The biographical drama starring KJ Apa will debut in Indianapolis before its nationwide theatrical release this November.
Jimmy has been selected as the Opening Night film for the 35th Heartland Film Festival, where it will receive its Festival World Premiere on October 8, 2026.
“There's no more fitting place to introduce Jimmy Stewart’s story to the world.”
The biographical drama stars KJ Apa as legendary actor and war hero Jimmy Stewart and will make its debut in Indianapolis before opening nationwide in theaters on November 6 through Burns & Co Entertainment and Fathom Entertainment.
Presented by Heartland Film and hosted by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, the annual festival runs October 8 through October 18 across multiple venues throughout Indianapolis. Opening Night festivities will take place at the historic Scottish Rite Cathedral, where audiences will be among the first in the world to see the film.
Several cast and crew members are expected to attend the premiere, including director and producer Aaron Burns, Apa, actors Max Casella, Kara Killmer, Marc Malkin, and Karolyn Grimes, along with producer and casting director Angela Sullivan, producers Jack McClintock and David Cook, executive producer Kelly Stewart Harcourt, and screenwriter Justin Strawhand.
The festival is also partnering with the Jimmy Stewart Museum to showcase original memorabilia and artifacts from Stewart’s life and career.
Heartland Film has maintained a longstanding connection to Stewart’s legacy through its relationship with the Stewart Family Foundation. Each year, the organization presents the Jimmy Stewart Legacy Award to a film that best reflects the values Stewart embodied throughout his life and career.
“No performance has moved me more than Jimmy Stewart’s portrayal of George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life,” said Heartland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig. “Stewart remains an enduring American icon, hero, and screen legend. We’re honored to open the Heartland Film Festival with Jimmy, the story behind the role that defined his legacy.”
Directed by Aaron Burns, Jimmy chronicles one of the most important chapters in Stewart’s life. The film follows the actor from his Academy Award-winning performance in The Philadelphia Story through his decision to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
Stewart ultimately flew 20 combat missions over Europe and rose to the rank of colonel before returning home deeply affected by the war. The film then explores how he found renewed purpose through his portrayal of George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, a performance that remains one of the most celebrated in American film history.
“We’re thrilled to have the Festival World Premiere of Jimmy at the Heartland Film Festival ahead of its nationwide release,” said producer Angela Galgani Sullivan. “Jimmy Stewart’s spirit has long been celebrated at Heartland, and for good reason. He was a Hollywood legend, but at his core, he remained a small-town Pennsylvania kid shaped by service, humility, faith, and community.”
Tickets for the Opening Night event go on sale August 27 through Heartland Film’s website. The complete festival schedule and additional ticket offerings will be released on September 17.
Founded in 1991, Heartland Film has grown into one of North America’s most respected film organizations, showcasing more than 2,000 films and awarding over $4 million in cash prizes throughout its history.
Watch FlickDirect's exclusive interview with KJ Apa below for more on Jimmy ahead of its Heartland Film Festival world premiere.
