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Heartland Is Off to the Races with Opening Event

One of the hottest actors in Hollywood will help kick off the 2005 Heartland Film Festival®, October 13-21 in Indianapolis. Award-winning actor Dakota Fanning along with director/screenwriter John Gatins will attend the Festival’s opening night premiere of DreamWorks’ “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story.” Indianapolis is one of a few select stops on a cross-country tour to promote the film. Besides the Toronto International Film Festival, Heartland is the only film festival to showcase the film prior to its scheduled nationwide release on October 21. “Dreamer” producers Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins will be honored with the Saab Pioneering Spirit Award at Heartland’s Crystal Heart Awards Ceremony on October 15 for their creative spirit in filmmaking and for supporting Heartland’s mission. Tollin and Robbins have won two Heartland Truly Moving Picture Awards for “Coach Carter” and “Radio” and three Crystal Heart Awards for “Hardwood Dreams,” “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream” and “Hardwood Dreams: Ten Years Later.”



Heartland Film Festival President Jeffrey L. Sparks announced the preliminary details of the 14th annual Festival today, including this must attend event. The Festival’s 2005 Crystal Heart Award winning-films and complete event lineup will be announced September 8 with tickets available on September 9.


“We are thrilled to partner with DreamWorks for this exclusive event,” said Sparks. “It is a tremendous opportunity for the Heartland family to support this film and especially the filmmakers, Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins, one of Heartland’s many success stories.”

The 2005 Heartland Film Festival opens October 13 with a premiere of DreamWorks’ “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story.” Kurt Russell (“Sky High,” “Miracle”), Dakota Fanning (“War of the Worlds,” “Man on Fire”) and Kris Kristofferson (“Blade I & II”) star in this drama about a father who, for the love of his daughter, sacrifices almost everything to save the life of an injured racehorse and bring the promising filly back to her former glory. John Gatins makes his directorial debut with an all-star cast in “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story.” The premiere will take place at the Indiana IMAX Theater with a matinee screening at 4:30 p.m. and an evening screening, reception and Q&A session with the filmmakers and special guests starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the matinee screening cost $20 for adults and $15 for children under 12, and evening screening tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for children under 12. A special opening night dinner with a cocktail reception and fine food will take place at the Eiteljorg Museum at 5:00 p.m. Dinner tickets cost $125 and include admission for the evening screening and reception. Tickets goes on sale September 9 and are available by calling toll-free 1-866-HFF-1010 or visiting www.heartlandfilmfestival.org.