Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS

“These are the United Nations in this room,” said Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, during a welcome address to participants at the awards ceremony. “If those in power in this world were like you, there would be no wars.”

The six teams had two days to write, shoot and edit a three-minute films about various aspects of HIV and AIDS. The event was the second of its kind, following the success of the first 48Fest produced by MTV’s Staying Alive campaign during the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto. “I hope to see your masterpieces on YouTube,” said Piot, who had served as a judge for the Toronto competition.

“Choices,” the winning film, chronicled the battles of three women facing both HIV and pregnancy in three different cultural contexts. “The red team was just wonderful,” said winning team member Eunice Kapandura, a 23-year-old woman from Zimbabwe, while holding an MTV trophy. “This is the happiest moment of my life.”

Another red team member, 28-year-old Michael Mutani from Nairobi, commended his teammates’ abilities to collaborate despite their different backgrounds and decision-making processes. The team’s strong work ethic, he said, was evident from the start of the contest.

“When I came into this competition, I knew,” Mutani said of his instant assurance of victory. “I told the first journalist, ‘I will win.’” Other film themes included ABC and women, empowerment and reproductive and sexual health, gifts in exchange for sex, discrimination and violence.

Judges and presenters alike stressed the artistic, social and political merit of each film. “You guys really blew me away with those films,” said celebrity music video director Bryan Barber, who had traveled from a video shoot in Rio de Janeiro to judge the contest along with World YWCA HIV and AIDS Coordinator Sophie Dilmitis and YWCA Kenya member Mboone Umbima.

Bryan Barber, music video director; Mboone Umbima, member YWCA Kenya and Sophie Dilmitis, World YWCA HIV and AIDS Coordinator.

Also contributing to Thursday evening’s star-studded event were South African MTV VJ Sizwe, Kenyan entertainer Wyre and American artist Kanye West, who offered a congratulatory message via video.

“Tonight is all about you guys,” Sizwe told participants, assuring them that “everybody’s a winner at 48Fest.”

View the films now.

MTV will air a documentary about the making of 48Fest on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2007.