Heartland International Film Festival Opening & Closing Night films win Oscars

The 97th Academy Awards took place last Sunday, March 2. Four films honored by Heartland Film won six Oscars. Both Opening and Closing Night films of the 33rd Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) received Academy Awards.

The HIFF Opening Night film and Humor & Humanity Award Winner, A Real Pain from Searchlight Pictures, received two nominations and took home the Oscar for Supporting Actor. The HIFF Closing Night film, Emilia Pérez from Netflix, received the most Oscar nominations at 13, and won for both Actress in a Supporting Role and Original Song.

“Over the past three years, the Heartland International Film Festival Opening and Closing Night films have featured performances that have gone on to win supporting or leading actor Oscars,” Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “Congratulations to Kieran Culkin (Opening Night A Real Pain and Zoe Saldaña (Closing Night Emilia Pérez) on their supporting actor and actress wins.”

Oscar winners honored by Heartland Film in 2024

A Real Pain
Actor in a Supporting Role, Kieran Culkin

A Real Pain from Searchlight Pictures was the Opening Night film at the 2024 Heartland International Film Festival and won the Humor & Humanity Award Winner.

“Since seeing A Real Pain at Sundance, I knew it would be the perfect Opening Night film for the Heartland International Film Festival,” Artistic Director Greg Sorvig said. “Honored with the HIFF Humor and Humanity Award, the film’s script is sharp, funny and emotionally resonant. It was no surprise that Kieran Culkin matched the script with his own depth, humor and humanity and took home the gold statuette!”

Emilia Pérez
Actress in a Supporting Role, Zoe Saldaña | Original Song

Emilia Pérez from Netflix was the Closing Night film at the 2024 Heartland International Film Festival.

Flow
Animated Feature Film

Flow from Janus Films and Sideshow played as a Special Presentation at the 2024 Heartland International Film Festival.

Wicked
Costume Design | Production Design

Heartland Film honored Wicked from Universal Pictures with a 2024 Truly Moving Picture Award.