A filmmaker’s journey

Maggie Betts is a documentary filmmaker, HIV AIDS advocate, UNICEF Supporter and UNICEF’s Next Generation Steering Committee member.

I think the moment when I started to understand the full impact of AIDS in Africa, was the first time I ever saw a child who was born infected with HIV. Some 6 years ago now, I was on a UNICEF-hosted field visit to South Africa, which ultimately led us to a small pediatric clinic along the outskirts of Soweto. A little boy in the clinic had sat quietly playing along the floor, before he gradually became aware there was someone else watching and turned from his toys to look up at me. And as his face made an expression I’m sure I couldn’t ever fully describe -the unbelievable strain and effort it actually took this boy to smile, is something that has never left me.

Betts/2011

A photo taken during the filming of “The Carrier”.

 

As a longtime supporter of UNICEF as well advocate for the rights of HIV affected women and children in Africa, I’m very proud to have recently completed my first film, a feature documentary entitled “The Carrier.” Set in a southern province of rural Zambia, where I spent 4 months living and shooting the story, the film follows the experiences of one woman, a very beautiful and heroic young mother named Mutinta, who first learns she’s HIV- positive and soon after, discovers she’s pregnant. Mutinta then sets out on a journey to try and save her unborn baby from her disease.

It’s also fair to say that the film and my whole experience making it, was a tremendous labor of love for me. “The Carrier” is meant to explore something that I personally believe is one of the greatest tools we have in today’s fight against AIDS in Africa: The hope of PMTCT. For those who aren’t familiar, PMTCT stands for ‘Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission’ and describes the process by which so many young and HIV positive pregnant women, all across Africa, can now stop the transmission of the virus to their babies. Within this very idea, PMTCT also holds the potential to soon see an entire generation of African children, at last, born HIV-free.

I’m extremely excited that “The Carrier” will again be playing in both New York and LA, as part of a truly wonderful program called Docuweeks. I so hope a few of you will find the time to go see it, possibly even be touched and inspired by its message.

I’m pleased to share my film, which began in a small clinic in Soweto with UNICEF.

“The Carrier” screens at IFC in New York starting Friday, August 19 and in Los Angeles starting August 26.