Program Note

On the morning of September 11, 2001, when their flight from Los Angeles to New York is grounded, strangers Elliott and Joni are unexpectedly thrust together amidst the chaos of that historic day. With little in common but both needing to urgently reach New York City, they accept help from Joni's family friend, Scottie, who lends them a rusty old Chevy van. As the shock and stress of 9/11 threaten to derail their cross-country journey, they discover what they do have in common: a shared love for old folk songs.

Filmed across 3,500 miles in fourteen states, *American Folk* serves as a love letter to the natural beauty of America, to the music that has carried us through difficult times, and to the kindness of the “folk” who make America what it is.

Director

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  • David Heinz
  • Over the past decade, David Heinz has worked as an editor for both independent and commercial films. In 2013, he edited the film *Adult World*, starring John Cusack, and in 2011, he edited several independent features, including *This Means War*, produced by Fox. He has also worked as a visual effects editor on films such as *The Jungle Book*, *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes*, and *Live Free or Die Hard*. *American Folk* marks Heinz's feature directorial debut.