Indy indy film festival next week

From Mark Moring in Christianity Today...

Independent films have long had a reputation for being dark and depressing, but that has been changing, and nowhere is that more noticeable than in Indianapolis, where a popular film festival is lauding independent flicks that are decidedly on the bright side.

The Heartland Film Festival, holding its 17th annual event October 16-24, has the stated mission of honoring independent filmmakers "whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."

When the inaugural event was held in 1991, only a handful attended. This year's fest will stretch over nine days, screen almost 50 films, attract more than 20,000 moviegoers, and feature premieres of Miramax's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Disney's Tinker Bell. The fest concludes with an awards banquet at Conseco Fieldhouse — home of the Indiana Pacers — with some Hollywood heavyweights in attendance....

Sparks dreamed up the idea for a film fest in the 1980s with some friends in the entertainment business, many of them fellow Christians. Their conversations initially yielded weekend writers' labs in Indianapolis starting in 1986, but it wasn't long before they turned their efforts to creating their own film festival.

Though founded mostly by Christians and espousing many biblical values, Heartland is not a "Christian" event, says Sparks....