Programs & Events
CDC-funded film wins major award in the U.S.
September 2008
A Cambodian-made film, Facing the Truth, has won a prestigious US film award at the 2008 FREDDIES, the pre-eminent US-based International Health and Medical Media agency.
Known as “The Medical Oscars”, The FREDDIES Awards competition, now in its 34th year, encourages and celebrates film excellence by attracting entries in various categories from health organizations around the world.
Facing the Truth, made by Khmer Mekong Films, is a powerful half-hour drama about the vital importance of HIV tests for pregnant women. Set in rural Cambodia, the emotional yet positive story centers on the lives of two pregnant sisters and their husbands whose unexpected test results confound all their expectations.
The film was entered in two of the 32 FREDDIE categories – “Prevention” and “Infectious Diseases”. It was nominated in both categories but gained top award in “Prevention”, despite tough competition from entries from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and two major US cable channels.
Facing the Truth was made as part of the current major HIV campaign run by Cambodia's NMCHC (National Maternal and Child Health Center) responsible for PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission) throughout the country.
It was funded by the US CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Global AIDS Program. Concept, outline and script were developed by KMF in consultation with Dr Vong Sathiarany, PMTCT Program Coordinator at NMCHC; Dr Tom Heller, Coordinator of Care and Treatment for US CDC Global AIDS Program, Cambodia; and Dr. Anne Brink, WHO PMTCT advisor.
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