Indy Shorts Filmmakers
indy shorts film festival
FILMMAKER TOOLKIT
WELCOME!
Congratulations on your acceptance into the 9th Indy Shorts Film Festival! You are our most important VIP, so before the festival begins, here is a complete guide to having the best possible experience!
BEFORE THE FESTIVAL
RESERVE TICKETS
Secure seats to film screenings with your Filmmaker Pass! Due to our theaters having assigned seats, you need to reserve tickets to every film you see, including your own.
TECH CHECK
If you'd like to have a tech check, you must fill out this form at least 48-hours before your screening.
Social Media Tips
With 250+ films in the festival, it is nearly impossible for us to effectively showcase every film on our social platforms. But with your help, we can get the word out together! The more you post and tag, the more we can share, like and comment. @HeartlandFilm #IndyShorts2026 #ShortsandSweets
Indy Shorts Social Media Toolkit
You'll find pre-written posts, graphics, festival laurels and themed story backgrounds!
FILMMAKER Q&A DETAILS
Participating in Q&A (staying to watch film) | Check-in at the venue Box Office 30 minutes before your screening begins. Please note that you must reserve a ticket to watch your film. If you have not reserved a ticket, please do so ASAP. |
Participating in Q&A (not watching film) | Check-in at the venue's Box Office at least 10 minutes before your program's screening ends. |
Tech-Check | Film out the Tech Check Form at least 48 hours before your screening. On the day of, Check-in at the venue Box Office at least 1 hour before your screening begins — regardless of Q&A participation. |
FILMMAKER CHECK IN
Filmmaker badges will be available to collect during the following dates and times:
Tuesday, July 21 | 4-8 PM | Living Room Theaters |
Wednesday, July 22 | 4-8 PM | Living Room Theaters |
Thursday, July 23 | 12-8 PM | Living Room Theaters |
Friday, July 24 | 12-8 PM | Living Room Theaters |
Saturday, July 25 | 12-8 PM | Living Room Theaters |
Sunday, July 26 | 12-6 PM | Living Room Theaters |
PHOTO OPS
All of the festival venues have red carpet, so stop by to get your photo taken! A professional photographer will be onsite during these dates & times:
Thursday, July 23 | 7 - 9 PM | Backlot Bash | Pins Mechanical Co. |
Saturday, July 25 | 10:30 AM - 1 PM | Awards Brunch | Tinker House Events |
Saturday, July 25 | 7:30-9:30 PM | Summer Nights Award Winners | The Amphitheater at Newfields |
Sunday, July 26 | 1:15 -2:15 PM | Mimosa Mixer | Indy Art Center's Library |
FESTIVAL VENUES
LIVING ROOM THEATERS
745 E 9th St Ste 810, Indianapolis, IN 46202
INDY ART CENTER
820 E 67th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220
THE AMPHITHEATER AT NEWFIELDS
4000 N Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208
FILMMAKER EVENTS
Tuesday, July 21
Living Room Theaters | 4-5 PM
Sips with the Programmers
Tuesday, July 21
Pins Mechanical Co. | 9-11 PM
Filmmaker After Hours
- Free HotBox Pizza
- Free Duckpin Bowling
- 21+ Only
Wednesday, July 22
Living Room Theaters | 4-5 PM
Filmmaker Mixer
Wednesday, July 22
Pins Mechanical Co. | 9-11 PM
Filmmaker After Hours
- Free HotBox Pizza
- Free Duckpin Bowling
- 21+ Only
Thursday, July 23
Living Room Theaters | 1-2:25 PM
Conversations: Oscar® Winner Sam Davis
Thursday, July 23
Pins Mechanical Co., 2nd Floor* | 7-9 PM
Backlot Bash
- Drink Ticket
- Complimentary Snacks
- *Pins is 21+ after 8 PM
Thursday, July 23
Pins Mechanical Co. | 9-11 PM
Filmmaker After Hours
- Free HotBox Pizza
- Free Duckpin Bowling
- 21+ only
Friday, July 24
Living Room Theaters | 10-11:30 AM
Filmmaker Speed Networking
Friday, July 24
Living Room Theaters | 1-2:15 PM
Conversations: Short Film Distributors
Friday, July 24
Living Room Theaters | 4-5 PM
Filmmaker Mixer
Friday, July 24
The Amphitheater at Newfields | 7 PM Doors | 9:15 PM Films
Summer Nights: Oscar® Shorts
- Free HotBox Pizza
- Summer Activities
Saturday, July 25
Tinker House Events | 10 AM Breakfast | 11 AM Presentation
Awards Brunch
- Breakfast Bar
- Coffee
Saturday, July 25
Living Room Theaters | 4-5 PM
Filmmaker Mixer
Saturday, July 25
The Amphitheater at Newfields | 7 PM Doors | 9:15 Films
Summer Nights: Award Winners 1
- Free HotBox Pizza
- Summer Activities | 7-8:30 PM
Sunday, July 26
Indy Art Center's Library | 1-2:15 PM
Mimosa Mixer + Indiana Spotlight 3 Screening
- Donuts
- Iced Coffee
- Mimosas
- IN Spotlight 3 | 2:30 PM
Sunday, July 26
Pins Mechanical Co.* | 7:30-9:30 PM
Filmmaker After Hours
- Free HotBox Pizza
- Free Duckpin Bowling
- *Pins is 21+ after 8 PM
CONTACT US
Programming | Greg Sorvig, Artistic Director | gsorvig@heartlandfilm.org |
Hospitality | Sam Opsahl, Film Programming Coordinator | sopsahl@heartlandfilm.org |
Print Traffic | Jason Harris, Print Traffic Coordinator | printtraffic@heartlandfilm.org |
Box Office | boxoffice@heartlandfilm.org |
Media
Heartland Film will send press releases out before and during the festival. These are general press releases to provide media event details and a list of all the films.
While our media outreach will focus on the overall festival promotion, feel free to reach out to media on your own too! We've provided a few media contacts below.
Media
Heartland Film will send press releases out before and during the festival. These are general press releases to provide media event details and a list of all the films.
While our media outreach will focus on the overall festival promotion, feel free to reach out to media on your own too! We've provided a few media contacts below.
FEST WITH US
We want to celebrate your film and hang out! At the Indy Shorts Film Festival, we take great pride in our Hoosier Hospitality. If you travel to Indianapolis, you're sure to be met with smiling faces, new friends and unforgettable experiences. On top of having a blast and seeing your film on the big screen, here are some benefits to attending the festival in-person.
Attendance is generally 10% higher for screenings with filmmakers attending.
Films with attending filmmakers will be listed at the top of our daily newsletter.
Filmmaker interview requests are sent to attending filmmakers first.
We host daily filmmaker, staff and industry networking opportunities.
Filmmakers are invited to all parties and special events.
Word of mouth is king! Being at the festival and talking about your film can impact the number of attendees that show up to your screening!
One complimentary hotel night for filmmakers (dependent on availability). Email Sam at sopsahl@heartlandfilm.org for more information.
FEST WITH US
We want to celebrate your film and hang out! At the Indy Shorts Film Festival, we take great pride in our Hoosier Hospitality. If you travel to Indianapolis, you're sure to be met with smiling faces, new friends and unforgettable experiences. On top of having a blast and seeing your film on the big screen, here are some benefits to attending the festival in-person.
Attendance is generally 10% higher for screenings with filmmakers attending.
Films with attending filmmakers will be listed at the top of our daily newsletter.
Filmmaker interview requests are sent to attending filmmakers first.
We host daily filmmaker, staff and industry networking opportunities.
Filmmakers are invited to all parties and special events.
Word of mouth is king! Being at the festival and talking about your film can impact the number of attendees that show up to your screening!
One complimentary hotel night for filmmakers (dependent on availability). Email Sam at sopsahl@heartlandfilm.org for more information.
Community Outreach
We love connecting films with local community groups and non-profits that have a common focus. If you know an Indianapolis-based group that would be interested in your film, let us know!
You can email your ideas to our Senior Manager of Community Initiatives, Abi Lindstedt, at alindstedt@heartlandfilm.org.
Community Outreach
We love connecting films with local community groups and non-profits that have a common focus. If you know an Indianapolis-based group that would be interested in your film, let us know!
You can email your ideas to our Senior Manager of Community Initiatives, Abi Lindstedt, at alindstedt@heartlandfilm.org.
Indianapolis Staff Reccomendations
The Heartland Film staff has compiled some of our favorite go-to Indy spots! You can find them on the linked Google Maps below.
