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

Send Proposals to :
Electronic Copy : mediaidsdelhi@gmail.com
Hard Copy : Formedia
F-4, Jungpura Extension,
New Delhi-110014. (INDIA)
Tel: (91-11) - 243 21 400
(91-11) - 518 23 887

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@gmail.com
Hard Copy : Formedia
F-4, Jungpura Extension,
New Delhi-110014. (INDIA)
Tel: (91-11) - 243 21 400
(91-11) - 518 23 887