October 10-13, 2021

Not Going Quietly

Synopsis

When 32-year-old activist and father Ady Barkan is diagnosed with ALS and given four years to live, he finds himself in a deep depression, struggling to connect with his newborn son, whose presence reminds him of the future he will miss. But after a chance confrontation with Senator Jeff Flake goes viral, Ady decides to embark on a cross-country tour of America, using his final breaths to fight for healthcare justice. Ultimately, Ady discovers that collective action and speaking truth to power offers a source of hope for the future that transforms his relationship with his son and his belief in what is possible for his family.

Filmmaker Biography

Nicholas Bruckman (Director) produced the feature film Valley of Saints, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit award. The film was released on Netflix and was a New York Times Critics Pick.

He previously directed the feature documentary La Americana, which won the best documentary prize at the NY and LA Latino Film Festivals. The film broadcast worldwide on networks including PBS, Nat Geo, and Al Jazeera.

Nicholas' work has received support from foundations including the Fledgling Fund, Cinereach, NYSCA, NYFA, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He is the founder of People's Television, a New York and D.C.-based branded & original content company.

Amanda Roddy (Producer) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with People’s Television. She has led projects as a director, producer, and writer for clients such as the Democratic National Convention, Covergirl, Elizabeth Warren’s presidential Campaign, Equal Justice Works, The Nature Conservancy, and The Equity Fund. Recently, she directed and produced a two-minute primetime television spot that appeared on NBC during the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Her work has been supported by the International Documentary Association, Rooftop Films, Film Independent, IFP, and HBO.