Tikambe (Let's Talk About It)

The two documentaries aim to demonstrate the pitfalls and power of living openly with HIV/AIDS. The first film centers on Alice and Paul, an HIV-positive couple who are in the midst of raising a young family. Once the couple makes the joint decision to disclose their status, the entire family experiences the stigma and discrimination that accompany an HIV-positive diagnosis.

The film focuses on the couple's work within their community to educate others on how to protect themselves and those they love from the HIV virus. Alice and Paul are shown reaching out to their community to promote the importance of voluntary counseling and testing as well as preventing mother-to-child transmission.

The second film revolves around the story of Harriet, a widow suffering from HIV/AIDS who had been rejected by her family. Her mother and sister receive educational counseling on HIV/AIDS and reconcile with Harriet, who proudly walks though her town wearing a T-shirt proclaiming her positive status to serve as an example of someone living positively with HIV/AIDS. She conducts frank discussions with her neighbors on how to protect oneself from the virus and how to survive if infected.

Family members who agreed to take part in Tikambe are honest about their fears of being infected by and shamed by their HIV-positive family members. They openly address and accept their own stigmatising behaviors - and in Harriet's case, move beyond them to understanding the virus and the disease.

Harriet's mother, Esther Tagiwa Chikondo, recalls wondering before receiving HIV/AIDS counseling. "If I stop touching her, who will? And if I touch her, what will happen? I'll catch HIV?"

A discussion guide is being developed to accompany the films, which will be distributed throughout Zambia. The film will also be broadcast on Zambian television with a discussion programme following the film.

HIV/AIDS

Producers say viewers can relate to the fears of infection and stigmatisation as well as the sadness and guilt at the mistreatment of HIV/AIDS sufferers that stem from a lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

In January 2005, Tikambe won a Silver World Medal at the New York Festival's 48th annual international Film & Video Awards; the documentary featuring Harriet was chosen from nearly 1,000 entries from 32 countries. In autumn 2004, the film won a Silver Hugo for Best Non-Broadcast Documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival's INTERCOM competition.