Recent Ball State University graduate Jaron Henrie-McCrea added yet another "chunk of metal" to his growing mantle of national film honors.

His short movie, "Knock Knock," filmed while he attended Ball State, has earned a Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award at this year's Heartland Film Festival. The festival, which will take place Oct. 13-21 in Indianapolis, honors works that explore the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.

"This award means a lot to me, and I couldn't have done it without all of the entities at Ball State working with me and helping me," said Henrie-McCrea, a 23-year-old from Indianapolis. "Winning the award is an honor for me and an honor for the university. It says a lot about what we're trying to achieve."

The Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Awards are given to the best student films. Henrie-McCrea's movie, a romantic comedy written entirely in tautonyms or double words like its title, was one of four films honored in the student category at this year's festival. "Knock Knock" will be publicly screened in Indianapolis during the festival.

This award marks the fourth major honor Henrie-McCrea received this year. In June, he joined a select group of prominent filmmakers by winning a gold Student Academy Award and a $5,000 cash prize for finishing first in the alternative category with "Knock Knock." He called the award a "chunk of metal" that illustrates the compassion and support he's received from Ball State.

Last week, Henrie-McCrea won two regional Emmy Awards Sept. 17 during the 36th annual awards ceremony in Cleveland. He was honored in the crafts: director-tape/film category for "Cardinal Stage and Screen: Rose" and as part of a student team in the magazine format programs category.

Henrie-McCrea, who graduated in May and is attending film school at Columbia University in New York, is planning to attend the festival's black tie Crystal Heart Awards ceremony on Oct. 15 where he will receive a Crystal Heart Award and cash prize. Tickets for the festival can be found at select Indianapolis Marsh Supermarkets, by calling toll-free (866) 433-1010 or by visiting www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org.

(Note to editors: For more information, contact Layne Cameron, media relations manager, at (765) 285-5953 or lscameron@bsu.edu.)