Minneapolis hosts film festival on end-of-life care
Four feature films and a lineup of medical and legal experts will screen at the Coffman Theater to discuss human dignity and assisted suicide.
By Marco Whitaker ·
The Coffman Theater in Minneapolis will host a full-day film festival focused on end-of-life care, human dignity, and the practice of physician-assisted suicide. The event is organized by the Minnesota Alliance of Ethical Healthcare and open to the general public, healthcare professionals, and disability advocates. Attendees can purchase tickets in advance or arrive as walk-ins to secure a seat for the proceedings.
The schedule features four major feature films followed by discussions with a panel of experts. These panels are designed to connect the cinematic narratives with personal experiences in advocacy and medical practice. The festival aims to provide an educational look at real care solutions for vulnerable populations while examining the risks associated with assisted dying.
Speakers for the event include Reid Davenport, the award-winning filmmaker behind the documentary Life After. Davenport will discuss his investigation into assisted suicide through the story of Elizabeth Bouvia. Also appearing is Senator John A. Hoffman of the Minnesota State Senate, alongside Jesse Bethke-Gomez, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living.
Medical and legal perspectives will be provided by Dr. Allen J. Aksamit, a Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic, and Lisa Schiltz, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Josephine Glaser, Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, will also speak. Kathy Ware, a nurse and disability advocate, rounds out the speaker lineup.
The film slate includes Life Worth Living, which examines the expansion of medical assistance in dying in Canada. Better Off Dead explores assisted dying from the perspective of disabled people. Prescription Poison offers a look at how assisted suicide is spreading across the United States and what that trajectory may mean for Minnesota.
In addition to the main theater screenings, ancillary rooms will host rotating short films and additional viewings of the features to accommodate different schedules. Snacks and refreshments are included in the admission price. A closing reception is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the end of the festival.
The event is open to all ages. Participants are encouraged to bring family and community members to the gathering.
