Heartland Film Festival 2008

We are so thrilled and excited for the Academy Awards on March 7. This year we have a huge list of Truly Moving Picture Award-winning films in the list of nominations.

Six of our 2009 Truly Moving Picture Awards received nominations –  Precious (6 nominations), Up (5 nominations), The Blind Side (2 nominations), Invictus (2 nominations), Bright Star (1 nomination) and The Cove (1 nomination). In addition to our Truly Moving Pictures,  one film from the 2009 Heartland Film Festival was nominated – Kavi which was also our Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award winner!

Here’s the list of films and nominations. Be sure to tune in on March 7 to cheer on all these Truly Moving Pictures!

Precious
Best Motion Picture of the Year: Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness, Gary Magness
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Gabourey Sidibe
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo’Nique
Best Achievement in Directing: Lee Daniels
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: Geoffrey Fletcher
Best Achievement in Editing: Joe Klotz

Up
Best Motion Picture of the Year: Jonas Rivera
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Thomas McCarthy
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score: Michael Giacchino
Best Achievement in Sound Editing: Michael Silvers, Tom Myers
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year: Pete Docter

The Blind Side
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock

Invictus
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Morgan Freeman
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Matt Damon

Bright Star
Best Achievement in Costume Design: Janet Patterson

The Cove
Best Documentary, Features

Kavi
Best Short Film, Live Action: Gregg Helvey

Amin Matalqa, Director & Writer of Captain Abu Raed

Join us on Thursday, February 11 at the IUPUI Campus Center for a FREE seminar with Amin Matalqa, Director and Writer of 2008 Heartland Film Festival Grand Prize winning film, Captain Abu Raed.

CINEMA MAGIC: The Art of the Scene begins at 9am with a continental breakfast followed by the free seminar and an optional networking lunch later in the day for $10. During the seminar, Matalqa will break down the filmmaking process to the essential elements that make for effective storytelling by utilizing scenes from Captain Abu Raed. Through these scenes, he will explore the marriage between writing, directing, performance, cinematography, production design, editing, sound-mixing and music. Matalqa will discuss what makes a scene work and how you can create an opportunity for cinema magic. He will also talk about making the transition from writing and directing short films to feature films.

If you’re an inspiring filmmaker, avid moviegoer or just a big fan of Captain Abu Raed, you won’t want to miss this one.

Registration is required, so do so now! If you haven’t seen Captain Abu Raed, learn more about the film, on DVD February 23.

Tomas is a young boy that is bullied and unhappy at an orphanage. He is suddenly and mysteriously adopted by a childless couple, who live simply and modestly on a very remote Irish island. The mother, although in ill health, is a woman of astounding positive energy and beauty and sets herself to healing the mental and physical scars of the boy’s unfortunate upbringing. The father meanwhile loves his wife dearly, but is far less excited by the recovering, damaged boy.

Intertwined with this awkward triangle relationship is light fantasy and legend and mystery of the gorgeous Irish coast. The Irish coast is so beautifully rendered that it is like a fourth character.

There is suddenly a great change in circumstances and two parts of the triangle have to come to terms with this tragedy. It takes courage and resolve and change and love. The three actors of the triangle are vivid and hold your attention and each ultimately moves you emotionally in three different ways.

-Bob, Heartland Truly Moving Picture Jury Member