Worldwide Premiere of The Inside Story: The Science of HIV/AIDS

On World AIDS Day, 1 Dec 2011, the feature length film The Inside Story: The Science of HIV/AIDS premiered in Johannesburg to a packed theater. The film’s stars, director, executive producers, and crew attended the red carpet event, which also welcomed a mix of dignitaries and representatives of supporting organizations.  

I attended with the staff of Management Sciences for Health (MSH). MSH's Building Local Capacity for Delivery of HIV Services in Southern Africa Project (BLC) provided funds and technical support to Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership, Inc., one of the film's producers.

Inside Story is a unique mixture of science and fiction. The film introduced us to Kalu, a Kenyan footballer in Joburg, who is confronted with his HIV positive status. His intensely personal struggle to accept his diagnosis and move forward drew us in and made us care. Meanwhile, animated sequences showing the HIV virus traveling through the human body helped us understand the different stages of HIV and AIDS.

Kendra Etufunwa, who plays Kalu's love interest in the film, opened the evening by welcoming guests and sharing her personal discoveries during the course of filming. Consul General Earl Miller spoke on behalf of the US Government.  Executive producers Harriet Gavshon of Curious Pictures and Aric Noboa of Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership welcomed guests. Finally, the film's director Rolie Nikiwe (A Place Called Home, Intersexions) shared about directing his first feature film and working on such an important topic.

Inside Story cast member Kendra Etufunwa, who plays Ify in the film, at the Johannesburg premiere	A view of the red carpet at the Cine Center at Killarney Mall

 Photos courtesy of Josh Chuttergoon.

The film was produced by South Africa-based Curious Pictures with the support of PEPFAR, USAID, Chevron, Discovery Communications, Access Bank, The South African Department of Trade and Industry, SEACOM and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Management Sciences for Health. In 2012, Inside Story will be distributed to over 300 million people across Africa through cinemas, television, national broadcasts and through efforts of NGOs, schools and governments.