Boston University graduate and award-winning filmmaker Jennifer Campbell will showcase her prize-winning film, “Nine,” at the Crystal Heart Awards Gala next Saturday in Indianapolis.
Campbell, a full-time film production teacher in Lowell, was awarded the Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award for outstanding student films at the 11th annual Heartland Film Festival.
“Nine” is the story of nine breast cancer survivors who decided to race together in the 2000 Head of the Charles rowing event, Campbell said.
“The hope was that [the film] would touch anyone familiar with breast cancer,” said Campbell. “I had an aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 13 years ago that affected me. [Breast cancer survivors] have one common story. I wanted to get them out there, especially these days when we need it.”
Campbell came up with the idea while working with Olympic rower Holly Metcalf at her Master Rower’s Camp on the Charles River.
“I was working with [Metcalf] at the camp when I started talking with Diane Collins, one of the breast cancer survivors,” Campbell said. “I was really fascinated by her story, and even though I was still in thesis prep, I got permission to shoot early.”
By the end of shooting the film, Campbell said she had forged quite a bond with the nine rowers.
“I just got an email yesterday from Diane,” said Campbell. “I wave to her and Holly everyday on my way to work, and I definitely still get emails from all of them.”
Campbell said the BU College of Communication faculty was instrumental in getting the project off the ground, a show of support Campbell said she would never forget. COM 101 has also showcased the film for the last two years as an example of an excellent dramatic feature, Campbell said.
“I think [the faculty] provided great support,” Campbell said. “I will never forget the moment when Professor Bach approved it. Everything I asked for, I got. It never would have been possible without the faculty.”
Originally, Campbell had no intention of submitting her film to the Heartland festival; she heard about the possibility after debuting her film.
“I was screening it at the Head of the Charles when a friend of mine told me about Heartland,” Campbell said. “She mentioned my film to her friend at Heartland, and I submitted it. Luckily, they accepted it.”
Campbell, who submitted the film last May, received a phone call in August telling her she had won.
“I was shocked that I had actually gotten selected,” said Campbell. “[Festivals] are a waiting-around game.”
Campbell will be presented with her Crystal Heart Award and cash prize at a formal black tie Gala, which will be attended by 850 filmmakers, stars and local and national residents.
“I’m very excited. A little nervous, because they opened it up to the public for the first time,” Campbell said. “I was the opening speaker at commencement ceremonies in 2001, so I think I’ll be ready.”
“Over the course of nine days each October, the festival screens films from around the world, ranging from dramas to documentaries to animation,” said Lisa Dudeck, public relations manager for the Heartland Film Festival.
This year’s Festival, October 17-25 in Indianapolis, Ind., will showcase 17 Crystal Heart Award winners.
The Heartland Film Festival, a non-profit organization managed by President Jeff Sparks, 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,” according to the organization’s mission statement. The organization refers to these films as Truly Moving Pictures.
After researching film festivals, the festival’s founding board discovered there were no national or international festivals specifically addressing life-affirming films, and as a result, many filmmakers were not being recognized for their inspiring work.
The festival gives these filmmakers cash prizes and opportunities to showcase films, which furthers their efforts to continue making films of hope.
“The festival awards $100,000 in cash to the winning filmmakers and each filmmaker receives a Crystal Heart Award,” Dudeck said. “In its first 10 years, Heartland awarded over $1 million to support filmmakers in their quest to create great cinema.”
Since the grand prize winner for best dramatic feature is awarded half of the allotted prize money, Campbell and the other 15 Crystal Award winners will split the remaining $50,000.
“I think it’s a good stepping stone,” said Campbell. “I find these festivals useful for meeting filmmakers later on in their careers. My connections with independent filmmakers have helped me much more than meeting famous stars.”
Despite the film’s acclaim, Campbell is still working hard to have her film shown at other venues across the country.
“I just submitted it to ‘Women’s in the Director’s Chair’ and a couple more entries are out there,” Campbell said. “I had run dry with finances and took a break, but now I’m back trying to get it out there.”
