Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

One of the first documentaries about HIV/AIDS. The film is a BBC film, but focuses on New York City. 1983

A 3 minute video by Young Song Masters. 1989

A BBC TV show in 1990 that discusses British scientists work on a new compound that can stop AIDS in human cells. 1990

Film explores responses to the AIDS crisis by members of the South Asian community of Toronto, Canada. 1991

This compelling documentary reports on the AIDS crisis throughout Africa. The disease is especially rampant in Central Africa. 1991.

In New York City, a distraught activist confronts the mayor with a story of a friend who languished on a cot in an emergency room hallway for nine days, only to die 48 hours after leaving the hospital. In 1988, thousands of activists hold the Food and Drug Administration under siege, demanding speedier drug approval. In 1990 AIDS activists converge on the National Institute of Health, calling for a more equitable clinical trial system and expanded research into new drugs and treatment. Voices From the Front, the first feature-length documentary on AIDS activism in America, makes clear the emotional and political effects of community activism using the voices of those directly engaged. It is a powerful distillation of pictures and words from events organized to change public consciousness, expose the failure of the health care systems, and challenge government inaction and neglect concerning AIDS. 1991

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (No Regret) is a poetic and intimate film presenting moving testimonials and portraits of five black gay men. They each disclose their HIV+ status and how they fiercely combat the stigma around the disease. Marlon Riggs died with HIV/AIDS in 1994 and was dedicated to confronting the urgency of the AIDS epidemic in African American communities and especially among black gay men. 1992

This hard-hitting, up-to-date documentary grapples with the special problems of women in the AIDS epidemic. It will encourage frank discussion on of subjects such as safe sex for both straight and lesbian women, health care for HIV positive women, and advocacy efforts. Despite attempts at education, HIV is still thought of as a male, gay disease, even by doctors and health care workers. This sometimes results in women being improperly diagnosed, even if they exhibit classic symptoms.In addition, women have a difficult time insisting on safe sex since they are often afraid to antagonize their partners. Understanding safe sex means being clear about the level of risk of transmission in different sexual activities. This issue is explored at a safe sex workshop for men and women led by an experienced health educator. In another setting, the risk of HIV infection for lesbians is discussed. By filming a broad cross-section of women, the social and political implications of this disease are raised.1992

The Dead Boys' Club is the story of a young man in a world haunted by the absence of an entire generation of men that have gone before him: a generation that he should have known but, because of AIDS, is a generation that he can only imagine. Awkward and shy, Toby is visiting his New York cousin Packard, who gives him a pair of shoes previously owned by Packard's recently deceased lover. When Toby dons the shoes, he is transported to the pre-AIDS 1970s world of promiscuity, hot guys and glitter balls. The Dead Boys' Club is an evocative, sexy and humorous exploration of a young man's coming out, and an homage to the generation that paved the way - some with their lives - before him.1992

Far from the sophistication and relative tolerance of urban centers, gay people are beginning to lead integrated lives in small towns throughout rural America. Danny Cooper has been upfront about his homosexuality since his teens. Now he lives openly with his lover. As the local mailman in a small Louisiana town, he has come to be accepted in a friendly and courteous manner by his neighbors. Although Danny has been through fights in school, was once fired from his job, and even evicted from his home, he has never failed to stand up for his right to be himself. In the end, he is changing the face of anti-gay prejudice in his town. Today, Danny is fighting his hardest battle-against HIV infection-with the same openness and courage. And even though his T-cell count is near zero, he describes himself as "the luckiest human in the world." 1992

Teenagers who are HIV positive discuss their changing attitudes about AIDS and the impact AIDS has had on their lives. Includes AIDS education programs directed at teenagers. 1992

A walkathon around the Queen's Park Savannah from Whitehall (Queen's park West) organised by Peter Minshall and friends to publicise awareness of HIV and A.I.D.S. 1992

"Out in Silence" is one of a few films dealing with the HIV and Aids epidemic in the early 90's among the Asian American community. Filmed in New York, Guam and Hawaii, portrait of two people and how they are dealing with issues of homophobia the lack of support from the communities and family. 1994

Wayne Corbit (Tongues Untied) recites a poem describing the pain he endures living with AIDS. This is 3 minutes long. 1996

How does a wholesome young couple from a small farming community deal with the discovery that they are both HIV positive and about to have a baby? Add to that the fact that they already have two small children. After the birth, it took Don and Emma months to affirm that all three children were healthy and uninfected. This inspiring film shows the ground swell of support from their parents, their community and their church. While grappling with the painful prospect that they would not be around to see their children grow up, they begin to make psychological and practical preparations for their family after their death. A couple with whom they had been close agreed to be guardians of the children, and to start immediately to "co-parent." In this way, the children in both families would be comfortable with one another. As Don and Emma's strength waned, the church members took over food preparation and household chores. Family Album not only breaks down stereotypes about who is susceptible to AIDS but also shows how a community can lovingly embrace a vulnerable family. 1996

Dutch doctors are now legally able to accede to a patient's request for medical help so that they can die with dignity and without pain when their sufferings have become unbearable. This remarkable film follows seven people who have registered a request for euthanasia when they judge the time to be right. Each patient talks about the reasons for choosing this way of death and tries to define the specific trigger which will cause him or her to decide when the time has come to ask the doctor for the lethal injection or drink. Member of their families add their own comments, and five doctors with experience in the practice of euthanasia speak eloquently about the ethical questions and the practical problems which euthanasia poses for them. By the end of the film, several of the subjects had died without expressing apprehension or regret about their decision. 1996

An underground band of HIV-positive, queer, urban,transvestite, activists of color is making headlines in New York. In an effort to expose political corruption surrounding the AIDS epidemic, these urban guerrillas stage a series of surprise attacks against conservative politicians whom they believe are collecting secret lists of HIV-positive individuals. The masterminds behind the action include 'to-the-death!' diva Max Mo-Freak; his determined sister, Jamela; Larva, a sex-crazed crossdresser with attitude; Lady Marmalade, a junkie transvestite songstress; and Sam, an idealistic young Asian militant and Max Mo's lover. Caught up in their extreme methods of activism and self-destructive drug and alcohol binges, the group becomes torn by infighting and begins to lose sight of their mission and loyalty to each other. Will they find the peace and justice they seek? Between fantasy, tragedy and comedy, Chocolate Babies is a roller-coaster ride that is sure to provoke laughter and dialogue. 1997

From the maker of Looking for Langston and Young Soul Rebels comes an impressionistic antidote to the passionless, guilty AIDS awareness campaign conducted in Britain in 1987. This Is Not an AIDS Advertisment blends an imaginative video style with strong political messages for both Black and white, heterosexual and gay audiences. 1998

This is the affirming story of how Candomble, a Brazilian religion of African origin, has become a source of strength and power for a group of AIDS sufferers. Shot in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Bahia, it shows the rituals of Candomble and the celebration of Carnival. It features the personal struggles and words of wisdom from those whose faith have brought endurance and pride. Rather than denying the sexuality of this African-descendant population, innovative education programs have been developed for its followers. Where other religions preach abstinence, Candomble advocates the use of condoms so that sexuality need not be repressed. This beautifully shot documentary puts the epidemic in a cultural context, showing how this joyful religion helps its followers cope with the illness. An important film for classes in medical anthropology, folklore and religion, and Latin American culture. 1999

A gay Indian filmmaker travels across America with his family visiting from India, as he struggles to come out to them. He was tested for HIV before he left for the trip and will not receive his results until they return. Under the threat of terminal illness, made very real by an unsafe encounter with an HIV-positive man, the filmmaker explores the dynamics of secrecy and love that mark this very close family. Pushing the limits of personal documentary every moment, every achingly intimate moment - including coming out to his mother - is caught on tape.1999

Breaking records as the most watched documentary on Australian television, where it first aired on World AIDS Day in 1999, Chrissy is an honest and daring film. Ex-runaway and street kid, Chrissy was diagnosed HIV+ at age 18. She did not reveal her sexual orientation or her illness to her family until eight years later. As we follow Chrissy, her mother and three younger sisters for the next year, we are given access to a world one must see to really understand. Beginning at the time Chrissy revealed her HIV+ status to her family, filmmaker, Jacqui North takes us on a personal journey of a family learning about acceptance and love. 1999

Award winning correspondent, Fergal Keane and the Panorama production team investigate the humanitarian catastrophe that faces South Africa, where observers fear 'the fastest growing AIDS epidemic in the world' has already taken hold. 1,500 people are infected with HIV every day, the gold mines expect to lose half their work force, and the Health Minister anticipates a million AIDS orphans in five years. Keane tracks the route that carries the virus from the migrant workers' hostels, the township's brothels, and back along the bus routes to the rural areas. The government is accused of failing to act but deep-rooted problems - like the widespread sexual practice of 'grazing away from home' and the lack of effective education - are formidable barriers to halting the spread of this deadly virus. 2000

South Africa is hard hit by the HIV epidemic which is infecting more than 1500 people per day. At Johannesburg's biggest hospitals, forty to fifty percent of the beds are occupied by patients with AIDS-related infections It is estimated that one fourth of the population will be affected soon.The history of social and economic division that still continues in South Africa is reflected in the way the disease has spread. Poor black women in the townships get only inferior mixtures of AZT to prevent their babies from being born infected. They do not get the information necessary to prevent infection. The disease is not confined to the poor, for affluent whites are also affected by HIV. We hear from patients, social workers, medical experts and government policy makers on the magnitude of the problem. 2000

Research is now being conducted on a compound that could turn out to be nothing or could change the world. Called gp120, it might be the vaccine that prevents AIDS. If gp120 succeeds, it will be because one man, Dr. Donald Francis, wouldn't let it die. Scott Pelley reports. 2000

This documentary, directed and produced by Todd Austin, features three British women who are HIV positive. 2001

This film chronicles a year in the life of STAR Theater, a vibrant teenage theater company that performs for adolescents throughout New York City. The performances raise awareness about the risks young people face in the age of AIDS. As the film evolves, viewers discover that the performers are struggling with the same problems in their own lives that they are dramatizing on stage. STAR Theater uses drama and peer education to help teens avoid pregnancy and disease. The performances always conclude with a question and answer session. The documentary captures these uncensored peer to peer discussions. The teens are free to express themselves in ways that are often raw, sometimes amusing, and occasionally tragic. Peer education, including programs like this, has proven to be an effective educational approach. Using teen culture and language, it develops a trusting environment in which teens are more receptive to information about reducing risks. The documentary offers a moving portrait of how painful, dangerous, and yet hopeful the process of growing up can be. 2001

Host Bill Kurtis takes viewers around the country to document the disturbing sense of complacency about AIDS in America today, and to examine why drugs that were once hailed as potential cures have fallen short of expectations. 20 years into the epidemic, many Americans believe that the crisis has passed, but the plague continues to take a terrible toll, even among senior citizens. 2001

In 1996 drug 'cocktails' brought the promise of turning AIDS into a manageable illness. Interviewer Lesley Stahl investigates the effects of long term use of these drugs. 2001

The AIDS crisis in Africa is an epidemic of staggering proportions. Thirty-six million people are infected with the HIV virus worldwide, with over 25 million of them in Africa, and a staggering number of Africans - 17 million - have died. This film is about the inspiring work of Canadian Stephen Lewis, the United Nations Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa as he searches for solutions to the pandemic ravaging the continent. 2002

James Wentzy's in-your-face Fight Back, Fight AIDS is a compilation of footage documenting the first ACT UP meeting in 1987 on New York City's Wall Street and continues to 2002. Amateur video recording - at the demonstration level and from the private, behind-the-scenes meetings and training - reveals the astonishing camaraderie that united a politically enraged community, regardless of age, race, ethnicity or gender. Recognizable faces among the hundreds of ACT UP activists, timelessly captured over the 15 years of footage, are likely to be moving. Particularly noteworthy is seeing activist and author Vito Russo issue a speech equating AIDS to war then demanding to know how the two landscapes differ. Whether or not your own political views are aligned with ACT UP's today, this infinitely relevant political group taught us to fight back against government complacency, to protest the high cost of pharmaceutical drugs, and to simply ask others, 'Where is your rage?' 2002

By the year 2000, an estimated 4.2 million people in South Africa were infected with HIV; if present trends continue by 2010, 7 million will have died of the disease. State of Denial puts a human face behind the numbers by introducing us to a cross-section of South Africans involved with the AIDS epidemic. It shows how they must fight not only the disease but the greed of the drug cartels and the incomprehensible inactivity of their own government in order to get treatment. 2003

Shot in Malawi, South Africa and Zambia, this is a compelling documentary on the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is ravaging Southern Africa. It takes an intimate look at the people who are dying, those who are caring for them, and why this disease has had such a devastating impact on African society. In a remote village in Malawi, the struggle against AIDS is led by local volunteers who care for the orphan children and those that are dying, without the medicines, clean water, or even rubber gloves. 2003

This is a heartbreaking story from Wenlou, a small village in central China, where 60% of the villagers are infected with HIV. There are at least 250,000 people in seven provinces in central China who were infected as a result of a blood donor program in the early nineties. Impoverished peasants sold their blood to clinics that used unsanitary gathering methods. Nevertheless, the government does not offer any help or compensation, and has supressed protests from the villagers with force. China's health care system has fared poorly in the transition from socialism to capitalism. This is especially evident in the villages. The director spent months in Wenlou with farmer Ma Shengyi and his family. Ma Shengyi, his wife and two of their three children are all infected. He brings to the screen a real-life picture of an ordinary Chinese family devoured by a disease caused by official negligence and then being persecuted by the government in their struggle for help. 2003

Africa is the continent most affected by AIDS with Zimbabwe and Kenya standing out as the hardest hit countries. There, carrying the disease means rejection by the community and kids are no exception to this misfortune. How are these two countries coping with the thousands of children orphaned by the virus? They need to be identified to be helped but run the risk of being stigmatized by the rest of the population. This film exposes what programs can be implemented to provide necessary assistance and protection for the AIDS orphans. 2004

The story of Catherine Phiri, a nurse from Malawi, who was discovered to be HIV positive in 1990, at the death of her husband due to AIDS. Catherine conducted a hard personal battle against discrimination and prejudice. 2004

This program asks why an AIDS vaccine has been so elusive, what progress we are making, and what obstacles continue to stump some of the most brilliant scientists in the world. 2005

AIDS: The Woman's Story travels to Kenya, Brazil and Thailand to tell the personal stories of women with AIDS. Set against a background of disease, poverty and social subjugation this is a story of vitality and will power, and of women who have the courage to fight against reigning cultural and religious traditions. Most women become HIV-infected from their husbands who can demand sex any time they want it. Many had not heard of the disease until they were diagnosed with it. And many are left widows before they become very ill. Monique from Nairobi, says, "If I had to choose between the antiviral drugs or changing the mentality of men, I would choose the mentality. Because while taking the drugs, you still need support, love and care, so the attitude has to change." 2006

Inspired by a collection of personal notebooks, Books of James is an experimental documentary on ART, AIDS and ACTIVISM. Based on the writing, drawing, video footage and personal revelation of James Wentzy, an artist/activist in New York City, the film illustrates the 30-year timeline from the late 1970s to the present, examining the changes in the social and political landscape of America. Following James from South Dakota to New York City, the film traces his days from struggling and surviving as an artist to later becoming an AIDS video activist. In showcasing a unique individual through his involvement with the fight against AIDS and his tireless frontline reportage of the crisis, Books of James is an intimate portrait of a neglected everyman/hero and unearths a time now forgotten. 2006

Dan Rather follows former President Bill Clinton to China's Yunnan Province, where health officials have documented the country's largest number of AIDS cases. Clinton talks about his efforts to make China confront its AIDS problem and remove the huge stigma the disease still carries there. Also discusses his partnership with the first President Bush, and the political future of his wife, Hillary Clinton. 2006

Health for Sale asks: are the world's largest drug companies, paradoxically, major obstacles to making a healthier world? The film focuses on Big Pharma, the ten largest pharmaceutical makers, who account for 500 billion dollars of world health spending a year and whose 205 billion dollars in pre-tax profits were more than the combined profits of the 490 other Fortune 500 companies. Officials from all sides debate the impact of drug companies' patenting, "intellectual property", pricing and new product development strategies on global public health. These policies, according to Nobel Prize winning economist and former World Bank Chief Economist, Joseph Stiglitz "are condemning billions of the world's poorest citizens to death." 2007

In November 1982, a young man walked into St Vincent's hospital, Sydney, complaining of simple symptoms - fever, fatigue, sweats. Not much was known about the virus he was carrying. Its name was still being debated. Its cause was a mystery. Its cure had yet to be found. It has still to be found. In time, like 50 million others around the world, he died of the disease. He was the first person diagnosed with AIDS in Australia. As news of his diagnosis spread, health experts prepared the country for deaths on an extraordinary scale - parallels with the Black Death were almost irresistible. A plague, an apocalypse lay ahead. Twenty-five years on, this is the story of how wrong, and how right they were. 2007

Sorious Samura, a European journalist of African descent, volunteered to work as an orderly in a hospital in Zambia. The majority of the hospital's patients are HIV positive. Confronted daily with death, he describes his workplace as being like a frontline war zone. The staff works under horrendous conditions where protective gloves are a luxury and shrouds for the dead are stained with the blood of previous corpses. On some days the running water stops after only an hour or two in the morning.Samura exposes the untold story of AIDS; how poverty and the complex nature of African culture and sexuality are hampering efforts to eradicate this horrifying disease. After one month, he is left with the realization that if the war against HIV in Africa is to be won, poverty, ignorance and African sexual attitudes have to be tackled in the bluntest possible manner. He delivers a scathing condemnation of the irresponsibility of African men regarding sexual matters. 2007

Approximately 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV/AIDs today. Using new technology, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the yearly incidence of HIV disease since 1990 to be approximately 56,000 cases per year, representing an almost 40% increase compared with earlier estimates. Advances in HIV/AIDS treatment have substantially reduced AIDS-related morbidity and mortality and extended the lives of many. New treatments, however, are not a cure and do not benefit or reach people with HIV. The epidemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on certain populations, particularly racial and ethnic minorities. The XVII International AIDS Conference, which was held in Mexico City from August 3-8, 2008, provides a forum in which key scientific and practice-based research, best practice, lessons learned, and gaps in knowledge are addressed. In this video, Drs. Bruce Polsky and Jin S. Suh discuss state-of-the-art data, as presented at the conference, on the epidemiology of HIV, the revised International AIDS Society-USA treatment guidelines, the use of antiretroviral agents in the treatment-naive and experienced patients, new antiretroviral agents, and antiretroviral-associated complications. 2008

Explores the life of Richard Berkowitz, a revolutionary gay S&M sex worker turned AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has has never been aptly credited. 2008

This unique documentary goes beyond the statistics of the AIDS epidemic among black women. It is a deeply personal exploration of the bedroom politics that make black women, and in fact all women, especially vulnerable to infection. The film follows a young female doctor, Mehret Mandefro, working in the south Bronx, as she gives medical and emotional support to her afflicted patients. Mehret is battling not only the virus, but the social conditions that leave these women so vulnerable. Focusing on two women, Chevelle and Tara, she explores their lives and how their early experience of abuse contributed to their inability to demand protected sex of their mates . She forms a support group where women patients confide in and comfort one another.As Chevelle and Tara strive for more power in their lives and relationships, Mehret expands her research to include women across boundaries of race, class and country. She realizes that even she, a Harvard- educated physician, faces a dangerous power imbalance in the bedroom. A provocative film to use in many areas of the curriculum. 2009

Gloria was diagnosed with HIV when she was 13. She is now 18 and trying to live a normal life. However, being HIV positive in a country like Nigeria is an uphill struggle. Facing hostility from her mother, church, community and education, Gloria has had to drop out of university in order to pay for her medication. This film looks at the problems that HIV positive people face, in order to live like any other person, and how they are speaking out against stigma to try and overcome it. 2010

In South Africa it is grassroots projects that are spearheading the fight against the country's AIDS epidemic. We enter the day-to-day world of these groups and discover a committed army of activists taking the disease head-on. From an orphanage for abandoned children suffering with AIDS to a grandmothers' support group, this doc offers an invaluable overview of the spectrum of the AIDS crisis in South Africa today. 2011

In the Spring of 2004, 21-year-old Lara Roxx left her hometown of Montreal and headed to L.A to try and make a ton of cash in the adult entertainment industry. Within two months of working in this industry she contracted the most virulent form of HIV while performing sex in front of the camera. Inside Lara Roxx is a feature-length-documentary about the events leading up to that scene and the years after it- it is about the adult movie industry and its impact on a young life. Lara Roxx was hired legally and both men she had sex with tested negative for HIV—paperwork to this effect was presented to Roxx prior to shooting the scene. Miss Roxx’s story created a media sensation, but it’s when the media hype dies that Inside Lara Roxx begins – in a psychiatric ward in Montreal. Inside Lara Roxx follows this unlikely young woman through a tumultuous 5-year period as she struggles to build a new identity and find hope in the wake of her past. 2011

Faced with their own mortality, an improbable group of mostly HIV - positive young men and women broke the mold as radical warriors taking on Washington and the medical establishment. Despite having no scientific training, these self - made activists infiltrated the pharmaceutical industry and helped identify promising new drugs, moving them from experimental trials to patients in record time. How To Survive A Plague is the story of how activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition. 2012

Follows Jan Ruston as she fights for justice by incriminating her former lover, Pavlos Georgiou, in the Cypriot courts. When their affair began, he had told her that he was still married, assuring her that his relationship with his dying wife was over, but not that the cause of the illness was AIDS. Jan unwittingly contracted HIV from him and developed full-blown AIDS. 2013

The Battle of amfAR presents the little-known story of how in the early days of the AIDS pandemic an unlikely alliance between a celebrity and a scientist helped changed the public perception of the disease and led to the search for a cure. Hollywood superstar Elizabeth Taylor and Sloan-Kettering research scientist Dr. Mathilde Krim joined forces to create greater AIDS awareness, fight government indifference and public stigma, and establish AmFAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research -- the first national organization dedicated to mobilizing the scientific community in the fight against AIDS and for a cure. 2013

The Last One presents an updated history of the AIDS epidemic in America through the story of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The film traces how what at first was labeled a "gay disease" now disproportionately impacts the African American community, including women and youth. In the 1980s, as AIDS ravaged the gay community in the U.S., the AIDS Quilt was born as a tool to help promote understanding and treatment. 2014

HIV/Aids has claimed 34 million lives worldwide. But now, even though stigma remains, a diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. This inspiring film looks at the science keeping HIV at bay, and examines the moral panic that erupted when the virus first took hold. There are interviews from prominent figures including HIV awareness campaigner HRH Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, and Lord Norman Fowler - the politician who kick-started the most successful public health campaign in UK history. 2017

In advance of Desert Migration’s North American broadcast premiere, Producer Marc Smolowitz sat down with activists Tez Anderson and Vincent Crisostomo for a discussion on themes within the film and those important to the HIV and AIDS survivor community. 2017

This film follows Loïc, a young Frenchman living in London who has just learned of his positive HIV status. In his fight against the virus, his own prejudices and social stigma, we finally see him fully invest in his new existence. Loïc, 26 years old, sought refuge in London, far from his humble village beginnings. He is able to live his gay life with anonymity amongst the cosmopolitan backdrop of London, away from scrutiny and perplexed glances. He’s stopped in his tracks by terrible news; he contracted HIV. It’s the shock. AIDS, we know the name, but in 2018 Gen Y are not scared of it anymore. Until it happens to you. This film delves intimately into Loïc’s life just as it takes a dramatic turn. 2018

Target Zero is an animation/documentary hybrid series that focuses on the importance of compassionate care of HIV-positive patients, using character-based stories to provide an understanding of diseases and medications at the molecular level and the rationale for patient compliance to HIV drug regimens. The series of three films tells the stories of two HIV-positive pregnant women hoping to deliver HIV-negative babies, and two young men hoping to prevent contracting the HIV virus using PrEP. The project is collaboration among scientists with expertise in structural biology and documentary filmmakers who are striving to bring together science and art in order to educate and inspire. 2018

Almost 40 years after the discovery of HIV, could we be on the verge of ending the AIDS epidemic in America? How did scientists and the public health community tackle one of the most elusive deadly viruses to ever infect humans? Can innovative drugs bring new infections to zero? This is the story of scientific achievement and public health work that still needs to be done to end HIV in America. 2022

Among new HIV cases, heterosexual patients are the majority—and high-risk behavior appears to be on the rise in many young demographic groups. What does this tell us about evolving attitudes toward AIDS? How do factors such as immigration, cultural tradition, economic disparity, and government inaction come into play? Writer and actor Stephen Fry pushes for answers, infusing this program with equal parts curiosity and outrage. Fry surveys carefree London clubbers about condom use and, traversing the U.K., examines the perception of HIV/AIDS among gays and straights alike. After meeting a British woman infected by her Ghanaian partner, Fry journeys to South Africa to confront that nation’s obfuscating AIDS policies. Contains mature themes and occasional explicit language and imagery.

Matthew Modine stars in HBO Pictures' dramatization of Randy Shilts' best seller chronicling the early years of the AIDS epidemic, when a handful of individuals fought indifference, prejudice, ignorance and politics to battle a deadly epidemic that would soon change the face of the world. Also featured in the all-star cast, in alphabetical order, are: Alan Alda, Phil Collins, David Dukes, Richard Gere, Glenne Headly, Anjelica Huston, Swoosie Kurtz, Steve Martin, Richard Masur, Sir Ian McKellen, Saul Rubinek, Charles Martin Smith, Lily Tomlin and B.D. Wong. Winner of 3 Primetime Emmys and Nominated for 11 more. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Special Grand Prize of the Jury, Montreal World Film Festival, 1993. In English. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode. 1993, UTK

It could never happen to me." This program dispels the myths still surrounding HIV transmission through interviews with six ethnically diverse young men and women who contracted HIV while teenagers. They speak out about their relationships prior to infection, how they believed they wouldn’t contract this virus, and the physical, psychological, and social effects of being HIV-positive. They also discuss the difference between birth control and disease protection, plus the crucial importance of always using condoms or abstaining from sexual intercourse. HIV is a life-or-death reality that needs greater clarification now—and this program can help. 1997, UTK

After attending 23 funerals, Troy and his friends are tired of seeing members of their community dying of AIDS after being denied the medication they need by the big drug companies. The group plans a heist to steal the medication and start a community drug distribution program. Most importantly, these activists pose the question: how far would you go to stay alive? 1996, PrimeVideo

Set in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, this powerful drama follows a young dancer as he navigates gay life and the modern dance scene in 1980s San Francisco. Starring dance Scott Marlowe, Matthew Risch (HBO's Looking), and featuring captivating dance sequences especially choreographed for the film by acclaimed U.S. choreographer Sidra Bell. 2013, AmazonPrime

A Social Cure travels to South Africa to investigate the epicenter of the HIV pandemic to expand the potential of our social networking technologies and explore how we can contribute to a future free from HIV. 2020, AmazonPrime

A gay Scot living in London has AIDS. Against the advice of his partner, Ira, he decides on a trip home, back to the family that rejected him and the friends he was once close to. Ira has to rescue him from the resulting havoc. This is a sobering but joyful tale of estranged families, filial resentment, and love. Drama, 1993, AmazonPrime

We Were Here is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the city's inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, the calamitous epidemic.