Film Fest Opening in Indy
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe 11th annual Indy Film Fest begins today. Organizers say the 10-day event will feature short films and full-length movies from throughout the United States and nearly 20 other countries.
Originally Posted June 20, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — The 11th annual Indy Film Fest is right around the corner, and we're not only bringing great films to Indianapolis—we're bringing the filmmakers as well.
Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $8,000 to fund filmmaker travel, attendees to this year's awards ceremony and after party, scheduled for July 19, will be able to rub elbows with our honored guests. The awards ceremony will also be held earlier in the Fest than in years past, giving filmgoers more opportunities to catch the best of the fest.
“When the board looked at what we could do to make our 11th Festival better, the answer was unanimous: Bring more filmmakers to Indy,” said Craig Mince, president and CEO of the Indy Film Fest. “Bringing talented filmmakers to our city is the next step in achieving our mission of offering Indianapolis residents to a great film experience.”
The Festival will kick off at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on Thursday, July 17 with a screening of the film I Origins, which follows a molecular biologist whose study of the human eye points to evidence with far reaching
implications about our scientific and spiritual beliefs. I Origins was directed by Mike Cahill, who received several writing and directing awards for his work on the sci-fi film Another Earth.
A media party and awards ceremony will include a special screening of Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter. Kumiko is a lonely Japanese woman convinced that a satchel of money buried and lost in a fictional film, is in fact, real.
With a crudely drawn treasure map and limited preparation, she escapes her structured life in Tokyo and embarks on a foolhardy quest across the frozen tundra of Minnesota in search of her mythical fortune.
The Festival will wrap up on July 26 with Life After Beth, about a man who gets a second chance to express his feelings for his late girlfriend after she rises from the dead. This dark comedy stars Dane DeHaan, Parks and Rec star Aubrey Plaza, and Anna Kendrick, who fans may remember from last year’s opening night hit, Drinking Buddies.
The ten-day festival will showcase both short films and full-length features, representing selections from across the U.S. and from nearly 20 different countries.
Other noteworthy films include:
• The Ballad of Shovels and Rope – A documentary directed by Carmel native Jace Freeman, The Ballad of Shovels and Rope follows a husband and wife musical duo as they use hard work and ingenuity to go from working for tips to creating a critically acclaimed album. The film won the award for Best Tennessee Feature at the 2014 Nashville Film Festival.
• Chaperone—Chaperone is the true, previously untold story of a lone schoolteacher who fought off an entire motorcycle gang while chaperoning a middle school dance in a church basement in 1970s Montreal, Canada.
• Calvary—Part of the World Cinema Features, Calvary tells the story of Father James (Brendan Gleeson), a priest in Northern Ireland who is faced with sinister and troubling circumstances brought about by a mysterious member of his parish.
“The caliber of film submissions we receive continue to increase each year, making the selection process both more challenging and rewarding,” said Mince. “These films represent the best of more than 500 submissions, and we are very proud to show them to local audiences.”
Most films will be screened at the IMA. For a complete schedule and film previews, visit indyfilmfest.org, and follow @IndyFilmFest on Twitter. Tickets are now on sale for opening night, Saturday’s screening and awards ceremony; as well as closing night. All-access passes, which include entrance to all parties and screenings, are also available for $150. Tickets can be purchased at indyfilmfest.org.
About the Indianapolis International Film Festival
A non-profit, all-volunteer organization, the Indy Film Fest has quickly grown into one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing and most-watched film festivals. Now in its 11th year, the Indy Film Fest seeks to create a shared experience around film by championing movies that entertain, challenge and expand perspectives in Indianapolis and beyond. This exciting year of creativity and collaboration will culminate with a ten-day film festival in July. For more info, visit http://indyfilmfest.org.