The Academy Award®-Qualifying 2023 Indy Shorts International Film Festival (Indy Shorts), presented by Heartland Film ended on Sunday and announced its award winners and presented more than $30,000 in cash prizes at its Awards Ceremony.
The Festival’s three Grand Prize-winning films, “We Were Meant To” (Tari Wariebi, United States), “Oasis” (Justine Martin, France) and “Rosemary A.D. (After Dad)” (Ethan Barrett, United States), will receive Academy Award® qualification in their respective categories and $5,000 in cash prizes.
The Overall Audience Choice Award went to “To My Father” directed by Sean Schiavolin, which depicts Deaf actor Troy Kotsur’s journey to winning an Oscar and his father’s inspiring influence on him, despite a tragic accident.
“Congratulations to all of the Indy Shorts Award-winning filmmakers. With a record number of 3,900 film submissions and less than 4% selected, just making it into the festival is an incredible honor,” said Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “The filmmakers recognized this evening captured the hearts of our esteemed jury members, and we couldn’t be more pleased to help set three shorts on the path towards the Academy Awards®.”
Academy Award®-winning director Ben Proudfoot attended the Awards Celebration and was presented with the Indy Shorts Pioneering Spirit Award. This award honors individuals in the prime of their careers, and past honorees include Colman Domingo, Jessica Biel and Geoffrey Rush.
“Ben Proudfoot has established the gold standard for short-form documentary filmmaking at Breakwater Studios,” said Heartland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “Ben’s vision and dedication to the art form, focused on humanist stories, has made a profound impact on the industry and festival landscapes. I am proud to call Ben a friend and am thrilled to present him with Heartland Film’s prestigious honor at Indy Shorts.”
Ben Proudfoot’s short documentary, “Forgiving Johnny,” World Premiered at Indy Shorts. This film is a part of the Spotlight: Breakwater Studios Program which includes three of his short films. Proudfoot and his Academy Award® also attended the screening of this program on Saturday, July 22, at Living Room Theaters and the screening of his 2022 Oscar®-winning short film, “The Queen of Basketball,” on Friday, July 21, at Newfields.
The Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize is a new addition to the awards program. This award, presented by Shine Global, includes a $2,500 cash prize and was awarded to “Ayenda” by Marie Margolius (United States, Portugal, Afghanistan).
“Shine Global-supported films have been a staple at Heartland Film’s festivals for years,” said Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “This new award signifies a shared commitment to global stories of childhood resilience, and we are thrilled to be working with Shine Global in this exciting new collaboration.”
Indy Shorts also introduced a brand new cash award in honor of longtime film critic and activist Richard. D Propes. Since 1989, Indianapolis native Richard Propes has traveled over 5,000 miles by wheelchair, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities worldwide in his nationally recognized effort known as the Tenderness Tour. A paraplegic/double amputee with spina bifida, Propes is in his 34th year of the acclaimed event while also being the founder and publisher of TheIndependentCritic.com and a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. The Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award and $1,000 cash prize went to “The Deciding Vote” (Jeremy Workman and Robert Lyons, United States).
Indy Shorts’ esteemed juries helped select the Grand Prizes for Narrative, Documentary and Animated Categories.
ACADEMY AWARD® QUALIFIED | Narrative Short
Narrative Grand Prize | $5,000
“We Were Meant To” by Tari Wariebi (United States)
In a world where Black men have wings and their first flight is a rite of passage, Akil must defy fears, insecurities, and societal barriers while discovering his perfect launch into manhood.
ACADEMY AWARD® QUALIFIED | Documentary Short
Documentary Grand Prize | $5,000
“Oasis” by Justine Martin (Canada)
At the dawn of their teenage years, Raphaël and Rémi are twins who see their fusional attachment crumble while one of them, suffering from an increasingly marked disability, remains a prisoner of childhood. During one last summer surrounded by nature, time seems to want to stand still.
ACADEMY AWARD® QUALIFIED | Animated Short
Animated Grand Prize | $5,000
“Rosemary A.D. (After Dad)” by Ethan Barrett (United States)
As he cradles his newborn, a father wonders if his daughter would be better off without him and imagines her life once he is gone. Completely hand-drawn with crayons.
Pioneering Spirit Award | Ben Proudfoot
Indy Shorts is thrilled to host and honor Ben Proudfoot, CEO and Founder of Breakwater Studios. A leader in the short documentary space, Proudfoot has directed and produced over 5o noteworthy documentaries, including several for the world’s most admired brands such as Charles Schwab and Annapurna Pictures. His most notable directorial credit is “The Queen of Basketball,” which won the 2022 Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject.
Directorial Debut Award | $1,000 Cash Prize
“Shadow Brother Sunday” by Alden Ehrenreich (United States)
A down-on-his-luck musician returns home on the day of his younger brother’s movie premiere to steal his computer and sell it to the paparazzi. Starring Alden Ehrenreich.
Indiana Spotlight Award | $1,500 Cash Prize
“Love, Grandma” by Matt Spear (United States)
An empty bed, a noisy vacuum, an awkward family dinner.
Children’s Resilience in Film Short Film Prize, presented by Shine Global | $2,500 Cash Prize
“Ayenda” by Marie Margolius (United States, Portugal, Afghanistan)
Summer 2021 – As Kabul falls to the Taliban, members of the Under-18 Afghan National Women’s Football Team attempt a daring evacuation from their homeland.
About the Award from Presenting Sponsor Shine Global: “It has been such a pleasure and honor to partner with Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts International Film Festival and bring awareness to children’s issues through our Children’s Resilience program spotlight,” said Alexandra Blaney, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Production and Marketing at Shine Global. “The winner, ‘Ayenda,’ is an incredibly deserving and important film that highlights our mission to utilize the transformative power of cinema to amplify underrepresented voices, and we can’t wait to honor the film again as part of Shine Global’s Children’s Resilience in Film Awards this fall.”
Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award | $1,000 Cash Prize
“Deciding Vote” by Jeremy Workman and Robert Lyons (United States)
50 years ago, a now-forgotten New York assemblyman cast a single tie-breaking vote that legalized abortion in New York and laid the groundwork for Roe v Wade.
Jenni Berebitsky Legacy Award | $1,800 Cash Prize
“The Barber of Little Rock” by John Hoffman and Christine Turner (United States)
“The Barber of Little Rock” explores the racial wealth gap in America through the story of People Trust, a homegrown community bank in Little Rock, Arkansas, working to uplift a community that has been largely excluded from the financial engines that create wealth.
About the Award: The Jenni Berebitsky Legacy Award honors longtime Heartland Film friend Jenni Berebitsky, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in March 2009 and passed away in August of 2019.
Regarding the award, Jenni remarked, “It is no easy task to create a piece of art that is both meaningful and entertaining. I am honored to play a role alongside Heartland Film in this award that encourages filmmakers to follow a dream and inspire audiences around the world.”
High School Film Competition Summer White Lynch Memorial Grand Prize Winner | $2,500 Cash Prize
“nothing, except everything.” by Wesley Wang (United States)
A graduating high schooler navigates a world of seemingly inevitable chaos by finding order in the number 7.
About the Award: Indy Shorts runs the High School Film Competition, presented by founding sponsors Robert and Alison Spoonmore. Launched in 2010, the High School Film Competition encourages tomorrow’s filmmakers to follow their passion and create short films that push their talents, creativity and art to the next level.
Shorts made by talented high school students from around the world compete for the $2,500 Summer White Lynch Memorial Award underwritten by Gary D. and Marlene Cohen.
Comedy Award | $1,000 Cash Prize
“They Grow Up So Fast” by John F. Beach (United States)
When Brian meets Amy after a night out on the town, things move a lot faster than he’d anticipated.
Horror Award | $1,000 Cash Prize
“Sleep Study” by Natalie Metzger (United States)
A restless new mother confronts a dangerous terror whenever she tries to sleep.
Overall Audience Choice Award
“To My Father” by Sean Schiavolin (United States)
“To My Father” depicts Deaf actor Troy Kotsur’s journey to winning an Oscar and his father’s inspiring influence on him, despite a tragic accident.
Narrative Audience Choice Award
“Fundamental Shapes” by Colin Alistair Campbell (United States)
Jacob, an unemployed actor, stumbles into an unusual gig: nude figure model for an art class. When his next-door neighbor turns up, he must find a way to keep his identity hidden, and their budding romance intact.
Documentary Audience Choice Award
“Eat Flowers” by River Finlay (United States)
In 2017, Photographer Cig Harvey’s best friend Mary is diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. When forced to isolate during her treatment she asks Cig to send her photographs. Everyday Cig sets out to bring color and life to Mary through her camera, everyday Mary asks for more. Eat Flowers brings us into the vibrant worlds that Cig creates for her. The film tells an urgent story about living, all told through the language of flowers.
Animated Audience Choice Award
“Rosemary A.D. (After Dad)” by Ethan Barrett (United States)
As he cradles his newborn, a father wonders if his daughter would be better off without him and imagines her life once he is gone. Completely hand-drawn with crayons.
Comedy Audience Choice Award
“Pickled Herring” by Milana Vayntrub (United States)
After an embarrassing accident knocks a woman on her ass, her absentee father decides this is a good time to visit, committed to fixing everything possible, except their relationship.
Horror Audience Choice Award
“Get Away” by Michael Gabriele (United States)
A group of friends spending the weekend at a remote vacation rental in the desert play a mysterious VHS tape and realize that there are too many strange and terrifying coincidences.
Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award
“Fleeing Silesia” by Rocky Walls (United States)
By the end of World War II, nearly all the 4.5 million people from the state of Silesia, Germany were interned in camps, had fled, or were expelled from their home, which today only exists in the memories of those who survived.
High School Film Competition Audience Choice Award
“Well-Dying” by Junhyeok Kim (South Korea)
Cho-won gets worried about her father due to an illness—thus visits him often. The day Cho-won brought Areum, she and her father starts to talk about their feelings toward each other for the very last time.