Inside Story Movie Premieres for Innovative HIV Prevention

Printeremail

The Inside Story world premiere commemorates World AIDS Day on December 1, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The film’s cast and global leaders on HIV and AIDS will be among the first to view one of the world’s largest media-based HIV prevention endeavors. Additional premieres will take place in Washington, D.C. and Lagos, Nigeria in 2012.

The Inside Story: an intimate African solution
Utilizing a special fund for public-private partnerships, USAID and PEPFAR are striving to develop innovative approaches that can be deployed throughout sub-Saharan Africa to prevent HIV from spreading at such a devastating rate. Together with private funders such as Chevron and Access Bank as well as UNAIDS,,SEACOM and South African Department of Trade and Industry, PEPFAR/USAID supplied the framework and funding for the African produced film Inside Story: The Science of HIV/AIDS. With the help of PEPFAR/USAID’s numerous partners, the Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership and Curious Pictures produced a film that is grounded in science and African cultures.

Gary Svenson, USAID Southern Africa’s Senior Regional Technical Advisor for HIV/AIDS Prevention, explains that Inside Story `“personalizes HIV in the context of people’s real daily lives” in the form of an intimate relationship. HIV infection, as shown through the film’s cutting edge animation, complicates the romance between a Kenyan soccer star and a South African coach’s daughter. Their story of mutual support and personal success will be broadcast as an intimate and scientific lesson on HIV and AIDS to nearly 300 million viewers throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership will provide facilitator guides and DVD & online materials for use by community and public health organizations, as well as schools throughout Africa.

A film made by Africans for Africans
Early versions of Inside Story needed to be adapted to suit African contexts. The USAID Mission to Southern Africa took responsibility for
establishing a board of African and international scientists and young people to thoroughly revise the movie script, advise Curious Pictures on animation improvements and the final version. Targeted research throughout sub-Saharan Africa informed the board on what and how Africans needed to learn in the film.

Without USAID support, Inside Story would have lacked many of the ingredients that are essential for the film to improve HIV prevention. The board’s recommendations ensured that the film addresses topics including circumcision, traditional healers, ARV treatment, and multiple concurrent sexual partners in an African context.

Inside Story’s production and premiere would not be possible without support from Chevron, Access Bank, Discovery Communications, SEACOM, UNAIDS, Management Science for Health, and Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa.