Opening December 4 on Virtual Cinema: "Music Got Me Here"

First Run Features is proud to present the Virtual Cinema premiere of award-winning director Susan Koch's new feature documentary, Music Got Me Here, starting December 4 at Laemmle Virtual Cinema. The film follows the against-all-odds, true-life journey of Forrest Allen – a story of the power of music to heal and transform lives, often in miraculous ways.

A snowboard accident leaves Forrest Allen, age 18, trapped inside himself, unable to speak or walk for almost two years. Tom Sweitzer, an eccentric music therapist with a troubled childhood who credits music with saving his own life, is determined to help Forrest find his voice.

THE POWER OF MUSIC

Ancient philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle and Socrates, recognized and wrote about the tremendous power of music. But it’s only recently that neuroscientists, using advanced magnetic resonance imaging, have been able to go beyond the anecdotal – and actually document the powerful pathways that exist between music and the brain. Music therapy has the potential to improve the lives of those dealing with some of life’s most serious challenges including traumatic brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, autism, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, mental health issues, PTSD, stroke recovery, pain management, and opioid addiction. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, featured in the film, describes today as “a golden moment” for neuroscientists exploring the music-brain connections. Forrest’s dramatic story shows what’s possible – and offers hope and inspiration for countless others.

ABOUT DIRECTOR SUSAN KOCH

Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker Susan Koch’s films and non-fiction television shows have appeared on ABC, NBC, PBS, HBO, Showtime, MTV, ESPN, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, CNN, and American Movie Classics. Koch’s documentary Kicking It, about homeless soccer players who compete in an international tournament, premiered at the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals and was broadcast on ESPN. Koch’s other films include the award-winning documentaries Reel Models: First Women of Film (AMC), Mario’s Story (Showtime), City at Peace (HBO) and The Other City (Showtime). Koch is the Executive Director of the Middleburg Film Festival, located in Middleburg, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C.