Addicted To Life

Synopsis

Strong-willed, funny and charismatic, at 37, Belgian athlete Marieke Vervoort’s time is running out. As her strength falters and her body begins to fail, she determines to end her life by euthanasia. Liberated by the legal permission to die, Marieke rediscovers the freedom and thrill of living and competing, and becomes a Paralympic champion. Her acceptance of death becomes an affirmation of life. Marieke demystifies one of the most controversial issues of our time.

"Addicted to Life" won the "Best Of Women's Voices" Award at its premiere at the Portland Film Festival in October 2022. The international premiere at the Ostend (Belgium) Film Festival in January was a sold-out success, receiving a standing ovation for Marieke and the film. Additional festivals include DOK:fest Munich: Best Docs, Millenium Film Festival, Brussels: Best Belgian Author;  and the Wisconsin Film Festival. Addicted to Life is in theatrical release across Belgium. 

Credits/Bios

POLA RAPAPORT (Producer/Director) is a Fellow of both the Guggenheim Foundation and the NY Foundation for the Arts. Her award-winning films include: Nadia Comaneci: The Gymnast & the Dictator (2016, Zed Distribution, Jury Prize, Barcelona Sports Film Festival, 2017); Hair: Let the Sunshine In (2007, Kino Lorber Films); Writer of O (2004, Zeitgeist Films, Grand Prix d’URTI); Family Secret (2000, Grand Prix de la S.C.A.M. Best Doc on French television); Borken Meat (1990, premiered at Sundance; Winner, Award of the Press, Message to Man Festival; Best Cinematography, Oberhausen Film Festival; Best Documentary, New Orleans Film Festival; IDFA 3rd Edition).

Editor of many feature documentaries including Lilly Rivlin’s Heather Booth: Changing the World and Alex Sichel’s SXSW Winner, A Woman Like Me.

WOLFGANG HELD, ASC (Director of Photography) has been working as a DP in NYC since the mid-1990s. He went on the road with Sacha Baron Cohen as DP for Brüno, won an Emmy in 2008 for Best Cinematography on the PBS show Carrier, and shot Children Underground, nominated for the 2002 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Held has photographed many acclaimed documentaries, including: Leonardo Di Caprio’s Before the Flood, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Mad Hot Ballroom, Crazy Love and Wigstock: The Movie. Held has also photographed over twenty narrative feature films, including the cult favorite Teeth. 

MARK DAEMS (Belgian Co-producer) started his career in 1983 as a freelance director. In 1991 he co-founded independent production company Associate Directors. Associate Directors started documentary production in 2005, and has played a leading role in Flemish documentary. Lost Down Memory Lane was a box office record in Flanders and the Netherlands.

Mark’s company has co-produced German, French, Italian, Dutch and Danish films. The King of Mont Ventoux was a 4-party co-production co-financed by 10 European TV-channels, and sold to many more. Mark Daems is founding member and chairman of “Flanders Doc”, the association of documentary producers in Flanders.