Indiana Author Awards Launch, Oct. 21, 2019 @inhumanities @artscouncilindy

By Greg Weaver
Indiana Humanities

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 7, 2019)—The expanded Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards, newly powered by Indiana Humanities, will launch on Oct. 21. 2019, 4 to 6 p.m. with special cocktails, on-demand poetry and a pop-up bookstore at a free Indianapolis Artsgarden event celebrating Hoosier writers and readers.

The public is invited to attend “Write Now: A Celebration of Indiana Literature,” where details about the expanded awards program will be revealed. The event will feature poets Adam Henze, Tony Brewer and Blaine Carrell creating new works on demand and an Indy Reads Books popup store of books by Indiana authors. Snacks, drinks and a complimentary signature cocktail or Sun King beer will be served.

Re-fashioned as biennial honors, the expanded Indiana Authors Awards also will offer author talks and writing workshops across the state, all aimed at celebrating Indiana writers, shining a light on the Hoosier literary community and deepening connections between the state’s writers and readers.

“We look forward to launching the expanded Indiana Authors Awards with an event that matches the excitement of today’s Indiana literary scene,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “Indiana authors are creating adventurous and surprising works, and we intend to reflect that in everything we do.”

“Write Now,” the awards and related programming are made possible through the generous support of Glick Philanthropies, which invited Indiana Humanities to re-imagine the Indiana Authors Awards and build on the successful program guided by The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation for the past 10 years.

“We’re excited to continue celebrating Indiana authors and offer more ways to showcase their award-winning work to a wider audience through Indiana Humanities’ established and expansive statewide network,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation and daughter of Eugene and Marilyn Glick. “Our state is producing many wonderful writers, and we want to be sure they are known to Hoosier readers.”

WHAT: Write Now: A Celebration of Indiana Literature

WHEN: Oct. 21, 4-6 p.m.

WHERE: Indianapolis Artsgarden

COST:  Free

RSVP:  https://writenowindiana.eventbrite.com/

In addition to honoring the best books written by Indiana writers, the Indiana Author Awards – which will be awarded next in 2020 – also will encourage residents to read and recommend more works by Hoosier authors and help make them more widely known in Indiana and across the nation.

Among the new initiatives will be:

• More awards in more categories, to better honor the breadth of writing in Indiana, from fiction and nonfiction, to graphic novels and genre fiction, to poetry and drama, to books for young readers, teens and adults. Nominations for the 2020 awards will open Oct. 21.
• More opportunities for Hoosiers, especially students, to meet and interact with authors. The Novel Conversations Speakers Program, which features Indiana Authors Awards winners, will expand to include writing workshops. Applications are now open to book an author talk or writing workshop in 2020. Learn more at http://www.indianahumanities.org/indianaauthorsawards.
• A communications blitz after each round of awards to increase awareness and excitement among Hoosier readers. Among other things, every library in the state will receive posters, bookmarks, and other materials to create displays and programming around selected books.
• Starting in 2021, a statewide “rock star” tour, featuring one of Indiana’s high-profile literary all-stars. Over an intensive week every other fall, thousands of Hoosiers will have the opportunity to hear from a favorite writer and connect with other readers.
• A new monthly book review column, offered to newspapers around the state and posted online, that will help readers find their next great Hoosier read. Each review will be written by an Indiana author.

Full details about these changes will be announced at “Write Now.” Sign up to attend the event at https://writenowindiana.eventbrite.com/.

To keep up with the Indiana Authors Awards, including deadlines, winners and other news, Hoosiers also can sign up for the authors awards newsletter at http://www.indianahumanities.org/indianaauthorsawards  and follow the Indiana Authors Awards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Indiana Authors Awards

The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards honor the best books written by Indiana authors. Awarded every two years, they celebrate Indiana writers, shine a light on the Hoosier state’s literary community and deepen connections between Indiana writers and readers. They were established in 2009 as a vision of Eugene and Marilyn Glick and are a new component of Indiana Humanities’ rich and diverse literary programming.

About Glick Philanthropies

Glick Philanthropies is a family of charitable initiatives, programs and organizations focused on building community and creating opportunity. Together, Glick Philanthropies strives to strengthen the quality of life in central Indiana and in communities where Gene B. Glick Company properties are located to ensure that people in those local communities can reach their full potential and lead lives of dignity. Glick Philanthropies includes the Glick Family Foundation, Glick Family Housing Foundation, Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), and Glick Fund at the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). Since 1982, Glick Philanthropies has awarded over $150 million to charitable causes and has led a transformative effort to improve education and economic opportunity on Indianapolis’ far eastside where the Gene B. Glick Company was originally headquartered. Learn more at http://www.glickphilanthropies.org.

About Indiana Humanities

Indiana Humanities connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage people to think, read and talk. Learn more at http://www.indianahumanities.org.

28th Heartland International Film Festival, Oct. 10-20, 2019 @heartlandfilm

By Paige Liston, Bohlsen Group
On behalf of Heartland Film

INDIANAPOLIS – Presented by nonprofit arts organization Heartland Film, the 28^th Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) will take place in Indianapolis from Oct. 10-20 in venues throughout the city and The Historic Artcraft Theatre in Franklin. With a record 200 plus feature films and 400 film screenings, HIFF is the largest and longest-running film festival in Indiana.

“We could not be more excited about what’s in store for this year’s Heartland International Film Festival and welcome filmgoers to explore our bold cinematic space,” said Craig Prater, Heartland Film President. “From award contenders, premieres, stars, and sensational events, Heartland is proud to be able to represent this important art form on such an international scale here in Indiana.”

Major Event Titles

TriStar Pictures’ “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” directed by Marielle Heller featuring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers, which will open HIFF on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Newfields.

Netflix will present “Marriage Story,” directed by Noah Baumbach featuring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, as HIFF Centerpiece on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Newfields in addition to “The Two Popes,” directed by Fernando Meirelles featuring Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins as the HIFF Showcase Screening on Thursday, Oct. 17 at AMC Castleton Square.

Closing HIFF on Sunday, Oct. 20 will be Warner Bros. release “Just Mercy” directed by Destin Daniel Cretton starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, and Brie Larson based on the memoir of the same name by Bryan Stevenson.

Cash Prizes and Competition Titles

The Heartland International Film Festival will award $60,000 in cash prizes across multiple categories, recognizing the best in independent filmmaking from all over the world. Only 10 Finalist films are chosen to compete for HIFF Grand Prizes, five Narrative Features and five Documentary Features, and each category will carry a $15,000 cash prize. Narrative Finalists in competition include “Colewell” (Tom Quinn starring Karen Allen), “The Garden Left Behind” (Flavio Alves), “Greener Grass” (Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe), “Guest Artist” (Timothy Busfield starring Jeff Daniels), and “House of Hummingbird (Bora Kim). Documentary Finalists in competition include “17 Blocks” (Davy Rothbart), “Ernie & Joe” (Jenifer McShane), “For Sama” (Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts), “Jump Shot” (Jacob Hamilton), and “Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements” (Irene Taylor Brodsky). Fifty percent of these competition titles are directed or co-directed by women.

Earlier this year, Heartland Film officially signed the 5050×2020 Pledge to solidify its commitment to gender parity in its programming. At HIFF 2019, 43 percent of the films in the overall lineup are directed or co-directed by women.

Beyond its top prizes, HIFF will present cash awards for Best International Feature Film Oscar^® Contender, best premieres, Indiana Spotlight, Richard D. Propes Social Impact Awards, Humor and Humanity, and the Jimmy Stewart Legacy Award, which is the only sanctioned festival award in the beloved actor’s namesake approved by the Stewart Family.

Select 2019 HIFF Featured Titles:

Highlights from the 200 plus feature film lineup include:

• “63 UP” directed by Michael Apted (Independent Television ITV)
  • Michael Apted scheduled to attend to receive the HIFF Lifetime Achievement Award
• “The Apollo” directed by Roger Ross Williams (HBO), Award Season Spotlight Program
• “Breaking Away” directed by Peter Yates, 40^th Anniversary Special Presentation
  • Actor Dennis Christopher scheduled to attend
• “By the Grace of God” directed by François Ozon (Music Box Films), Special Presentation
• “The Cave” directed by Feras Fayyad (National Geographic), Award Season Spotlight Program
• “Clemency” directed by Chinonye Chukwu (NEON), Special Presentation
• “Dolor y gloria / Pain and Glory” directed by Pedro Almodóvar (Sony Pictures Classics), Best International Feature Film Oscar^® Contender Program
• “Il traditore / The Traitor” directed by Marco Bellocchio (Sony Pictures Classics), Special Presentation
• “I Lost My Body” directed by Jérémy Clapin (Netflix), Special Presentation
• “In Fabric” directed by Peter Strickland (A24), Special Presentation
• “Midnight Cowboy” directed by John Schlesinger, 50^th Anniversary Special Presentation
  • Photographer Michael Childers scheduled to attend with a moderated Q&A hosted by Bruce Fessier

• “The Mummy” directed by Stephen Sommers, 20^th Anniversary Special Presentation
  • Actor Brendan Fraser scheduled to attend with a moderated Q&A hosted by Pete Hammond
• “Parasite” directed by Bong Joon Ho (NEON), Best International Feature Film Oscar^® Contender Program
• “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” directed by Céline Sciamma (NEON), Special Presentation
• “Slay the Dragon” directed by Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance (Magnolia Pictures), Special Presentation
• “Synonyms” directed by Nadav Lapid (Kino Lorber), Special Presentation
• “Systemsprenger / System Crasher” directed by Nora Fingscheidt (Ad Vitam Distribution), US Premiere in the Cultural Journey: Germany and Best International Feature Film Oscar^® Contender Programs
• “Waves” directed by Trey Edwards Shults (A24), Special Presentation
• “When We Last Spoke” directed by Joanne Hock, Official Selection
  • Actor Cloris Leachman to receive the HIFF Lifetime Achievement Award, Actor Corbin Bernsen scheduled to attend

Full Lineup and Info

Venues for the HIFF include Newfields, AMC Castleton Square 14, AMC Showplace Traders Point 12, The Historic Artcraft Theatre, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery Lounge at Castleton Square Mall and The Montage. Tickets for HIFF events and screenings will go on sale Sept. 13 for Heartland Film members and Sept. 16 to the public, and can be purchased online at heartlandfilmfestival.org. To view the entire lineup, visit heartlandfilmfestival.org, or click here: HFF 2019 Film Festival Lineup

About Heartland Film, Inc.
Heartland Film is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1991 with the mission to inspire filmmakers and audiences through the transformative power of film. Heartland Film presents the annual Heartland International Film Festival, Academy Award^®-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival, the Heartland Film Roadshow, and bestows the Truly Moving Picture Award industry honor to major film releases throughout the year. For more information, visit heartlandfilm.org.