India's young filmmakers give a global voice to viral hepatitis survivors

15 December 2016: media charity tve today launches four powerful films that give voice to five individuals in India who have survived viral hepatitis, one of the world's most deadly diseases. Student filmmakers in India won four bursaries for the productions, part of an innovative new public health venture by tve, supported by Wellcome and the World Hepatitis Alliance.

Through vivid and moving testimonies, the four films tell personal stories of viral hepatitis, a disease which affects 400 million globally and kills 1.4 million each year, and how new medical advancements are offering the real possibility of eliminating this global killer in our lifetime.

The four films are:

Detecting the Change' by Aditi Saraswat and Anand Gautam

Like Everyone Else' by Sameer Gardner, Ajeet Mahale and Milen Mathew

Sukriti the Survivor' by Neelu Sharma

A New Hope for Hep C' by Shalini Srivastava.

The young filmmakers capture how the hepatitis B vaccine is protecting families; how new hepatitis C drugs are conquering the virus; the impact of falling drug prices; and the ongoing battle to persuade those infected to turn to medicine rather than traditional healers.

The films receive their first public screenings today in Lucknow, north India, at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, to an audience of students, media, academics and grassroots health organisations. A second screening in Lucknow is planned for 21 December. Bursary winners will take part in question and answer sessions at both screenings about their experiences in creating the films.

The event is available via live stream on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tveFilmsForChange/?fref=ts

tve brought together leading hepatologists and student filmmakers in two two-day workshops, before giving the students the chance to pitch their ideas in a competition to win the bursaries.

tve teamed up with the Mass Communications Department at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow, and the School of Media and Cultural Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. In Lucknow, tve is working with Dr Rakesh Aggarwal and Dr Amit Goel at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences. In Mumbai tve works with Dr Samir Shah at the Institute of Liver Diseases, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery and Transplant at the Global Hospital, and Dr Akash Shukla at Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital.

Notes to editors

The films are being screened on:

Thursday, 15 December, 11:30 am (IST), at the auditorium, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Wednesday, 21 December, 12 noon (IST), at Gautam Buddha Degree College, Gauri Road, Bijnour, near CRPF camp, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. To attend this screening please contact Ashutosh Pande at apande.southasia@tve.org.uk

about tve: tve creates and enables others to create powerful, effective communications about the environment and development. Through film, animation, documentaries, debates and social media, we inspire change. From experienced filmmakers and aspiring vloggers telling environmental stories to business innovators showcasing cutting-edge sustainability, we help to give a voice to a new generation committed to a greener and fairer world. www.tve.org

about Wellcome: Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. We're a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent. We support scientists and researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate. www.wellcome.ac.uk/

about the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA): The World Hepatitis Alliance is an ambitious patient-led and patient-driven not-for-profit organisation who works with governments, national members and other key partners to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and influence global change - transforming the lives of the 400 million people living with viral hepatitis and the future we share.

With 240+ member patient groups from over 80 countries, WHA provides global leadership in awareness-raising, advocacy and in the fight to end its social injustice to achieve a world free from viral hepatitis. www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/

For media and other enquiries contact:

Anshul Ojha, tve coordinator for South Asia on aojha.southasia@tve.org.uk

LINK:	http://tve.org/2016/12/15/indias-young-filmmakers-give-global-voice-vi...
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