'Twas the day before HIFF,
When all through the halls,
Every creature was stirring,
With chatter and last minute calls,
The totes were packed with signs and lights,
In preparation for fun theater nights,
The staff packed and said goodbye,
For the festival arrived in a blink of an eye,
Decked with colors of black and green,
HIFF34 was ready for the big screen.
Day Zero: Welcome_to_HIFF34.exe
My name is Holleh, and I am the Digital Marketing Coordinator for Heartland Film. The event we’ve been planning all year is finally here: Welcome to the 34th Heartland International Film Festival!
This year, HIFF34 is running at full bandwidth. We’re hosting 150+ filmmakers and featuring 100+ independent films with screenings at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Indy Art Center, Kan-Kan Cinema, Living Room Theaters, Newfields and online.
This year’s theme, “Connect to What Matters” is a nostalgic reboot inspired by the early internet era … think neon green screens, chunky keyboards and the unforgettable sound of dial-up tones.
Here at HQ, the operations team is fine-tuning lights and venue logistics, the marketing team is out installing signage and red carpets, and the film programming team is deep in their inboxes confirming final filmmaker arrivals.
Me? I’m running to Newfields to film some venue shots for social.
Day Two: Opening night
Each morning during HIFF34, our team logs on for a virtual sync to debrief, troubleshoot and reboot for the day ahead. Like any major event, there are always a few system errors. Today’s bug? The filmmaker badge printer decided to go offline. But thanks to some quick troubleshooting, we are back online before showtime.
Today is the first day of the festival, and we kick things off with opening night at The Tobias Theater at Newfields.
Our marketing intern Emma crocheted our HIFF34 mascot, Reely, and tonight he makes his red carpet debut striking poses and making interview appearances with our filmmakers. Emma helps me capture red carpet moments, ASL interpreters in action and some incredible festival fashion.
Our audience is the third in the world to experience Brendan Fraser’s new film, “Rental Family.” This film takes place in modern-day Tokyo and follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency.
Meanwhile, our presenting sponsor, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, is buzzing with laughter and nostalgia for the documentary “John Candy: I Like Me.” This documentary explores the life and legacy of the iconic funnyman John Candy.
After the credits roll on our opening night films, the team makes their way to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square for the first of many Filmmaker After Hours — always one of my favorite parts of the festival. It’s where stories flow as freely as the conversations, and the creative connections feel like cinema magic. The night closes with smiles, laughter and the unmistakable feeling that the #HIFF34 connection has officially gone live.
Day Three: HIFF34 turns up
I kick off the morning editing footage from last night’s events, uploading the highlight reel to our social channels and creating graphics for newly added TBA screenings.
Today, our community outreach manager, Abi, brings the magic of film directly to the classroom at Center for Inquiry School 84. We roll up to the school with our mobile LED screen to show a lineup of animated short films. Students get a front-row seat to the creativity of independent cinema and a glimpse into the world of storytelling that powers HIFF34. (If your school would like to get in on the action next year, reach out to Abi Lindstedt at alindstedt@heartlandfilm.org.)
Tonight, we turn up the heat with the World Premiere of “Ignite The Fire” at Living Room Theaters. This documentary follows the inaugural season of the Indy Ignite, Indiana’s first-ever professional women’s volleyball team. The film captures their pursuit of greatness both on and off the court: a new team, new league, new challenges and a spark that refuses to dim.
And of course, our festival mascot Reely makes a special red carpet appearance with the Indy Ignite team.
After the show, we head to Turntable for the HIFF34 Kick-Off Party, presented by MovieMaker Magazine. The vibes are electric … music, filmmakers and festival friends connecting IRL over apps and film talk. Emma and I capture the night through a special POV reel featuring Reely as he dances, mingles and soaks up the atmosphere — even a spool of film knows how to party.
Day Four: Premieres and more
Today, Emma and I have the pleasure of filming the Q&As for “Premarital”, “Pauline From 2 to 3” and “The Tenderness Tour” — three films that capture the spirit of HIFF34 in unique ways.
At Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, the crowd lights up for “Premarital,” where Jim O’Heir plays a Midwestern pastor on a hilariously hypocritical mission to convert his daughter’s fiancé just days before their wedding. After the screening, Reely jumps in for a special social shoutout with Jim himself.
Before the screening of “Pauline From 2 to 3,” guests relax at the Hot Rod Bar, a pre-screening event presented by AARP, complete with Alamo’s signature appetizers and plenty of festival buzz. Pauline, the centenarian star of the film, proves that age really is just a number. She even recorded a personalized intro for her HIFF34 screening, which fills the room with laughter and admiration.
Meanwhile at Newfields, Emma captures heartfelt moments from “The Tenderness Tour,” which follows a grassroots activist determined to keep his life’s mission alive despite health challenges ahead. As the Q&A wraps, Heartland Film’s Artistic Director Greg Sorvig takes one last audience question … but what happens next wasn’t in the script.
An attendee walks down toward the stage and introduces herself as an employee of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and shares that a representative from Undue Medical Debt is in the audience. Inspired by the film’s message, she and her husband pledge a $1,000 matching donation on the spot and invite others to join. Within minutes, the audience has collectively raised over $5,000 to help erase $500,000 in medical debt.
To wrap up the night, I head to the Filmmaker Mixer at Sundry & Vice in the Bottleworks District on Mass Ave. Between chatting with the talented filmmakers behind “Dream Boats” and “Comparsa,” I manage to snag a selfie with Jim O’Heir himself. Another successful night and another memory logged into the HIFF34 mainframe.
Day Five: HIFF34 fully loaded
Today is fully loaded with all kinds of premieres and screenings. Emma and I work together to once again capture or repost Q&As from several films.
One is “The Tallest Dwarf” from Julie Forrest Wyman (director, producer, writer and film subject), whom I got to meet and chat with last night at Sundry & Vice. In this film, Julie, a filmmaker with a rare form of dwarfism, seeks out people with bodies like hers and enters a community in flux. She joins forces with little people artists to trace a troubled history of being put on display. Together they forge a vision of disabled beauty and power.
I also get to watch “Jimmy & The Demons,” a documentary that quickly becomes one of my favorites in this festival. This film showcases a magical journey into the artistic life and inner mind of celebrated sculptor James Grashow who, at age 79, devotes four years to creating his magnum opus. Words cannot describe how I connect to this film as an artist — this is a must-see documentary!
HIFF34 brings “When Everyone Swims” back to the big screen, after its world premiere with Heartland Film earlier this year. This film explores the multifaceted world of swimming, covering aspects like water safety, the history of racial disparities in swimming and the importance of fostering a healthy relationship with water for everyone.
Another world premiere screening at HIFF34 today is “Truth & Treason,” a true story of 16-year-old Helmuth Hübener, who courageously stood up to Hitler’s regime with nothing but a typewriter and the truth. Decoding enemy broadcasts, he risked everything to outwit one of history’s most ruthless secret police forces.
At the end of the night, I catch the film “Comparsa.” It’s about a Guatemalan barrio silenced by fear, where two teenage sisters lead a luminous rebellion, unleashing giant puppets, fire and performance in a joyful fight for survival. They rally local youth, taking back the streets to expose and denounce violence against girls. Another must-see documentary!
Day Six: Connection through courage
The morning download: nerves, excitement and a touch of awe. I’m preparing to meet Christy Martin, the greatest female boxer of all time and the real-life force behind our HIFF34 Showcase Screening “Christy.” Our audience is only the third in the world to experience this powerful story, and Christy herself flew into Indy for a live Q&A.
Meeting her is an incredible moment. She radiates strength — the kind that doesn’t just fight in the ring but fights through life itself. Her service dog, Champ, makes an appearance on the red carpet with his own filmmaker badge!
The film, starring Sydney Sweeney as Christy, pulls no punches. It captures her rise to greatness and her unbreakable journey through abuse, addiction and the pursuit of living authentically. One of my favorite moments is when she talks about coming out of the closet, saying, “I busted the door down!”
During our quick interview, I feel myself tear up. There I stand with her, inspired by a woman who refused to back down, no matter what. Watching so many other women approach her, sharing their own stories of resilience, is proof that her fight continues to inspire far beyond the ropes.
Later, I join the screening of Oscar-nominee Joshua Seftel’s short documentary, “All The Empty Rooms.” Following correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp, this seven-year project documents the empty bedrooms of children killed in school shootings; a haunting but necessary reflection of grief and the need for change.
During the Q&A with Seftel, led by artistic director Greg Sorvig, the entire room feels heavy with emotion … the weight, the silence and the spark of hope that stories like these can ignite.
I highly recommend seeing both of these powerful films.
Day Seven: Virtual mode activated
We’re officially halfway through #HIFF34, and today I log in remotely to edit video recaps, manage social uploads and write this Culture Journal for Mirror Indy! Sometimes, connecting to what matters means slowing down enough to reflect, create and share the story behind the signal.
But even from behind the screen, the festival energy pulses strong. Tonight’s marquee screening, “After the Hunt,” is the latest from visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, featuring an all-star cast: Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield.
This psychological drama follows a college professor (Roberts) standing at a personal and professional crossroads after a student (Edebiri) levels an accusation against a colleague. Meanwhile, a buried secret from her own past threatens to resurface. Written by Nora Garrett, the film dives deep into moral ambiguity and accountability; it’s one of those screenings you walk out of in thoughtful silence.
Meanwhile, I screen “The Fisherman” virtually while multitasking edits and social updates. The film is about an aging Ghanaian man named Atta Oko and a talking fish who helps him chase his dream of owning a boat. This movie is pure joy from start to finish; I don’t think I stopped laughing once.
Sometimes, you need a story like that to remind you why independent film is such a powerful connector: across oceans, languages and time zones.
Day Eight: Sequins and storytelling
While Emma is busy covering our centerpiece reception and screening of “Train Dreams” at Newfields, complete with some REALLY cute Reely cookies, I attend the world premiere of “Tight & Nerdy,” a documentary that spotlights the world’s first burlesque troupe devoted entirely to Weird Al Yankovic.
Reely and I even get to meet some of the filmmakers and their mascot, Spammy, on the red carpet! Before the screening, the audience is treated to a live “nerdlesque” performance, courtesy of Indy Dance Council, featuring dancers dressed as a ninja turtle, Gandalf and Velma. It is a pure mix of comedy, empowerment and total geek-chic brilliance.
The film itself is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. “Being alive is so embarrassing,” says nerdlesque performer Odessa Lil, and I’ve never felt so seen. What makes “Tight & Nerdy” special isn’t just the sequins and satire … it’s the soul. It’s a story about finding your people, your confidence and your creative family in unexpected places.
Reflecting on the emotional moments caught on film, troupe founder Pickles Kintaro shares, “This is the least fun stripper documentary ever.” Beneath the humor lies a powerful message about chosen families and creative belonging. In the film, Kintaro says, “you just pick people up along the way and you can’t imagine life without them.” Odessa Lil echoes that sentiment and replies, “I think we all need a surrogate family.”
I couldn’t have imagined a more fun, fearless and freeing way to end the first half of #HIFF34. If I had to pick a favorite film so far, it would be impossible … but if I had to narrow it down to just two, I’d say “Jimmy & The Demons” and “Tight & Nerdy,” as both really spoke to the artist in me. I truly connected with those two films.
See the 2025 Heartland International Film Festival recap video here. Heartland Film has programming year-round, their next film series event is Merry Movie Nights Dec. 4-7.
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My Culture Journal is a series that shares a week in the cultural lives of Indy residents. If you are interested in submitting a journal, email arts and culture editor Jennifer Delgadillo at jennifer.delgadillo@mirrorindy.org and tell us about yourself.
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