiana Premiere
A five-year-old girl is confronted by the world for the first time, armed only with the codes of her childhood kingdom.
Ashima | Kenji Tsukamoto | United States | Indiana Premiere
A year in the life of 13-year-old elite rock climber Ashima Shiraishi as she balances fame, career and trying to be a regular kid.
Athletes of War | Gabriel Veras | United States, Ukraine | Midwest Premiere
How do you fight for gold when an endless war has taken away a generation of competitors and destroyed their facilities? Meet the dwindling number of Ukrainian athletes preparing for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, while Russia violently invades their country.
**Bangarang | Giulio Mastromauro | Italy | North American Premiere
Bangarang, named after the Jamaican word meaning disorder and chaos, follows the loud, carefree, playful, and sometimes violent youth of Taranto, Italy, a Southern industrial city facing some of the most serious health and environmental crises in European history.
Bromley: Light After Dark | Sean McDonald | Australia | Midwest Premiere
David Bromley was a lost soul, until he found that art appeased the voices in his head and let him see beauty in the world again. Art saved his life–art, and his wife Yuge.
Champions of the Golden Valley | Ben Sturgulewski | United States | Midwest Premiere
After skiing sparks an unlikely joyful revolution in the high peaks of Afghanistan, the people of Bamyan must call upon the lessons learned on the slopes when they experience the collapse of their country.
*DANDELIONS | Basil Mironer | United States | U.S. Premiere
After receiving a mysterious Facebook message, American filmmaker Basil Mironer embarks on a journey to Russia, where he uncovers an emotional family secret and grapples with the revelation of a man claiming to be his father.
The Death Tour | Stephan Peterson, Sonya Ballantyne | Canada | Indiana Premiere
“The Death Tour” follows wrestling hopefuls across remote Indigenous communities in Canada’s far North on “the most gruelling tour in indie wrestling.” This test of strength and grit will show how far some are willing to go to live their dreams.
*Death Without Mercy | Waad Al-Kateab | United Kingdom | U.S. Premiere
Across 10 days after a deadly earthquake in Southern Turkey, “Death Without Mercy” follows two Syrian families as they piece together the tragedy and uncover revelations about the corruption, lies, and government incompetence that exacerbated the disaster and its response. From MTV Documentary Films.
The Diamond Couple | Sonja Bertucci | United States, France | Midwest Premiere
An existential and epiphanic journey through the memories of a centenarian couple, “The Diamond Couple” reflects on aging and the power of memory to renew our attachment to life.
Diane Warren: Relentless | Bess Kargman | United States | Midwest Premiere
An intimate, captivating and revealing underdog story, providing audiences with a rarely seen glimpse behind one of the most successful, prolific songwriters of all time: Diane Warren.
DREAMBREAKER: A PICKELBALL STORY | Ashley Underwood, Seth Porges, Mary Pilon | United States | Indiana Premiere
“DREAMBREAKER: A PICKELBALL STORY” captures in real time the pro-Pickleball pioneers and billionaire investors cashing in on America’s latest gold rush.
Emergent City | Kelly Anderson, Jay Arthur Sterrenberg | United States | Midwest Premiere
“Emergent City” chronicles a turbulent decade at the edge of a changing Brooklyn. As rents and sea levels rise, a new development fractures the community and forces it to confront the future of New York City’s last industrial waterfront.
Family Tree | Jennifer MacArthur | United States | Indiana Premiere
In the American South, Black forest landowners fight to maintain their family legacy and create sustainable forests for generations to come.
The Faraway Nearby | Paula Froehle | United States | Midwest Premiere
Following the tragic life of pioneer physicist Joseph Weber, whose pursuit of gravitational waves takes him on a dizzying journey from the height of acclaim to the depths of despair, “The Faraway Nearby” explores the emotional side of scientific discovery.
Farming While Black | Mark Decena | United States | Midwest Premiere
Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, reflects on the plight of Black farmers in the U.S. Looking to the future, Leah and cohorts help propel a rising generation, finding strength in the deep historical knowledge of African agrarianism.
The Hobby | Simon Ennis | Canada, USA | Midwest Premiere
Are games the meaning of life? “The Hobby” is a funny, affectionate, character-driven portrait of the surprisingly massive subculture of modern board games, featuring a fascinating and diverse group of subjects who find deep meaning in “meaningless” pursuits.
Home Court | Erica Tanamachi | United States, Cambodia | Midwest Premiere
“Home Court” traces the ascent of Ashley Chea, a Cambodian American basketball prodigy whose life intensifies amid recruitment, injury, and triumph throughout her high school career.
The Little Pageant That Could | John Carlos Frey | United States | Midwest Premiere
“The Little Pageant That Could” chronicles the stage event thrown by a few 20-something friends in a tiny West Hollywood apartment in 1990 that grew to become L.A.’s longest-running drag benefit, grossing over $6 million to help those living with HIV/AIDS.
Lost in the Shuffle | Jon Ornoy | Canada | Indiana Premiere
On his journey to learn more about the long history between magic and playing cards, world champion magician Shawn Farquhar reveals the tantalizing clues to a medieval cold case murder hidden among the Jacks, Queens and Kings.
Make a Circle | Jen Bradwell, Todd Boekelheide | United States | Midwest Premiere
A love letter to early educators and a rallying cry for a child care system in crisis.
*Mexican Dream | Laura Plancarte | Mexico, United Kingdom | U.S. Premiere
After escaping an abusive past, Malena fights to reconnect with her teenage children and finish her house, all while seeking IVF to have a baby with her new partner. Can she unite her family under one roof?
The Opener | Jeff Toye | United States | Midwest Premiere
After a struggling street musician goes viral playing songs from his bedroom, he’s invited on tour by one of his heroes, Grammy winner Jason Mraz, and given the chance to prove himself on the big stage.
Playing to Survive: von Cramm vs. Hitler | Annette Baumeister | United States | Midwest Premiere
Gottfried von Cramm, an international tennis champion, navigates through his journey of survival while staying true to his values under extreme pressure and persecution from Hitler and the Third Reich. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan.
***Polizeiakademie – Police Academy Berlin | Moritz Schulz | Germany | World Premiere
“Polizeiakademie” follows three people from very different social and ethnic backgrounds in their training at Berlin’s police academy. Over the course of a year they navigate their way through this challenging institution.
Porcelain War | Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev | Australia, United States, Ukraine | Indiana Premiere
With extraordinary footage from a war-torn country, filmed by ordinary civilians, “Porcelain War” is a story much bigger than Ukraine–it’s a story about all of us, the resilience of the human spirit, and the fight that only artists can put back into a crumbling world.
Resynator | Alison Tavel | United States | Indiana Premiere
When Alison unearths the revolutionary synthesizer her late father invented in the 1970s, she not only revives his mission to share it with the world: she unexpectedly forges a deep bond with the father she never got the chance to know.
The Ride Ahead | Samuel Habib, Dan Habib | United States | Midwest Premiere
Turning 21, Samuel Habib wants to date, leave home, and go to college–but he has serious health, communication and mobility challenges. Can a community of disability activist rebels help him follow his dreams?
Screenings will be shown with open captions.
Roleplay | Katie Mathews | United States | Midwest Premiere
College students confront sexual violence on their campus through a transformative theater process. This urgent coming-of-age story follows young people grappling with sex, consent, identity, and power on their paths to adulthood.
Secret Mall Apartment | Jeremy Workman | United States | Indiana Premiere
The amazing true story of eight young Rhode Islanders who built and lived in a secret apartment inside a busy mall from 2003 to 2007.
SITTING IN THE FIRE | Alec Goldberg, Boson Wang | United States | Midwest Premiere
Arrested and sentenced to life in prison at 20, Vaughn Miles underwent rehabilitation and was released after 24 years. Now, he’s back in his hometown working toward ending gun violence in the place he once helped destroy.
Small Town Universe | Katie Dellamaggiore | United States | Indiana Premiere
“Small Town Universe” paints an intimate and captivating portrait of life in Green Bank, West Virginia, home to the world’s most sensitive radio telescope and the only U.S. town where Wi-Fi and cell phones are banned.
Space Cowboy | Marah Strauch, Bryce Leavitt | United States | Midwest Premiere
“Space Cowboy” dives into the adrenaline-fueled world of stunt skydiving and free-fall cinematography through the eyes of legendary innovator Joe Jennings. When tragedy strikes, Joe must choose between letting grief ground him or conquering his past demons.
The Streak | Kelyn Ikegami | United States, Japan | Midwest Premiere
A team of outsiders attempt to break a baseball record in a bid for fame, fortune, and careers in the major leagues. Even if they succeed, no athlete can play forever—and what comes after the death of a dream?
The Strike | JoeBill Muñoz, Lucas Guilkey | United States | Midwest Premiere
“The Strike” tells the story of a generation of California men who endured decades of solitary confinement and, against all odds, launched the largest hunger strike in U.S. history.
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted | Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson | United States | Indiana Premiere
Legendary musician Swamp Dogg, alongside housemates Moogstar and Guitar Shorty, has transformed his home into an artistic playground. Together, they navigate the tumultuous music industry and forge a unique and inspiring path across time and space.
*Takin’ Care of Business | Tyler Measom | United States / Canada | U.S. Premiere
Randy Bachman’s 1957 Gretsch guitar was magic. The rocker credits it for his successful mega-bands, The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. When it was stolen, his life spiraled. “Takin’ Care of Business” chronicles Randy’s subsequent search for the things he lost—including his beloved guitar—and how he got them back.
***Testament (Заповіт) | Benjamin Tiede, Patrick Marsh | Ukraine, United States, France | World Premiere
As Ukrainians settle into the rhythm of war, those under threat every day find ways to rebuild the world around them.
There Was, There Was Not | Emily Mkrtichian | Armenia, United States | Midwest Premiere
The first line of every Armenian fairy tale, “There Was, There Was Not” tells the collective myth of a homeland lost forever and four women’s resistance to that loss.
Union | Brett Story, Stephen Maing | USA | Indiana Premiere
The Amazon Labor Union (ALU)—a group of current and former Amazon workers in New York City’s Staten Island—takes on one of the world’s largest and most powerful companies in the fight to unionize.
Welcome Space Brothers | Jodi Wille | United States | Indiana Premiere
“Welcome Space Brothers” traces the history of The Unarius Academy of Science, an extraterrestrial-channeling spiritual school and self-healing community established in the 1970s in El Cajon, California.
What’s Next? | Taylor Taglianetti | United States | Indiana Premiere
“What’s Next?” chronicles one year in the life of Dr. Howard Tucker, the world’s oldest practicing doctor, who at 100 years old, must grapple with aging for the first time.
Who in the Hell is Regina Jones? | Soraya Sélène, Billy Miossi | United States | Midwest Premiere
Regina Jones defied the odds and blazed her own path–from pregnant and married at 15, through 1965’s Watts Rebellion–to work as a groundbreaking newspaper publisher. At age 80, Regina has found herself again.
Zurawski vs Texas | Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault | USA | Midwest Premiere
Women denied abortions under Texas’s ambiguous and unforgiving bans band together with a fearless attorney to sue Texas. Executive produced by Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi, Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and Johnny Webb.
HORROR FEATURES
**Pariah | Edson da Conceicao | Netherlands | North American Premiere
A family that has fled from Ghana is overjoyed when they are offered a home in a nice neighborhood in the Netherlands. However, when the father starts seeing terrifying events occurring in their home, a new nightmare begins.
SOMNIUM | Racheal Cain | United States | Midwest Premiere
With hopes of making it big in LA, small-town transplant Gemma takes the overnight shift at a mysterious sleep clinic, Somnium, but soon finds herself trapped in its web of dark secrets.
INDIANA SPOTLIGHT
***Attachment Project | Joy Dietrich | United States | World Premiere
Estranged from her adoptive parents, a filmmaker sets out to visit them after a 20-year absence. In her journey, she follows two fellow foreign-born adoptees as they undergo novel, sometimes controversial, therapies to connect with their American families.
***Code The Road | Michael Kofsky | United States | World Premiere
University students from around the world travel to Indiana where they code competing AI racecar drivers. But this is no video game; soon these AIs must drive full-scale racecars in the first ever high-speed autonomous race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
***Dirty Laundry | Rocky Walls | United States | World Premiere
In 1997, during their routine laundry night, best buds Kyle and Eric fall under a truth-telling spell that jeopardizes their dreams of starting a business together.
Last Days of Summer | Alex Rodgers | United States
Over the course of a summer, two brothers and the girl next door make decisions that forever alter the place they call home.
***Driven to Save Lives | Aaron Winneroski | United States | World Premiere
Since 2016, Driven2SaveLives has been driving the conversation about organ and tissue donation at racetracks across the nation. Discover the untold stories woven into the fabric of the racing world–stories of hope, survival, and legacy.
***Justice 4 Three | Denise Blane | United States
This powerful documentary exposes a tragic hate crime in Fort Wayne, Indiana, claiming two lives and leaving one survivor. Through raw family interviews, chilling footage, and a call for justice, it demands a future free of hate.
Major Taylor: Champion of the Race | Todd Gould | United States
Major Taylor: Champion of the Race chronicles the life and accomplishments of Marshall “Major” Taylor, the champion bicycle racer and civil rights pioneer, who overcame racial prejudice to become a world champion.
North Putnam | Joel Fendelman | United States | Midwest Premiere
North Putnam depicts a year in the life of a rural Indiana school district and the community it serves. Crafted with empathy, the film aims to spark action-oriented conversations about the interdependence between public schools and community development.
***The Waiting Game | Michael Husain | United States | World Premiere
An epic documentary of cold capitalism versus simple human need, “The Waiting Game” follows a tiny not-for-profit’s fight against the NBA as it delays and ignores payment to the ABA players who built so much of its value.
We Strangers | Anu Valia | United States | Indiana Premiere
Rayelle Martin, a commercial cleaning woman in Gary, Indiana, stumbles into a new job cleaning the homes of several rich, suburban families. While working, she tells one small lie that spins out of control.
NARRATIVE FEATURES
**2:15 PM | Seryong Jeong | South Korea | North American Premiere
A story about a 10-year-old child who finds another child locked up inside her house. Little by little, they make their way out together.
Adult Best Friends | Delaney Buffett | United States | Midwest Premiere
A woman takes her codependent best friend on a weekend trip to break the news that she’s getting married.
AFRICAN GIANTS | Omar S. Kamara | United States | Midwest Premiere
Over a weekend visit in Los Angeles, two first-generation Sierra Leonean American brothers navigate the changing dynamics of brotherhood after a surprise announcement.
American Schemers | Jack C. Newell | United States | Midwest Premiere
Two con artists pose as heirs to a deceased socialite, only to find that the community they’ve infiltrated is as crooked as they are.
American Underdog | Gustavo Martin Benites | United States | Indiana Premiere
“American Underdog” follows Jai, an Indian-American amateur MMA fighter, fresh out of jail. After earning praise for stopping an armed robbery, he’s entered into an MMA tournament, forcing him to dig deep to find redemption from his past and move forward.
***An Autumn Summer | Jared Isaac | United States | World Premiere
In a magical lake town, one couple and four best friends spend the final month before college chasing an endless summer.
Bang Bang | Vincent Grashaw | United States | Indiana Premiere
Tim Blake Nelson stars as “Bang Bang” Rozyski: an eccentric, retired pugilist obsessed with rectifying the sins of his past.
THE BLACK SEA | Crystal Moselle, Derrick B. Harden | United States | Indiana Premiere
Khalid, a charismatic barista from Brooklyn, gets stuck in a small town on the Black sea after a money-making venture goes wrong. The only Black man in town, his transformative pursuit to get home sparks an unexpected connection with a local woman.
Books & Drinks | Geoffrey Cowper | Dominican Republic | Midwest Premiere
David travels to the Dominican Republic to sell a house he inherited from the father he never knew. There he will meet Maria, who is going to turn his life upside down.
Cash for Gold | Deborah Puette, Robert Enriquez | United States | Indiana Premiere
While struggling to provide for her young son as Christmas nears, an Army widow with a dark secret finds work with the town’s only Muslim family. As their relationship deepens, the community’s tensions rise, leading to a fateful and explosive night.
***Chasing Oslo | Scott Brignac | United States | World Premiere
When the world’s most famous influencer suddenly quits social media, the internet goes wild, but it’s only his biggest fan who believes it’s all a ruse and treks across the country in an attempt to find him.
Cold Sigh | Nahid Azizi Sedigh | Iran | Midwest Premiere
“Cold Sigh” is the story of a painful and suffering father-son relationship. Nahid Sedigh stages a film full of tension, with a formidable glue that holds the script together with the environment and admirably believable characters.
Drive Back Home | Michael Clowater | Canada | Midwest Premiere
In the winter of 1970, a cantankerous, small town plumber from rural New Brunswick must drive 1,000 miles to pick up his estranged gay brother (Alan Cumming) who was arrested in a public park.
***Green and Gold | Anders Lindwall | United States | World Premiere
With American farms disappearing, a fourth-generation dairy farmer (Craig T. Nelson) and his granddaughter fight to preserve their way of life. Facing foreclosure, they wager everything on their beloved Green Bay Packers in a Hail Mary effort to save their little chunk of dirt. Star Craig T. Nelson is scheduled to attend the premiere on October 18 and will be honored with the Pioneering Spirit: Lifetime Achievement Award at the October 19 Awards Presentation.
The Heirloom | Ben Petrie | Canada | Indiana Premiere
A neurotic couple is brought to the brink after adopting a traumatized rescue dog.
*HOME FREE | Avi Federgreen | Canada | U.S. Premiere
Three estranged sisters return to their childhood home to learn their father is dying. His final wish of repairing familial relations before he passes sends everyone into a whirlwind of long-lost secrets and personal conflict.
If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing | Sadie Bones | United States | Indiana Premiere
After a brutal dumping, 17-year-old Sydnie realizes she’s pregnant. She decides to use it as a chance to get her ex back and give her life direction, but she realizes it won’t be the quick fix she had hoped for.
Isabel’s Garden | Kit Rich | United States | Indiana Premiere
The life of an ambitious, small town TV reporter is upended when the death of her husband tasks her with having to help raise her 15-year-old stepdaughter. A captivating story of loss, love, and the transformative power of chosen family.
Jazzy | Morrisa Maltz | United States | Midwest Premiere
Shot over a period of six years, “Jazzy” is a portrait of Jasmine Bearkiller Shangreaux alongside her best friend, Syriah, and their peer group, whose relationships shift as they leave the dreamlike world of childhood behind.
La Cocina | Alonso Ruizpalacios | Mexico, USA | Indiana Premiere
In the heart of a bustling Times Square kitchen, dreams and desperation collide as the back-of-house staff each chase the elusive American dream. This high-stakes drama explores the intersection of the personal ambition and systemic exploitation of undocumented immigrant workers within the pressure-cooker environment of a Times Square restaurant. Starring Rooney Mara.
LILLY | Rachel Feldman | United States | Midwest Premiere
An emotional drama based on the remarkable life of Lilly Ledbetter starring Patricia Clarkson, “Lilly” is a stirring celebration of the courage it takes to stand up for justice.
LOS FRIKIS | Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson | United States, Dominican Republic | Indiana Premiere
“Los Frikis” is a coming-of-age story set in early 90’s Cuba, following a group of punk rockers who move to a rural sanatarium to escape the oppression of the Special Period.
***Love, Danielle | Marianna Palka | United States | World Premiere
A groundbreaking, quirky dramedy that explores family dysfunction as a BRCA-positive woman decides to undergo preventative surgery.
**Matilda & Matthys | Bibi Slippers | South Africa | North American Premiere
“Matilda & Matthys” is an off-beat romcom about an aspiring writer whose chance meeting with a data scientist inspires more than a work of fiction explores what our hearts sometimes know before our minds do.
*Micro Budget | Morgan Evans | United States | U.S. Premiere
A mockumentary comedy about an absolute moron attempting to make an independent film.
Milonga | Laura González | Uruguay, Argentina | Indiana Premiere
A woman has a chance to free herself from an oppressive past when she meets a man who reignites her passion for tango. Before she can move on, she has to accept some uncomfortable truths.
MY MOTHER’S MEN | Anik Jean | Canada | Midwest Premiere
Young Elsie is shocked to learn that her eccentric mother wanted her ashes to be scattered among her five ex-husbands. Elsie is adamant about carrying out her mother’s wishes, but the trip fundamentally alters her course.
***Off the Record | Kirsten Foe | United States | World Premiere
A young singer-songwriter struggles to break free of a toxic relationship with an infamous bad-boy rock star, who threatens to destroy her after once promising the world.
***The Paper Bag Plan | Anthony Lucero | United States | World Premiere
When a father is diagnosed with cancer, he has to race against time to train his disabled son to bag groceries, hoping he’ll land a job and begin a life of independence.
Queen of the Ring | Ash Avildsen | United States | Midwest Premiere
The biopic of Mildred Burke, the first ever million dollar female athlete and champion pro-wrestler, who pioneered the sport in a time when women’s wrestling was banned in most of America.
***ReEntry | Brendan Choisnet | United States | World Premiere
A romantic sci-fi drama about a woman (Emily Deschanel) whose husband (Sam Trammell) disappears in a scientific experiment, only to return a year later. Star Emily Deschanel, Director Brendan Choisnet, and additional cast and crew are scheduled to attend the world premiere on Friday, October 11.
Rent Free | Fernando Andrés | United States | Indiana Premiere
After hitting emotional and financial rock bottom, two down-on-their-luck Gen Z best friends come up with a scheme to spend an entire year living “rent free,” employing the help of friends, family and strangers alike in a rapidly changing Austin.
Saturn | Eric Esau | United States | Midwest Premiere
When a mysterious planet appears in the sky, a young father must choose between the life he loves and an ancient call to save the world.
SHEEPDOG | Steven Grayhm | United States | Midwest Premiere
A decorated combat Veteran is court ordered into treatment when an ex-convict shows up on his doorstep and reveals that he must put himself back together again.
Stampila | David Larson | Moldova | Indiana Premiere
A middle-aged woman decides to overthrow the powerful oligarch who controls her country.
THE STRANGERS’ CASE | Brandt Andersen | Jordan | Indiana Premiere
Tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, starting a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries.
***Stripper Boyz | Stephen Sanow | United States | World Premiere
In this comedic hybrid narrative-documentary, two friends hoping to regain their confidence and reignite their freindship, head to Las Vegas on a bizarre bachelor party to see if they can make it as male strippers.
Tapawingo | Dylan K. Narang | United States | Midwest Premiere
An oddball (Jon Heder) becomes the bodyguard for a misfit teenager and finds himself in the crosshairs of the town’s family of bullies.
Unspoken | Jeremy Borison | United States | Indiana Premiere
When a closeted, religious teenager finds a love letter from before the Holocaust written to his grandfather by another man, he sets out to find the mysterious author and uncover both his grandfather’s identity and his own.
The Wingwalker | Alonso Alvarez-Barreda | Mexico, United States | Indiana Premiere
A young widower is deported to Mexico just as his daughter is scheduled for a heart transplant, leading him to orchestrate the boldest border crossing plan in history.
*The Worlds Divide | Denver Jackson | Canada | U.S. Premiere
Young Natomi is suddenly transported from a war-torn world to a magical realm abundant with vegetation. Guided by a stuffed bear, she must unravel the secrets of her father and escape the sinister Queen hunting her down.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
A Real Pain | Jesse Eisenberg | USA, Poland
Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Special presentation from Searchlight Pictures.
All We Imagine as Light | Payal Kapadia | France, India, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy
In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. Special presentation from Janus Films and Sideshow.
Armand | Halfdan Ullmann Tondel | Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden
Armand, a six-year-old boy, is accused of crossing boundaries against his best friend at elementary school. Special presentation from IFC Films.
Blink | Edmund Stenson, Daniel Roher | Canada, USA
After three of their children are diagnosed with an incurable eye condition, one family embarks on an epic journey to show them the beauty of the world before it vanishes for good. Special presentation from National Geographic Documentary Films.
Bob Trevino Likes It | Tracie Laymon | USA | Indiana Premiere
Bob Trevino Likes It is inspired by the true friendship that writer/director Tracie Laymon found with a stranger when looking for her father online. Special presentation from Roadside Attractions.
Daughters | Natalie Rae, Angela Patton | USA | Awards Season Encore
A moving portrait of empathy and forgiveness, “Daughters” traces an eight-year documentary journey by filmmaker Natalie Rae and social change advocate Angela Patton. The film intimately follows Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and Ja’Ana as they prepare for a momentous Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. Special presentation from Netflix.
Emilia Pérez | Jacques Audiard | France, USA
From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes “Emilia Pérez,” an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations. Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. Special presentation from Netflix.
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found | Raoul Peck | USA
Follows Ernest Cole’s journey as the first Black freelance photographer in apartheid South Africa. Special presentation from Magnolia Pictures.
FLOW | Gints Zilbalodis | France, Latvia, Belgium
The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world. Special presentation from Janus Films and Sideshow.
Leap of Faith | Nicholas Ma | USA
Twelve diverse Christian leaders find hope and fellowship at a series of boundary-breaking retreats in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brought together by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum, five women and seven men struggle with some of today’s most contentious issues. The divisions between them become apparent and test both their common belief in the universal importance of love and kindness and the bonds they build over the course of a year. Inspiring and provocative, “Leap of Faith” explores whether we can disagree and still belong to each other in a divided world. Produced by Academy Award® winner Morgan Neville. Special presentation from Picturehouse.
Memoir of a Snail | Adam Elliot | Australia
From Academy Award®-winning animator Adam Elliot comes this bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel – a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea-pigs. Special presentation from IFC Films.
Nightbitch | Marielle Heller | USA
An artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mum seeks a new chapter in her life and encounters just that, when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form. Special presentation from Searchlight Pictures.
The Seed of a Sacred Fig | Mohammad Rasoulof | Iran, France, Germany
Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble. Special presentation from Neon.
Sing Sing | Greg Kwedar | USA
Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men. Special presentation from A24.
Small Things Like These | Tim Mielants | Ireland, Belgium, USA
In 1985, devoted father Bill Furlong (Academy Award® Winner Cillian Murphy) discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own. Special Presentation from Lionsgate.
Sugarcane | Julian Brave Noisecat, Emily Kassie | USA | Awards Season Encore
A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, “Sugarcane,” the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Special presentation from National Geographic Documentary Films.
Superboys of Malegaon | Reema Kagti | India
“Superboys of Malegaon” is a film based on the life of Nasir Shaikh, an amateur filmmaker from the town of Malegaon. Special presentation from Prime Video.
Unstoppable | William Goldenberg | USA
Born with one leg, Anthony Robles defies expectations to become a champion wrestler in college, competing against the very school that rejected him. Special presentation from Prime Video.
The World According to Allee Willis | Alexis Spraic | United States
Allee Willis, best known for writing the “Friends” theme song, Earth Wind & Fire’s “September” and “The Color Purple” musical, began filming her life in 1950s Detroit and never stopped. Struggling against gender and sexual norms, she pursued creative expression at all costs. Special presentation of Magnolia Pictures.
Will & Harper | Josh Greenbaum | USA | Awards Season Encore
When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship, transition, and America. Special presentation from Netflix.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION, SHORT FILMS
Easterseals Disability Film Challenge | Celebrate the 11th 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. Explore the power of creativity and inclusion as this year’s winners, based on the theme of Buddy Comedy, showcase new voices and perspectives in the entertainment industry.
Films: “Audio Description,” “The Case of the Obsidian Muskrat,” “Wheelchair Club,” “Wrong Guy,” “Little Help,” “Kind of a Big Deal,” “Emergency Contact,” “Open to Interpretation,” “Step Buddies,” “Carps,” “Out of Reach,” “Wheelchair Money,” “Adoptive,” “Call the A.D.A.,” “Best Friends Forever,” “Body Swap.”
Indy Shorts Winners 1 | The first of three programs featuring award-winning films from the 2024 Oscar-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival!
Films: “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “BITE,” “Wouldn’t Make It Any Other Way,” “Room Tone,” “The Brown Dog,” “Crust,” “Saving Superman.”
Indy Shorts Winners 2 | The second of three programs featuring award-winning films from the 2024 Oscar-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival!
Films: “Unibrow,” “Sterling,” “LUKi and the Lights,” “Purgatown,” “Cycling Without Age,” “Lola,” and “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World.”
Indy Shorts Winners 3 | The third of three programs featuring award-winning films from the 2024 Oscar-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival!
Films: “Night Session,” “The Lake in the Sky,” “The Last Ranger,” “In the Paint,” and “The Ice Cream Man.”