Indianapolis film festival experts to speak on the future of the film industry according to young professionals and being a user-friendly festival in Midway, Utah January 21-24, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
Indianapolis, IN, January 14, 2019 – Director of Operations Adam Howell, and Film Programming Coordinator Julia Ricci, will be speaking on three panels at Art House Convergence, the largest annual gathering of Art House cinema and festival professionals. Art House Convergence will take place at the Zermatt Conference Center.
Howell is responsible for the behind-the-scenes operations at Heartland Film and has done so for the last nine years for the Heartland International Film Festival and recently added event Indy Shorts International Film Festival. This includes logistics, producing events, technical production, vendor liaison and oversight of volunteer management. Howell will be speaking on two panels relating to his expertise in festival operations including “UX for Festivals & Cinemas: Are you user friendly?” and “Art House Tales Part Two”.
As Film Programming Coordinator for the Academy Award®-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival and the Heartland International Film Festival, Ricci manages the film submission, review, and selection process as well as filmmaker and industry hospitality and transportation. She will be speaking on the panel, “The Kids Are Alright: The Cinematic Landscape of the Future” at Art House Convergence. Ricci will also be attending the first weekend of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
The Kids Are Alright: The Cinematic Landscape of the Future
Monday, January 21, 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm – Interlaken, Zermatt Conference Center
It's time to hear from young people about how and why they consume media. Experts under 30 will discuss effective strategies for developing loyalty amongst their peers and will share their ideas about the future of our industry. With a focus on nurturing long-term engagement, this inter-disciplinary panel will address programming, marketing, audience outreach, and education.
UX for Festivals & Cinemas: Are you user friendly?
Wednesday, January 23 at 9:00 am - 10:15 am – Interlaken, Zermatt Conference Center
How can we make our events memorable and easy to navigate? Encompassing program books, digital guides, and ticketing/scanning, this conversation invites experienced festival operators to talk about how to develop a streamlined program that minimizes audience frustration and maximizes engagement.
Art House Tales Part Two
Wednesday, January 23 at 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm – Matterhorn, Zermatt Conference Center
This Art House Tales session (the second of two) will present short talks about five different Theaters and Film Festivals! Each speaker will discuss their particular theater or festival in a short presentation. The best part of the Art House Convergence is getting to know other people, the theaters and festivals that they run, and what makes them tick.
About Heartland Film, Inc.
Heartland Film is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1991 with the mission to inspire filmmakers and audiences through the transformative power of film. Heartland Film is a supporter of purposeful filmmaking, providing an outlet for filmmakers and storytellers from all over the world to be creative and honored for their work. The films selected for the Festivals do more than just entertain; they inspire and uplift, educate and inform, and shift audiences’ perspectives on the world. For more information, visit heartlandfilm.org.
Media Contact:
Emily Darr
317.464.9405
edarr heartlandfilm.org | 
