NEW EVENT!

WHAT:

AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE presents a special screening for the Los Angeles premiere of HEART STRINGS, directed by Ate De Jong, PLUS Q&A with actors Sam Varga, Maggie Koerner, Jonathan De Azevedo and screenwriter Steven Gaydos

WHEN:

Sunday June 30, 2024 @ 7:00 PM

WHERE:

LOS FELIZ THEATRE 1822 N Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90027

TICKETS:

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Los Angeles Premiere of HEART STRINGS!

Indie Film Musical ‘Heart Strings’ Get Los Angeles Premiere at American Cinematheque

Indie musical “Heart Strings” will have its Los Angeles premiere June 30 at American Cinematheque‘s Loz Feliz Theater. Director Ate de Jong (“Drop Dead Fred”) co-wrote the film with Steven Gaydos, Variety executive VP, Global Content, who is also co-producing.

“It’s a great honor to screen at the American Cinematheque. And especially to play the film at their Los Feliz location where ‘Heart Strings’ first began as a screenplay decades ago when I lived there after working on a Roger Corman film in Georgia,” Gaydos said. “Fans of 1970s American indie cinema might be surprised to find that Ate de Jong has just made an audience-engaging film with the subversive spirit and maverick attitude of that time. It only took 50 years to get the job done, which I hope makes Francis Coppola feel better about ‘Megalopolis!’”

Courtesy photonormal

“Heart Strings” follows phony lovebirds Lucky (Sam Varga) and Billie (Maggie Koerner) who lie their way to stardom while competing on a music competition TV show. But as the pair grows closer, they sacrifice all their success for their true love of each other and the music they create.

The score for “Heart Strings” was written and produced by composer-songwriter Randy Edelman (“Last of the Mohicans,” “Mask”), with a theme song performed by country musicians The Bellamy Brothers.

The film first premiered in March at the Fantasporto Film Festival in Porto, Portugal before holding a screening at the Miami Film Festival in April. In early June, “Heart Strings” was screened as a special presentation by the Carmel Film Festival in Carmel by the Sea.

De Jong also directed films including “Love Is Thicker Than Water,” “Highway to Hell” and “All Men Are Mortal,” for which Gaydos co-wrote the screenplay. Gaydos’ other screenplays include “Iguana” and “Road to Nowhere.”

Gaydos, Varga, Koerner and actor Jonathan De Azevedo (“Free Guy) will introduce the film in person prior to the 7:00 p.m. screening.

By Jack Dunn

Screenwriter and Executive Vice President of Variety Magazine, Steven Gaydos and world-famous Director, Ate de Jong doing a panel discussion at FantasPorto IFF (Portugal) about their film HEART STRINGS, legendary filmmaker Monte Hellman & COCKFIGHTER. You'll be pleasantly surprised about how many extremely cool cine facts you'll learn!

Watch!

PLUS...

Click here to learn more about iconic filmmaker Monte Hellman

Fall in Love with the Cast and Music of Heart Strings

Watch HEART STRINGS' Actors/Musicians, Maggie Koerner, Sam Varga, Carly Johnson; Director, Ate de Jong; and Screenwriter, Steven Gaydos as they take on Porto, Portugal and the 2024 FantasPorto International Film Festival for the World Premiere of HEART STRINGS in March. Enjoy as Maggie and Sam deliver a beautiful live version of the song "Roll the Dice" from the film's soundtrack as you enjoy the many beautiful sights of Porto.

Steven Gaydos was honored at the Festival with a Special Award for his career as a Screenwriter and prolific Journalist for the legendary entertainment trade publication, Variety.

"Roll the Dice"Written by Sam Varga & Kalie Shorr. Performed by Sam Varga & Maggie Koerner. Produced by Dan Swank

HEART STRINGS (2024) Original Score and Adaptation Composed, Programmed and Performed by Randy Edelman. Enjoy his score in the background of this video!

Watch Trailers

Official Trailer

Trailer 2