Jessica Biel will bring ‘Love’ film to Heartland fest

A visit from actress Jessica Biel will highlight the 25th Heartland Film Festival.

Biel stars in “The Book of Love,” a drama that will serve as Heartland’s opening-night event Oct. 20 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 650 N. Meridian St. The film, which co-stars Jason Sudeikis, Maisie Williams and Richard Robichaux, will be screened at 7 p.m.

Known for her work in “The Illusionist” and “The Rules of Attraction,” Biel is scheduled to attend the screening with Robichaux and producer Melissa Purple. Biel’s husband, Justin Timberlake, wrote music for the film.

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The second night of the 11-day festival will feature a 25th-anniversary celebration Oct. 21 at AMC Castleton Square 14 at Castleton Square Mall, 6020 E. 82nd St. Actor Brian Dennehy ( “First Blood,” “Presumed Innocent” and “F/X”) will receive Heartland Film’s Pioneering Spirit Lifetime Achievement Award. Heartland made its debut in 1992, when crowds flocked to two screenings of a restored print of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” at Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Festival organizers will unveil 2016’s roster of 138 films Thursday during an announcement party at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. Attendees will have the first chance to purchase tickets to festival events, including the screening of “The Book of Love.” Admission to the 7 p.m. announcement party is $5 or free for Heartland Film members.

Following the announcement party, tickets go on sale Sept. 26 at HeartlandFilm.org or by calling (866) 433-1010.

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AMC Castleton Square 14 and AMC Showplace Traders Point 12, 5920 W. 86th St., are the main screening venues for the festival, which runs Oct. 20-30.

Special guests include:

• Country musician Rory Feek and actor Boris McGiver, who will attend the Oct. 30 closing-night screening of “Josephine,” a Civil War story directed by Feek.

• Actor John Rhys-Davies, who will attend an Oct. 22 screening of “Winter Thaw.”

• Actor Alan Thicke, who will attend an Oct. 25 screening of “It’s Not My Fault and I Don’t Care Anyway.”

• IndyCar team owner Sam Schmidt, who will attend an Oct. 23 screening of “Reengineering Sam.”

The Heartland Film Festival awards party is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at the “premiere pavilion” at AMC Castleton Square 14.

To celebrate the event’s 25th anniversary, previous Heartland films such as “Rudy” (1993), “Lars and the Real Girl” (2007), “Red Dog” (2011) and “Rising from Ashes” (2012) will be screened during the festival.

Call IndyStar reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.