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Tuesday, November 28---With December 1st marked as World AIDS Day, a day to reflect on the progress made since the disease was first discovered 25 years ago, as well as concern that it is still raging in most parts of the world, a film festival in New York will mark the occasion with a series of screenings and events. The New York AIDS Film Festival (NYAFF), now in its fourth year, that runs from November 29 to December 4. It is a five day series of HIV- and AIDS-related film screenings, panel discussions, and special events. The 2006 Festival will also serve to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the first diagnosed case of AIDS.

The NYAFF mission is to utilize visual media to prompt social action in the fight against the global AIDS pandemic. Each year, the New York AIDS Film Festival showcases diverse works (including short films, documentaries, feature films and Public Service Announcements)which educate and awaken us to the realities of the HIV/AIDS virus. The Festival is again sponsored by New York University, where all competing films will be screened free to the public. Special screenings and panel events will also be held at the United Nations, with sponsorship and support of UNAIDS.

The Festival's Opening Night Film on November 29 is 3 NEEDLES by director Thom Fitzgerald and starring Lucy Liu, Chloe Sevigny, Shawn Ashmore, Stockard Channing and Olympia Dukakis. The director and several of his stars, including actress Lucy Liu, who also serves as the current UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, will attend the screening at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium.

On December 1st, The New York AIDS Film Festival will host an Opening Night Red Ball Gala at the New York Public Library. Hosted by Alexandra and Vanessa Kerry, the Gala will honor the efforts of noted HIV/AIDS activists, advocates and decision-makers, including: UN AIDS, honoring the work of the United Nations in the fight against AIDS; Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York; MTV International President Bill Roedy; and supermodel and AIDS activist Maggie Rizer.

Most of the Festival screenings will take place at the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center at New York University, 53 Washington Square South (between Thompson and Sullivan). Q&As with filmmakers and experts will follow each screening. The Closing Awards Ceremony will be held on December 3rd at the Helen & Martin Kimmel Center at New York University.

A sampling of films to be screened in the program include: ROAD TO HOPE (Leslie Marie Cannon), a documentary on the AIDS advocacy group The Road To Hope, which tours high schools and colleges around the United States; SHYAMAM (Sreevallabhan Balan), an Indian drama about the effect of the diagnosis on a rich family who must deal with prejudice and an unresponsive health care system; YESTERDAY (Darrell Roodt), an award-winning docudrama produced for Home Box Office about the epidemic's effect on the residents of a remote South African village; and BEAT THE DRUM (David Hickson), a moving story about a young boy who travels from his small village to the urban jungle of Johannesburg to try and help his afflicted family members.

One of the Festival's highlights is STAYING ALIVE: 48 FEST, a compilation of short films produced as part of MTV International’s ongoing HIV and AIDS prevention campaign, Staying Alive. MTV organized its first film competition, 48fest, at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada. 48 youth delegates, divided over 8 teams, were chosen to write, shoot, edit and deliver a short film of three minutes on a given theme related to HIV and AIDS awareness in just 48 hours. The film documents the whole process as well as showcases many of the completed short films. The documentary is hosted by singer Nelly Furtado and also features actor Richard Gere and pop stars Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake.

For information and screening schedule for the New York AIDS Film Festival, log on to their website: www.newyorkaidsfilmfestival.org

Sandy Mandelberger
Film New York Editor