From Hollywood to the Heartland
Grand prize-winning SENIORS heads to the 35th annual Heartland International Film Festival
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Fresh off a memorable week in Hollywood, Huntington University and Forester Film are bringing SENIORS home to the Heartland.
The feature film, starring John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones) and Paris Brosnan, was awarded the Grand Prize for Best Feature Film at the 2026 Indiewood Film Festival last week in Hollywood. The honor followed a special screening of SENIORS at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, complete with a red-carpet premiere attended by cast members, filmmakers, industry guests and supporters.
Produced through Huntington University’s nationally recognized capstone film program, SENIORS stars legendary actor John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones) and rising talent Paris Brosnan. The film represents a unique production model that blends seasoned Hollywood professionals with student filmmakers, giving over 40 Huntington University students hands-on experience at the highest level of feature film production.
SENIORS tells a powerful, heartwarming story about mentorship, purpose and redemption. The narrative follows a rebellious high school senior (Brosnan) who is completing court-ordered community service at a retirement home. There, he forms an unlikely friendship with a troubled war veteran (Rhys-Davies). What begins as an obligation transforms into a life-changing journey for both characters, revealing that it is never too late to find meaning, healing and hope.
“This is more than just a movie; it's a celebration of story, mentorship and the next generation of filmmakers,” said Lance Clark, dean of the School of the Arts at Huntington University and director of SENIORS. “We set out to create a film that speaks across generations. At its core, SENIORS is about the power of unlikely relationships and how wisdom and purpose can be passed down in the most unexpected ways.”
The film's journey to the Heartland Film Festival, a prestigious event recently named the #1 Best Film Festival by the USA TODAY 10 BEST Readers' Choice Awards, marks a major milestone for Forester Film and the University's film program. This screening offers local and regional audiences a chance to experience the acclaimed feature fresh off its Hollywood debut.
“SENIORS is really about redemption,” Clark continued. “It shows that when we take the time to invest in someone else, especially across generations, something powerful happens that can change both lives. SENIORS reminds us that no one is too far gone, and no season of life is wasted.”
For more information on screening times, locations and ticket availability for SENIORS at the Heartland Film Festival, please visit the festival's official website at heartlandfilm.org. A trailer for the film is available on YouTube.
About Huntington University and Forester Film:
Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering award-winning graduate, undergraduate and online programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Founded in Huntington, Indiana, in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University has over a century of experience educating graduates who are ready to impact the world for Christ through scholarship and service. The quality of education is high as reflected in Huntington’s top quartile ranking in the 2026 U.S. News Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings. The nonprofit university’s locations include the original home campus in Huntington, a doctoral program in occupational therapy and an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and an undergraduate and doctoral program location in Peoria, Arizona. Huntington University’s home campus offers 18 official men’s and women’s athletic programs, and the university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
Forester Film is the University’s feature film production arm, designed to provide capstone film students with immersive, professional and on-set experience by pairing them alongside Screen Actors Guild cast members and industry-veteran crew.
