New ‘DISCONNECTED’ Feature Film selected for 35th Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis this October 2026

Official Selection of the 35th Heartland Film Festival and World Premiere of “DISCONNECTED” will call attention to negative impacts of social media for teens.

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, September 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Producer Kevin Sizemore’s new drama “DISCONNECTED” has been selected for the 35th Heartland Film Festival, in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it will have its World Premiere on October 15, 2026. With many parents and legislators raising concerns today over the negative impacts of social media on teen mental health, anxiety, and depression, “DISCONNECTED” invites timely conversations about these important topics.

“DISCONNECTED” is a feature film where, “After a devastating family loss, a mother moves her teenagers across the country to West Virginia, where a school-mandated AI platform fuels cyberbullying, deepfakes, and screen addiction—threatening their fresh start. As secrets surface, the family and community must rediscover what real connection means in an increasingly digital world.“

The film is Directed by Joanne Hock and Produced by Kevin Sizemore and Gina Lombardi under GKg Productions with Executive Producer Garrett Z. Sutton and Tenero Productions. Writers include Ty DeMartino (screenplay by, story by) and Garrett Z. Sutton (story by.)

The film stars Kayla Ewell (“The Vampire Diaries”), Brian Dietzen (“NCIS”), Gunnar Sizemore (“Kung Fu Panda”), Cassidy Naber (“American Horror Story”), Terrence Little Gardenhigh (“Danger Force”) and Kevin Sizemore (“Mine 9”). Other cast members include Pina Baeza (“Kangaroo Kids”), Tim Johnson Jr. (Everybody Still Hates Chris), Dreama Denver, T. Graham Brown, Larkin Campbell, Ted Sutton Esq., among others.

Executive Producer Garrett Z. Sutton emphasizes, “We need to start addressing this serious problem. It has to do with mental health, well-being, and how well we’re doing as a country.”

Producer Gina Lombardi says, ““Disconnected was born from the fear that technology can bring us closer while quietly pulling us apart. To have the film selected by the Heartland International Film Festival—a festival devoted to films that inspire and move people—is a deeply meaningful honor.”

Actor and Star Kayla Ewell (“The Vampire Diaries”) emphasizes, “No one’s life is perfect. No one is happy all the time, and I think that can cause a lot of teen depression, anxiety, and so many things that we all struggle with. Everyone of all ages, whether you’re on social media or not struggle with it, but social media magnifies it so much.”

Actor Pina Baeza also adds, “I love that in this movie we talk about mental health, and what the impacts of social media can have on us.”

Director Joanne Hock has premiered two of her films “When We Last Spoke” and “Purple Dreams” at Heartland and cast member Gunnar Sizemore won the 2024 Heartland Indy Shorts receiving the Summer White Lynch Memorial Award as a director.

As an Official Selection for the 35th Heartland Film Festival, “DISCONNECTED” will play the following times and locations, along with virtual screenings:
· Sun, Oct 11 at 2:15 PM at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
· Tue, Oct 13 at 12:15 PM at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
· Thu, Oct 15 at 7:15 PM at Indy Art Center – World Premiere
· Sun, Oct 18 at 12:15 PM at Living Room Theaters

48% of teens report that social media has mostly negative effects on people their age (according to Pew Research Center) and up to 95% of teens use social media “almost constantly”, “DISCONNECTED” tackles these issues as well as gambling addiction and more.

ABOUT THE HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL: Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Heartland Film was founded in 1991 with the mission to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films. The films we select and exhibit all have one thing in common: they are films that do more than entertain. Heartland Film 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.

In Person and Virtual FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://HeartlandFilmFestival.org

For more information about the film:
Follow @DisconnectedTheMovie social media.
https://www.instagram.com/DisconnectedTheMovie/

Visit IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39319891/

“DISCONNECTED” Movie Trailer VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/1217477241

MEDIA CONTACT for “DISCONNECTED”: Liz Kelly

Liz Kelly
Goody PR
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DISCONNECTED Movie Trailer

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