Inside Story: The Science of HIV/AIDS, a new feature-length docudrama in which USAID plays a supporting role, premiered to a packed theater in Johannesburg, South Africa, on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011.

Inside Story is a unique mixture of science and fiction and includes cast members and characters from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Kalu, a rising Kenyan soccer player, migrates to South Africa to establish his career. A romantic encounter leads to the unwelcome realization that he is HIV positive. Kalu goes through an emotional journey as he comes to terms with his diagnosis, encountering social and financial challenges along the way. Animated sequences showing the HIV virus traveling through the human body illustrate the different stages of HIV and AIDS, and how the virus is spread.

The film’s stars, director, executive producers, and crew attended the red carpet event, which also welcomed a mix of dignitaries and representatives of supporting organizations, including Management Sciences for Health (MSH).

The MSH-led Building Local Capacity for Delivery of HIV Services in Southern Africa Project (BLC) provided technical and financial support to Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership, Inc. (DCGEP), one of the film’s producers.

Kendra Etufunwa, who plays Kalu’s love interest in the film, opened the Johannesburg premiere by welcoming guests and sharing her personal discoveries during the course of the filming -- namely appreciating the burden the virus has on people’s lives. Consul General Earl Miller spoke on behalf of the US Government, followed by Executive producers Harriet Gavshon of Curious Pictures and Aric Noboa of (DCGEP).

Finally, the film’s director Rolie Nikiwe (A Place Called Home, Intersexions) shared about directing his first feature film and working on such an important topic, HIV and AIDS.

Inside Story was produced by South Africa-based Curious Pictures with the support of PEPFAR, USAID, Chevron, Discovery Communications, Access Bank, The South African Department of Trade and Industry, SEACOM, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and MSH.

The film will be distributed in 2012, including a premiere co-hosted by DCGEP and Ambassador Eric Goosby on January 11, 2012, in Washington, DC.

For more information about the film visit: InsideStoryTheMovie.org or watch the extended trailer.

Naume Kupe is Communications Specialist for MSH’s Building Local Capacity for Delivery of HIV Services in Southern Africa Project in South Africa.