Australian film takes top prize at Heartland Film Festival

Filmmaker Nelson Woss, producer of the movie that captured Heartland Film Festival's $100,000 jackpot, has been touting his love for Indianapolis all weekend.

He talked about everything from his trip to Fountain Square's Peppy Grill and late nights in the city to his appreciation of the festival's mission: encouraging filmmakers whose work expresses hope and respect for the positive values of life.

During Saturday's 20th annual Heartland Film Festival awards ceremony, Woss even said he planned to tell his pooch, Koko, star of "Red Dog," about it.

But when he learned his movie had scored the big prize -- the one that comes with more money than the combined top cash awards from the Sundance Film Festival ($20,000), the Tribeca Film Festival ($25,000) and the Toronto International Film Festival ($30,000) -- he had even bigger news.

"I've really got something to tell the dog now!" Woss said. "Thank you to Indianapolis."

Other winners included "Crime After Crime," which was awarded the Best Documentary Feature prize of $25,000, and "Thief," which earned a $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film.

"Each year we have the incredible opportunity at Heartland to celebrate independent filmmakers and recognize them for their significant contribution to the mission of Heartland," Jeff Sparks, president and CEO of Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, said in a news release. "It's our great honor to award the top films for creating beautifully made films that demonstrate excellence in filmmaking and best aligning with Heartland's mission."

The coveted grand prize is given annually to the film deemed to best carry forward Heartland's mission to promote positive change in people's lives through film, Sparks said.

"Red Dog" did that by telling a true story of a canine who, according to the Internet Movie Database, united a disparate local community while roaming the Australian outback in search of his long-lost master.

About 1,000 people, including emcee Catt Sadler of E! Entertainment Television and "Hoosiers" and "Rudy" filmmakers Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh, were on hand downtown at Old National Centre for the Heartland awards ceremony, which is celebrating 20 years.

Other celebs were Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, the inspiration for "Rudy," and actor, producer and director Corbin Bernsen ("L.A. Law," "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"), who served as a presenter.

The Heartland Film Festival continues through Saturday. For tickets and more information about the festival's films, visit trulymovingpictures.org.