Johnson County and the Historic Artcraft Theatre are stepping into the spotlight at this year’s Heartland International Film Festival.
Each year, more than 100 independent films are presented at the Indianapolis festival over the course of 11 days. Thousands of moviegoers enjoy movies that range from heart-rending and poignant to funny and offbeat.
Local movie fans have had to travel around central Indiana in order to catch these films and be part of the magic. But this year, for the first time in its history, the Artcraft will be an official venue for the festival.
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“When (the Artcraft) first started, their desire was to bring something new and different and exciting to the audiences,” said Adam Howell, director of production and events at Heartland Film. “That’s what we want to do with independent film, maybe bring something they’ve never heard of, but find the joy and magic behind it.”
The Heartland International Film Festival at the Artcraft will be a unique opportunity for both the festival and the theater, as well as the Johnson County Public Library, a partner in the endeavor. Movie-goers will have the chance to see the acclaimed documentaries about the Apollo 11 mission and the inventor of the jump shot, as well as feature films revolving around love stories in post-World War II England and quirky families in 1966 Texas.
A showing of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” will celebrate one of the most popular action films of the past thirty years.
Festival organizers have forged a long-standing relationship with the Franklin theater, culminating in officially adding the Artcraft to the festival rotation. The relationship is one that benefits both festival organizers and local movie buffs.
“Years ago, when they started doing an occasional weekday series, the long-term goal was to hopefully one day be a part of this festival,” said Dave Windisch, marketing manager for Franklin Heritage, which operates the Artcraft. “It means a whole lot to us to be the only southside location to Heartland films during their festival. To that trusted source to show these films, to trust our audience to come see these movies, that means a lot.”
The Heartland International Film Festival is Indiana’s largest and longest-running. More than 300 screenings of the selected films take place over the course of the festival, and more than 200 visiting filmmakers, actors and other industry professionals come to town for workshops, panels and other events.
Most of the activity related to the festival takes place on the northside of Indianapolis, or at Newfields, the home of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The southside hasn’t hosted festival screenings for 10 years, since the Greenwood Park 14 theater was an official venue.
The Artcraft adds something new and different to the film festival experience, Howell said.
“We’ve been at our venues for a long time, so to be able to go to a place like the Artcraft, there’s not another place like it in the state,” he said. “It’s one of a kind.”
But in recent years, Heartland Film has grown its presence in Johnson County, particularly through its connection with the Artcraft. Since 2013, the theater has put on Best of the Fest, a special weekend-long showing of some of the best films from the previous year’s Heartland International Film Festival.
Heartland organizers have been intrigued by the Artcraft’s nostalgic feel and commitment to film for years. The reception to Heartland Film events in the past made it obvious that people in the Johnson County area had a desire to see independent films as well.
“We’ve been working with the Artcraft for the past seven or eight years now with the mutual desire to expand and bring these independent films to a larger audience,” Howell said. “Obviously, the natural interest and history that the Artcraft Theatre brings made it an attractive destination, and year after year, audiences kept growing. People really appreciated it.”
Working with Windisch, Franklin Heritage executive director Rob Shilts and others at the Artcraft, they were able to figure out the details of bringing six films to Franklin during the festival. Artcraft officials had left some space open in case it would be possible to take part in the festival, and together both sides were able to come up with three days of screenings that worked.
One of the larger challenges was matching the projection specifications for the Artcraft with what the independent films being show were on. The Artcraft screens nearly all of its movies on 35-millimeter film, while almost all film festival submissions come in digitally.
“We were trying to balance that, figure out if there were any films we could show on (35-millimeter); if not, how were were going to exhibit this in a way that is still a great product on screen. Thankfully, we do a lot of things outside of traditional theaters so that we were able to accommodate that,” Howell said.
Building a slate of films that best fit for the theater fell to Julia Ricci, film programming coordinator for Heartland Film. Ricci is a frequent patron of the Artcraft, and discussed with Windisch the types of themes and films that might work best for local audiences as well as the atmosphere of the theater.
She came up with a collection of movies that each appeal to people of different interests, but that also are accessible to any moviegoer.
“We wanted to do some of the top films that we really liked at the festival, that we thought anyone would also like,” she said.
One film that Ricci has received requests for is “Apollo 11,” the documentary about the moon landing mission that takes advantage of a collection of video footage and more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio recordings from the summer of 1969.
“Jump Shot” tells the story of Kenny Sailors, who developed the modern-day jump shot that revolutionized the game of basketball. “When We Last Spoke” follows the hard times and laughs of a family in 1960s Texas. “The Keeper” is a feature about a German prisoner of war in post-World War II England who becomes goalkeeper for the Manchester City soccer team, while also falling in love with an English woman.
A fitting selection for the Artcraft is “Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace.” The film details the history, grandeur and legacy of the great cinemas of the U.S., and how many of those palaces have been lost to time.
“That’s the one I’m most excited about. To know that somebody took this time to tell this story, which is basically why we do what we’re doing at the Artcraft, and to be showing it here, that’s 100 percent perfect,” Windisch said.
During the festival, eight “anniversary” films will be shown — classic movies that are celebrating a significant milestone year since its release. The Artcraft will get to host one of those screenings, showing “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” on its 30th anniversary.
“It’s a crowd-pleaser. Indiana Jones movies always do really well at the Artcraft, so we’re excited about that,” Ricci said.
Both organizers for Heartland Film and the Artcraft are excited to see how audiences react to these films, but also to merge the past with the present of film.
The Artcraft offers an aura and setting that just doesn’t exist these days, Howell said. To be able to screen new movies in such an atmosphere is at the heart of what Heartland Film is all about.
“Nothing can beat the experience of a 95-plus year old theater can bring. To marry the film fest, in terms of the latest films that have come out, with something historic and classic, people will get to go back to seeing brand-new films in an old theater like they would have.”
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Heartland International Film Festival at the Artcraft
When: Oct 15-17
Where: Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin
Cost: $7 per film
Information: historicartcrafttheatre.org or heartlandfilm.org
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Films being shown at the Heartland International Film Festival at the Artcraft
"The Keeper"
When: 5 p.m. Oct. 15
What’s it about: "The Keeper" tells the incredible true story of Bert Trautmann, a German soldier and prisoner of war who, against a backdrop of British postwar protest and prejudice by those who dismiss his as the enemy, secures the position of goalkeeper at Manchester City football club, and in doing so becomes an icon by winning the 1956 FA Cup Final.
"Apollo 11"
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15
What’s it about: Crafted from a newly discovered trove of 65mm footage, and more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio recordings, "Apollo 11" takes us straight to the heart of NASA’s most celebrated mission — the one that first put men on the moon. Immersed in the perspectives of the astronauts, the team in Mission Control, and the millions of spectators on the ground, we vividly experience those momentous days and hours in 1969 when humankind took a giant leap into the future.
"Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace"
When: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16
What’s it about: "Going Attractions" celebrates the splendor and grandeur of the great cinemas of the U.S., built when movies were the acme of entertainment and the stories were larger than life. So were the venues designed to show them: Thousands of seats, giant screens, exotic and ornate interiors with balconies and lounges, in-house organs and orchestras, and amazing marquees.
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16
What’s it about: The intrepid explorer Indiana Jones sets out to rescue his father, a medievalist who has vanished while searching for the Holy Grail. Following clues in the old man’s notebook, Indy arrives in Venice, where he enlists the help of a beautiful academic, but they are not the only ones who are on the trail, and some sinister old enemies soon come out of the woodwork.
"Jump Shot"
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17
What’s it about: "Jump Shot" uncovers the inspiring true story of Kenny Sailors, the developer of the modern day jump shot in basketball, and how he defined the game, but why the game never defined him.
"When We Last Spoke"
When: 5:15 p.m. Oct. 17
What’s it about: Set in 1966 Texas, a lovable but quirky family deals with their fair share of hard times. Two resilient little girls take us on a journey of tears and laughter as they deal with being abandoned by their mother and the untimely death of their father. It’s love, laughter, wonderful music, down-home cooking, and surprises, all with a small town charm. Starring Corbin Bernsen, Melissa Gilbert and Cloris Leachman.
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