By Maria Esteves - January 8, 2008

The Fifth Annual New York AIDS Film Festival 2007 press coverage is dedicated in Loving Memory of Mel Cheren (January 21, 1933 - December 7, 2007).

The Fifth Annual New York AIDS Film Festival (NYAFF) 2007 Opening Night Premiere short film MIGRATION directed by Mira Nair, segment of AIDS JAAGO, and documentary film INDIA'S HIDDEN PLAGUE, directed by Ashley Judd, Global Ambassador, YouthAIDS was held at the United Nations Dag Hammarkjold Auditorium, Thursday, November 29, 2007, 8:00 PM. The Jack Valenti Humanitarian Awards Ceremony preceded the premiere films. A special Q&A immediately followed with Director, Bunmi Mainwa, UNAIDS, and the Jack Valenti Humanitarian Award Winner, Kate Roberts, Founder of YouthAIDS. The National Geographic Channel aired both films on World AIDS Day, Saturday, December 1, 2007.

AIDS JAAGO, produced by Mirabai films and The Bill and Melinda Foundation is based on four short stories with four directors (PRARAMBHA by Santosh Sivan, BLOOD BROTHERS by Vishal Bharadwaj, MIGRATION by Mira Nair, and POSITIVE by Farhan Akhtar) raising AIDS awareness in India. MIGRATION, inspired by a true story, starring Shiney Ahuja, Irrfan Khan, Sameera Reddy, and Arjun Mathur is a profound short film depicting the spread of this universal virus by having multiple sex partners crossing socioeconomic boundaries.

INDIA'S HIDDEN PLAGUE, starring Sushmita Sen, Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khanis, is a compelling and passionate documentary film based on Ashley Judd AIDS mission to India. As Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS, and Population Services International (PSI), her journey to educate, raise HIV/AIDS awareness and funds was led by a series of powerful interviews with prostitutes, truck drivers, single parents, and orphans affected by the virus.