Heartland $20K Grand Prizes Awarded to Debut Film Happy Birthday and Documentary Jimmy & the Demons
Debut filmmaker Sarah Goher’s Egyptian coming-of-age feature, Happy Birthday, alongside Cindy Meehl’s documentary on a sculptor’s ultimate creation, Jimmy & the Demons, each secured grand prizes of $20,000 at the Heartland International Film Festival.
Additionally, Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot was honored with the $5,000 Jimmy Stewart Legacy Award for his film The Eyes of Ghana, which focuses on 93-year-old documentarian Chris Hesse. The festival, which lasted for 11 days and concluded on Sunday, distributed over $60,000 in cash rewards.
James Vanderbilt’s Nuremberg, which revolves around the trials of Nazi war criminals, won the Overall Narrative Audience Choice Award. This film, which is in the running for awards, features performances by Michael Shannon, Rami Malek, and Russell Crowe.
Ben Knight and Berne Broudy’s Best Day Ever, which documents the journeys of adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate their disabilities while finding community and joy in rural Vermont, was awarded the Overall Documentary Audience Choice Award.
Judges described Happy Birthday, the winner of the Narrative Feature Grand Prize, as “a beautifully crafted film that captivates from the first frame and leaves viewers breathless at the conclusion. The emotional weight of the final shot resonated with the jury long after the credits ended. They also highlighted Doha Ramadan, whose standout performance as young Toha was extraordinary, and they look forward to her future endeavors.”
Regarding Jimmy & the Demons, which won the Documentary Feature Grand Prize, jurors remarked: “As filmmakers, we were particularly drawn to a story that elegantly portrays the artistic creation process and the significant impact that devotion to one’s craft has throughout a lifetime. The film’s poignant depiction of skill, connections, and love felt elevating and infused with bravery, challenges, and hope—messages that deeply resonate within our community and encourage us to strive to become better versions of ourselves.”
The Heartland International Film Festival is recognized by MovieMaker as one of the 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee and among the 25 Coolest Film Festivals.
**Heartland International Film Festival 2025 Winners**
Other award recipients, as noted by Heartland, include:
**Humor & Humanity Award ($2,000 Cash Prize)**
“Tight & Nerdy,” directed by Jeff Nucera & Jonathan Ruane (USA)
This award recognizes a film that effectively merges humor and compassion, inspiring filmmakers and audiences through cinema’s transformative potential. “Tight & Nerdy” offers a comedic and unexpectedly poignant look at the fearless women behind the world’s first (and only) burlesque homage to “Weird Al” Yankovic.
**Richard D. Propes Narrative Social Impact Award ($2,000 Cash Prize)**
“Shakti,” directed by Nani Sahra Walker (USA & Nepal)
A single mother enrolls her nine-year-old daughter in painting lessons in Kathmandu but faces a crisis when her child suddenly falls ill. With no clear diagnosis from the doctors, the determined mother consults a local shaman who uncovers shared trauma, guiding them toward healing.
**Richard D. Propes Documentary Social Impact Award ($2,000 Cash Prize)**
“Comparsa,” directed by Vickie Curtis & Doug Anderson (Guatemala, USA)
“Comparsa” takes viewers into the heart of Ciudad Peronia, Guatemala, where sisters Lesli and Lupe utilize art for healing amidst a backdrop of alarming femicide rates. Following the tragic deaths of 41 girls in a state-run facility, they decide to take action, overcoming past traumas through a celebratory festival.
**Best Narrative Premiere Award ($2,500 Cash Prize)**
“Shakti,” directed by Nani Sahra Walker (USA & Nepal)
This film follows a single mother who enrolls her daughter in painting classes in Kathmandu, only to face uncertainty when her daughter contracts an unknown illness. Unable to find answers from physicians, the mother seeks guidance from a local shaman, leading them on a redemptive journey.
**Best Documentary Premiere Award ($2,500 Cash Prize)**
“À demain sur la Lune,” directed by Thomas Balmès (France)
Amandine, diagnosed with terminal cancer at 39, is admitted to a palliative care unit in Calais Hospital. There, she encounters Peyo, a horse with an uncanny ability to sense impending death, who, along with his trainer Hassen, visits the most vulnerable patients to offer them comfort in their final days.
**Hoodox Indiana Spotlight Documentary Award ($2,000 Cash Prize)**
“The Tenderness Tour,” directed by Andie Redwine (USA)
In his toughest physical challenge yet, activist Richard Propes campaigns for a tour that profoundly changed his own life. Can he raise a million dollars to alleviate $155 million in medical debt when he’s never previously raised more than $20
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Heartland $20K Grand Prizes Awarded to Debut Film Happy Birthday and Documentary Jimmy & the Demons
Debut filmmaker Sarah Goher's Egyptian coming-of-age film, Happy Birthday, and Cindy Meehl's documentary focusing on a sculptor's masterwork, Jimmy & the Demons,