PRESS RELEASES
"Happy Feet" Deemed Heartland Truly Moving Picture
November 17 , 2006
Warner Bros. Pictures film is newest Truly Moving Picture Award Recipient
| Indianapolis, IN — Moviegoers should add “Happy Feet” to their list of must-see films this weekend according to the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival®. Heartland is honoring the animated tale from Warner Bros. Pictures with its Truly Moving Picture Award, which is given exclusively to theatrically-released films that tell stories of courage, integrity and hope. |  |
“Happy Feet” joins an elite and ever-expanding list of films to receive the award and be deemed a Truly Moving Picture by Heartland. The film opens nationwide today.
"Heartland is pleased to help bring another stunning Truly Moving Picture to audiences this holiday season," said Jeffrey L. Sparks, President and CEO of Heartland Film Festival. "We hope that the music and incredible animation of 'Happy Feet' will bring many families together for a night at the movies."
“Happy Feet”” joins other 2006 Truly Moving Picture Award recipients “Amazing Grace,” “Cars,” “Everyone’s Hero,” “Flicka,” “Glory Road,” “The Lake House,” “Lassie,” “Nanny McPhee,” “The Nativity Story,” “The Queen,” “Saving Shiloh,” “Sophie Scholl – The Final Days,” “Take the Lead” and “Tsotsi.” Fifty-three (53) films have been honored since the award’s inception in 2000. To view Heartland’s complete list of Truly Moving PicturesSM, visit www.TrulyMovingPictures.org.
Heartland created the Truly Moving Picture Award as a way to honor theatrically-released films that demonstrate the Heartland purpose with excellence, inspiring and enriching lives. Submissions are received directly from studios and producers for consideration. Since the industry decides a film’s success based on the opening weekend box office, Heartland encourages audiences to attend a Truly Moving Picture on its first weekend.
Heartland and the National Collaboration for Youth (NCY) have also selected “Happy Feet” as the eighth film in their collaborative program called F.I.L.M., “Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies.” The literacy and film program encourages youth associated with NCY organizations around the country to screen the program’s featured films, read the books/scripts associated with the movies, utilize the activity guides and partake in related service projects. Heartland and NCY hope that by participating in F.I.L.M, youth will gain an appreciation for literature and film and will be inspired to realize their full capabilities. To learn more about the “Happy Feet” movie and program and to download the youth development activity guide, visit www.youthfilmproject.org.
In the great nation of Emperor Penguins, deep in Antarctica, you’re nobody unless you can sing—which is unfortunate for Mumble (Elijah Wood), who is the worst singer in the world. He is born dancing to his own tune…tap dancing.
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Though Mumble’s mom, Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman), thinks this little habit is cute, his dad, Memphis (Hugh Jackman), says “it just ain’t penguin.” Besides, they both know that without a Heartsong, Mumble may never find true love. |
As fate would have it, his one friend, Gloria (Brittany Murphy), happens to be the best singer around. Mumble and Gloria have a connection from the moment they hatch, but she struggles with his strange “hippity-hoppity” ways.
Mumble is just too different—especially for Noah the Elder (Hugo Weaving), the stern leader of Emperor Land, who ultimately casts him out of the community.
Away from home for the first time, Mumble meets a posse of decidedly un-Emperor-like penguins—the Adelie Amigos. Led by Ramon (Robin Williams), the Adelies instantly embrace Mumble’s cool dance moves and invite him to party with them.
In Adelie Land, Mumble seeks the counsel of Lovelace the Guru (also voiced by Robin Williams), a crazy-feathered Rockhopper penguin who will answer any of life’s questions for the price of a pebble.
Together with Lovelace and the Amigos, Mumble sets out across vast landscapes and, after some epic encounters, proves that by being true to yourself, you can make all the difference in the world.
“Happy Feet” is directed by George Miller and features the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Anthony LaPagilia. The film also features the tap dancing of Savion Glover. Warner Bros. Pictures presents “Happy Feet” in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller production, in association with Animal Logic Film.
Heartland Film Festival, a non-profit organization, was established in 1991 to recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life. Each October, Heartland screens Truly Moving Pictures from around the world and presents $200,000 in cash prizes and Crystal Heart Awards to the Festival’s top entries. This includes a $100,000 Grand Prize for Best Dramatic Feature underwritten by the Max Simon Charitable Foundation, a $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature and a $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film underwritten by Vision Racing. The remaining $65,000 is shared among the Crystal Heart and Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award winners. Heartland has awarded more than $1.6 million in 15 years to support filmmakers in their quest to create Truly Moving Pictures.
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