Together Films has acquired the international sales rights to LIFE AFTER, the latest documentary from award-winning director Reid Davenport, ahead of its highly anticipated World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month.
LIFE AFTER examines the complex and contradictory political ideologies surrounding death and disability, amplifying the often-overlooked voices of the disabled community in the ongoing debate about medically assisted dying.
The acquisition deal was led by Together Films Founder Sarah Mosses, Producer Colleen Cassingham and Executive Producer Jess Devaney from the award-winning Multitude Films.
Reid Davenport’s debut feature documentary, I DIDN’T SEE YOU THERE, received the U.S. Documentary Directing Award at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, earning widespread acclaim for its bold and unflinching exploration of disability. Now, Davenport returns to Sundance with a timely film that delves into the ethical, political, and deeply personal dimensions of assisted death, offering a vital contribution to the ongoing international conversation about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives.
LIFE AFTER is a co-production of Independent Television Service (ITVS) and Multitude Films; in Association With Straw House Productions, The Harnisch Foundation, The deNovo Initiative, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, Catapult Film Fund, Perspective Fund, and Just Films | Ford Foundation.
In 1983, a disabled Californian woman named Elizabeth Bouvia sought the “right to die,” igniting a national debate about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives. After years of courtroom trials, Bouvia disappeared from public view. Disabled director Reid Davenport investigates what happened to Bouvia and her story’s disturbing relevance today.
In a society where ableism and poor healthcare can limit options, the autonomy of a disabled individual is often compromised. LIFE AFTER demonstrates how assisted dying may not represent choice when oftentimes it is seen as the only option.
Sarah Mosses, Founder and CEO of Together Films, said “At Together Films, we are committed to championing bold and necessary storytelling, and LIFE AFTER is a prime example of that. Reid Davenport has once again created a film that challenges societal perceptions and amplifies the voices that are too often overlooked. My aunty had Down’s Syndrome, and so the issues of disability rights are deeply personal to me. This is a vital conversation about autonomy, dignity, and the intersection of disability and end-of-life care.”
Director Reid Davenport said, “A big part of my dream for LIFE AFTER is for global audiences to examine their own assisted dying laws, as well as their broader disability policy. That is why I am thrilled to partner with Together Films. They have a robust track record of bringing films to a wide array of audiences and starting conversations.”
Producers Jess Devaney and Colleen Cassingham added, “The issue of assisted dying becomes rightfully more complex when examined from a disability perspective. Together Films shares Multitude’s mission of sparking narrative change around the key issues of our time. We’re excited to work with their team on bringing this film, in all its nuance, to global audiences.”
