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Abigail Stokes Gains Film Industry Experience at Heartland Film

The Anderson University senior combined cinema, event planning, and networking during a summer internship with the Indianapolis nonprofit.

Abigail Stokes and team during her Heartland Film summer internship

ANDERSON, Ind. — This summer, rising Anderson University senior Abigail Stokes interned with Heartland Film as an operations and outreach intern.

Her primary responsibilities included coordinating decorations, building a filmmaker directory, and representing Heartland at various networking events. In the weeks leading up to it, she was also busy prepping for the Indy Shorts Film Festival.

The prestigious film company is a nonprofit arts organization that runs the Heartland Film Festival in October, the Academy Award–qualifying Indy Shorts Film Festival in July, and other year-round programs.

Heartland Film celebrates thoughtful and engaging films and requires productions to do more than entertain.

Now a national and international destination festival, Heartland Film allows interns to network with film directors and producers from across the country.

“An internship with Heartland offers our students access to industry professionals without having to travel to Hollywood,” said Jack Lugar, professor of cinema and media arts.

As a cinema and media arts major and an event planning minor, Stokes said, “Interning at Heartland was a no-brainer.”

Lugar introduced Stokes to Abi Lindstedt, who works for Heartland and recommended Stokes for the position. Having built that connection, Lindstedt then mentored Stokes over her summer at Heartland.

“From the day she became an AU student, Abby hit the ground running by volunteering for opportunities with filmmakers, networking, and doing the hard work. Abby is a diligent organizer, which made her a valuable asset as an intern for Heartland.”

Jack Lugar

Professor of cinema and media arts

Though Stokes credits Lugar for helping her land the role, Lugar said, “Abby has demonstrated the skills necessary to succeed in the entertainment industry from the day I met her as a high school student, just soaking in what it means to be a filmmaker. From the day she became an AU student, she hit the ground running by volunteering for opportunities with filmmakers, networking, and doing the hard work. Abby is a diligent organizer, which made her a valuable asset as an intern for Heartland.”

During her time at Heartland, Stokes worked with several different departments and saw how people can come together in a company to produce something amazing.

“Everyone always has ten irons in the fire. You have to be okay with letting them know you need something too. When you work with such amazing people, they understand and care about you. You can be a professional and do your job but still have fun in the workplace,” Stokes said.

In the future, Stokes hopes to have her own film company and said that the experience was key, giving her a behind-the-scenes look at business operations and major event planning.

She encourages underclassmen: “Don’t turn down opportunities if you can go… You learn something at every event, every project, every production meeting. Keep in contact with people you meet. If you connect with someone, they will remember you, and it can lead to so many more opportunities.”