Life in Focus Film Festival

Featuring powerful, award-winning films and experts that explore human dignity, and what it means to provide real care at end of life.
About this Event

A Festival Rooted in Real Care
See the agenda and film/speaker line up for more info.

Join the MN Alliance of Ethical Healthcare for an inspiring and educational day of film, storytelling and connection.

Our speakers, experts and panelists will reflect on the films featured throughout the day, and their personal experiences advocating for real care and solutions for the most vulnerable - and opposing the risks of physician-assisted suicide.

The festival is designed for the broader MN community, healthcare professionals, disability advocates and partners of the Alliance. All are welcome to attend - please bring your family, friends and community for an inspiring day of storytelling and reflection.

• Buy tickets in advance to reserve your seat for the full-day. Walk ins are welcome, and can purchase tickets at the theater door.
• Four feature-films and various speakers/panelists will be programmed in the main Coffman Theater
• Ancillary screening rooms will also be available for rotating short-films and additional viewings of the feature films to accomodate participant availabiltiies
• Snacks and refreshments will be included throughout the day - along with a closing reception at 4:00 p.m.

Meet our Speakers:
We are thrilled to host renowned experts and voices from our community and partner organizations:

• Reid Davenport (Award-winning Filmmaker, Life After)
• Senator John A. Hoffman (MN State Senate, DFL)
• Jesse Bethke-Gomez (Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Independent Living)
• Dr. Allen J. Aksamit, MD (Mayo Clinic, Professor of Neurology, Consultant)
• Lisa Schiltz (John D. Herrick Professor of Law, University of St Thomas School of Law)
• Kathy Ware (Nurse, Alliance and Disability Advocate)

Meet the Featured Films:
Click to preview film trailers:

• : Sundance award-winning filmmaker Reid Davenport investigates assisted suicide through the story of Elizabeth Bouvia, seen through a disability-rights lens. We are thrilled Davenport will join us in-person for conversation about the film.
• : Physicians and families describe the rapid expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Canada, and the hard questions it raises about safeguards and vulnerable people.
• : Disability-rights activist Liz Carr investigates assisted dying from the perspective of disabled people and asks whether any safeguard can truly protect undervalued lives.
• : From the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, we're presented with a sobering look at how assisted suicide is spreading across America, and what that could mean for Minnesota.

Agenda

🕑: 08:30 AM
Check-in
🕑: 09:00 AM
Welcome
🕑: 09:10 AM
Film #1 (Life After) & Reflection
Host: Reid Davenport
🕑: 10:30 AM
Film #2 (Life Worth Living: Averting the Canadian Crisis) & Couch Conversation
Host: Alex Schadenberg & Frank Panico
🕑: 12:00 PM
Lunch Break
🕑: 12:45 PM
Film #3 (Better Off Dead) & Reflection
Host: Liz Carr
🕑: 02:40 PM
Film #4 (Prescription Poison)
Host: Alex Schadenberg & Frank Panico
🕑: 03:25 PM
Panel Discussion + Audience Q&A
🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Closing Reception

Info: Refreshments and Community Connection in the Theater Lounge

Film Line Up
Life After

Info: Reid Davenport investigates assisted suicide through the story of Elizabeth Bouvia, viewed through a disability-rights lens.

Life Worth Living
Host: Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Info: "The Canadian Experience": the expansion of MAID in Canada, through physicians and families, raising questions about safeguards and vulnerable populations

Better Off Dead

Info: Disability-rights activist Liz Carr investigates assisted dying from the perspective of disabled people, and asks whether safeguards can adequately protect undervalued lives.

Prescription Poison
Host: Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Info: A warning-toned look at the expansion of assisted suicide in America.

Speakers
Filmmaker Interview
Host: Reid Davenport

Info: Award-winning Filmmaker, Life After

Personal Reflection
Host: Kathy Ware

Info: Nurse, Alliance and Disability Advocate

Couch Conversation
Host: Allen J. Aksamit, MD
Expert Panel and Q&A
Host: Senator John A. Hoffman