Old Heart, benefit premiere honoring Peter Ferry

Old Heart, a timely feature film adapted from Chicago author Peter Ferry’s award-winning novel premieres June 4 at Chicago’s Chopin Theater. Chicago Tribune/WGN’s Rick Kogan and Chicago Quarterly Review Managing Editor Gary Houston will honor Ferry’s literary legacy at this tribute event.

This film is out nationally for the 80th anniversary of World War 2 European Liberation. Old Heart’s codirector, stars and the producer/screenwriter will join a post screening conversation with Kogan and Houston.

A timely look at the key role black soldiers have played in the American military back to the Revolution, the film is a perfect fit for the historic Chopin. The bar opens preshow at 6:00 p.m. to give both old and new fans of Ferry’s fiction and journalism a chance to connect. This 7:30 p.m. screening is a benefit event for the Chicago Quarterly Review and the Heartland Independent Film Forum.

Ferry was an editor at Rand McNally before becoming an English teacher for many years at Lake Forest High School where his students included author Dave Eggers and actor Vince Vaughan. He also taught in the Netherlands on a Fulbright and set up an exchange program. Ferry was also a Board Member of the Chicago Quarterly Review and a frequent contributor to that publication and other literary journals. His work as a travel journalist at the Chicago Tribune led to his first novel, The Travel Writing. A play adapted by producer/screenwriter Roger Rapoport was staged in Detroit and Muskegon in 2022 and 2023.

The Old Heart cast starring Edward Gaines features Diane van Wesep, Jamelle Sargent, Chicago’s Shannon Huneryager, Kurt Schroeder and Zaneta Adams, former director of the Michigan Department of Veteran Affairs. Dutch actress Eva Doueiri makes her screen and English debut in the role of Jewish translator Sarah van Praag.

You can learn more about how Ferry decided to write his much loved novel at this link: https://www.nu-detroit.com/peter-ferry/. Here is a link to his interview with Rick Kogan on the play: https://wgnradio.com/after-hours-with-rick-kogan/old-heart-makes-its-stage-debut/

Ferry died in September 2023 as Old Heart filming began in Michigan. Here is a memorial piece by Kogan: https://www.newsbreak.com/chicago-tribune–1266691/3616747499951-writer-and-educator-peter-ferry-who-inspired-decades-of-students-including-dave-eggers-dies-at-77

For more information about the film and to see the trailer please visit: oldheartmovie.com. If you have questions about the movie email the producer at rogerdrapoport@me.com.

Old Heart is produced by the Heartland Independent Film Forum a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit. Previous films Waterwalk, Pilot Error and Coming Up For Air have won a dozen best feature awards at festivals worldwide. The distinguished Chicago Quarterly Review just celebrated its 30th anniversary.