HEART BEATS

Restart? No way! When twelve-year-old Lia has to move to Vienna with her father, she goes into full boycott mode – but an unwanted stepsister, a chaotic drummer, and the magic of rhythms help her to express her anger and grief, allowing her to finally rediscover herself.

12-year-old Lia is still struggling to cope with her mother’s death, while her father moves them to Vienna to start over with his new partner, Sonja. On the day of the move, Lia steals her mother’s urn – her most sacred secret. But nothing in Vienna feels right: their new apartment is in a dull housing complex, Sonja is a strict music teacher, and Lia’s new stepsister Pauline, who has Down’s syndrome, is far too blunt. Determined to return to Zurich, Lia rebels – until she meets Luis, a lively drummer, and finds an unexpected confidante in his grandmother. Lia finally realises how much this new life has come to mean to her.

Director's note

With "Heart Beats", I want to create a film for children and families that is joyful, emotionally rich, and thought-provoking. At its centre is Lia – a tough yet deeply vulnerable girl navigating grief and the challenges of a new patchwork family. Through rhythm, music, and unexpected friendships, she slowly finds her way back to herself.
As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, inclusion and authentic representation are essential to me. Pauline, Lia’s stepsister, is portrayed as a complex character with her own emotional arc – she plays a key role in helping Lia open up. I want children with disabilities to see themselves on screen as full human beings, and all children to engage with difference free from fear.
The film’s setting – a transitional zone between city and nature on the outskirts of Vienna – mirrors Lia’s emotional journey. Shot with a sensitive, handheld camera and carried by a lively, rhythm-infused sound design, "Heart Beats" reflects life’s wild beauty, contradictions, and emotional depth.
My goal is to create something honest and alive – together with, and for, children.

Producer's note

“Heart Beats” is a vivid and emotionally rich family film that will resonate with both children and adults. We are drawn to its authentic portrayal of grief, change and connection, set against the backdrop of a socially complex Vienna that transcends cliché. The film’s strength lies in its blend of emotional depth and humour, showing pain and joy side by side.
A central theme is inclusion: the story is set in an inclusive school where children with and without disabilities learn together. This opens up a new world for many viewers and reflects a more diverse cinematic reality. Our casting and team embody this same inclusive spirit.
As “Heart Beats” is our first fiction feature film, we are collaborating with NGF and producer Katharina Posch as inner Austrian co-producers. They have produced several successful children’s films, such as "Stories from Franz." Our collaboration with our Swiss co-producer, Katrin Renz, and her team at Tellfilm has also proven extremely inspiring and fruitful from the outset. Johanna Lietha is a perfect “match.” We producers share her belief that children should be entertained, taken seriously and challenged. Her participatory approach and her intense engagement with children from the target audience and the Down’s syndrome community promise to capture their perspectives, focusing on authenticity, and to connect the audience to their reality linguistically.
I have personally directed three short films with children from the integrative learning workshop Brigittenau, which my son attended until the age of 13, and I am enthused by this setting and its truly diverse protagonists – something I have never seen in a feature film before. I also have a very good friend with Trisomy 21, and I love the character of Pauline. As a mother of a daughter with the same chromosomal constitution, Johanna is perfectly placed to portray Pauline beyond the confines of stereotype.

After receiving development support from the Austrian Film Institute, Creative Europe MEDIA and Cinekid, we have now received the first production financing from the Austrian Film Institute, Filmfonds Vienna and the Austrian broadcasting company ORF. We will now apply for funding in Switzerland. Unfortunately, the ÖFI+ incentive funding programme has been unexpectedly discontinued due to budget cuts by the Austrian government, resulting in a financing gap. Therefore, we now need a co-producer from another country as well as a committed world sales. Tallinn is the perfect place to find these missing partners, as we love children’s films from Northern Europe and would like to find a partner who shares our desire to entertain and challenge audiences simultaneously.

Screenwiter's note

Subjects:
grief, youth, belonging, familial relationships, people with special needs, music, death, child parent relationships, humour