Call for Documentaries on the Theme of HIV/AIDS

[Guest guest]

CALL FOR DOCUMENTARIES ON THE THEME OF HIV / AIDS

by

Internews Europe / formedia, India / Deutsche Welle Akademie, Germany

in partnership with Public Service Broadcasting Trust under the

European Union-India Economic Cross Cultural Programme

Number of films to be commissioned: 3 x 29 minutes

Eligibility: Indian documentary film-makers

(Background experience in socio-health issues would be an added

advantage)

Primary Requirements:

1. Two documentary films for viewing

2. Two reviews / endorsements of film-makers work

3. Contacts of nodal persons in organisations for whom films have

been made

3. Availability for discussion on telephone / in person

4. Amenability to work with mentors

5. Adaptability to work on concept in interest of the project

Note:

Points 4 and 5 may kindly not be viewed as constraints to the

creative process of film-making, which are duly respected and will

be ensured.

Methodology: Two rounds of short-listing

Round One: One-page concept note

To be accompanied by No. 1, 2 and 3 of Primary Requirement

Concept note should include:

• Two lines that explain the film idea

• 100 words on Premise for the film

• 100 words on Approach to the content and narrative style

• 100 words on Possible Visual Segments

• List of possible experts (on and off-camera) if any

• Expected number of locations for shooting

Round Two: Shortlisted film-makers to submit full proposal under the

process as per PSBT guidelines. (www.psbt.org)

Note: Individual film makers can submit one proposal for three films

as a series. Even so, our endeavour would be to choose and select

themes from three different filmmakers that represent the entire

gambit of the issue and have an international approach of

presentation.

SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENTARIES:

We look forward to the series of three films as sensitive and

enlightening films that can impact policy, planning and the lives of

people affected by HIV / AIDS.

As India prepares to move into the third phase of its AIDS control

programme, where does India stand in the HIV / AIDS scenario? What

are the unsaid, salient issues / stories / aspects that the world

should know about that have not been heard or documented?

Apart from a national telecast in India on the PSBT window, these

documentaries are also targeted for international viewing,

distribution and film festivals. The documentaries will be mentored

by commissioning editors, senior documentary film-makers and HIV /

AIDS experts. The aim is to incorporate an India perspective to

HIV / AIDS in films that can compete for credibility, technique and

story-telling at the international level. The three films should

work as stand-alone documentaries as well a series. For this reason,

the final choice of proposals will specifically be looking at non-

repetitiveness in content.

APPROACH TO THE CONTENT

The issue can be complex, the theme can cover a wide range, yet the

proposals should be a simple story with a human face. Each

protagonist / group of protagonists / community / institution should

offer the possibility of a variety of visual sequences and layers of

perceptions / views.

The one thing we would like to avoid is an element of

sensationalism. Apart from that, it is not so much whether it is a

positive or negative story. It should be a story, which is faithful

to the facts and context of any situation.

HELPFUL READING FOR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

UNAIDS

Global Strategy Framework, 2003

Best Practice Collection: Research Studies from Uganda and India

ILO

Socio-economic Impact of HIV / AIDS on People Living with HIV / AIDS

Online Resources:

http://www.whoindia.org/EN/Section3/Section125_785.htm

http://www.unaids.org.in/

http://www.youandaids.org/

http://www.unicef.org/lifeskills/files/SelectedOnlineResourcesforHIV.

doc

http://www.aidsandmedia.org/manual.htm

BACKGROUND

TO THE CALL FOR DOCUMENTARIES ON THE THEME OF HIV / AIDS

HIV / AIDS AND THE MEDIA:

People living with HIV / AIDS often say that headlines and stories

about AIDS in the media are scary and sensational. Studies also show

that language and approach in the media have contributed to further

stereotyping and stigmatization of already marginalized groups.

These are the feelings at the core of the aims and objectives of the

EU-India ECCP " MEDIAIDS " project entitled:

" Ethics and Stereotypes:

Towards an European - India Media Response to HIV / AIDS " .

The basic question is: How can the medium of television be utilized

to address, inform and educate audiences about HIV / AIDS without

alarming or scaring them?

None of the issues related to HIV / AIDS can be neglected, bypassed

or avoided by the media. Whether it is:

• sexual transmission

• drug use

• isolation

• rejection by the family

• loss of job

• divorce

• humiliation within the health care system

• denial of admission to school

• secrecy and ignorance leading to death

• Sexuality in the contemporary social context of India

• Use and acceptability of condom

HIV SCENARIO IN INDIA

While the overall prevalence of HIV in India is below 1%, with its

huge population size, the country faces an epidemic of large

numbers. The spread of HIV in India has increased from an estimated

1.75 million adults in 1994 to over 5 million by 2005.

There are indicators that the epidemic may have stabilized in the

high-prevalence states. At the same time, surveillance data reveals

new indicators of the epidemic. It is moving from urban areas to

rural districts and towards women and young people.

Over 250 million economically productive migrants move from one

location to another. These mobile groups are considered high-risk

carriers of the infection. It is believed such groups may turn the

false sense of security in low-prevalence states into a tragic

scenario.

The metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai also

face a major problem of injecting drug use. This needs to be viewed

in context of the alarming increase of HIV infection in Manipur ---

from around 60% to nearly 85% in just three years, largely linked to

injecting drug use.

Until now, AIDS remains an incurable disease. All those who are HIV

positive or are potentially at risk of infection, face this harsh

reality. The complicated issue of first and second line drugs,

patent laws, the need for cheap generic drugs and access to

antiretroviral therapy directly impact the status and lives of

people living with HIV / AIDS. Stigma deprives HIV+ people from

workspace, which not only marginalises them, but amplifies their

treatment issue. Yet, little is being done to enable HIV+ people for

self-generation of suitable income, though most are usually in a

position to, and willing to work.

Ofcourse, today, if a person is well cared for, HIV positive people

can live with a fair quality of life for a number of years and even

work. Within this scenario, we cannot forget that the maximum

infections are in groups that have limited or no access to

dependable health care systems.

Global and national HIV / AIDS strategies endeavour to address

prevention, care and survival issues, within a socio-economic and

cultural context peculiar to India. These strategies, even if

questioned or doubted, are well-placed and operational. The films

should reflect a similar nuance, portraying reality with all its

ramifications, without being confrontationist or anti-establishment

for the sake of being so.

Send Proposals to :

Electronic Copy : mediaidsdelhi@...

Hard Copy : Formedia

F-4, Jungpura Extension,

New Delhi-110014. (INDIA)

Tel: (91-11) - 243 21 400

(91-11) - 518 23 887

http://www.formonline.org/mediaids/callfordocumentaries.html